A new team has been set up at the University of Warwick dedicated to assessing the value for money of new medical treatments and technologies.

Officially launched this week, Warwick Evidence has been awarded £2.6 million to undertake Technology Assessment Reviews (TARS). The TAR team will provide the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) with essential information about clinical and cost effectiveness. Using this information NICE can make decisions on whether to recommend technologies, including drugs, devices and diagnostics for use nationally across the NHS.

The Warwick Evidence team, led by Dr Aileen Clarke and Dr Paul Sutcliffe from Warwick Medical School, is one of three new TAR teams across the country.

Warwick Evidence brings together experts in clinical and cost effectiveness reviewing, health economics and modelling. The multidisciplinary team will work collaboratively across several departments at the University of Warwick and will be supported by a senior team of clinical and methodological experts advisors at both local and national level.

The launch event for Warwick Evidence will take place on Thursday 11 March at Warwick Medical School. Speakers will include Professor Andrew Stevens, an international expert in technology appraisal and Chair of one of NICE’s appraisal committees; Professor Ken Stein, who set up the Peninsula Medical School Technology Appraisal Group PenTAG; and Dr Peter Davidson, Director of Science Support at the National Institute for Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Co-ordinating Centre.

Acting Dean of Warwick Medical School, Professor Martin Underwood said: “We are absolutely delighted about Warwick Evidence. Assessing new technologies to make sure they provide value for money is a key function for NICE and for the NHS, the role that Warwick Evidence will play will be crucial in this.”

To find out more, visit www.warwick.ac.uk/go/warwickevidence

For further information please contact:

Peter Dunn, Head of Communications
Communications Office, University of Warwick,  
+44 (0)24 76 523708 or +44 (0)7767 655860
email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk