Wessam Abass

Profile

I am a Health Economist at the Academic Unit of Health Economics, specialising in economic evaluations of health technologies that inform healthcare decision-making. I joined AUHE in 2022 as a Research Assistant, focusing initially on novel diagnostic tests for respiratory infections and kidney diseases. My role expanded in April 2024 to Research Fellow, where I now lead economic evaluations for innovative technologies in breast and colorectal cancer.

My concurrent PhD research in Health Economics is dedicated to understanding the value proposition of Point-of-Care (POC) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) for infectious diseases. A key aspect of my research is demonstrating how these diagnostics can serve as crucial tools for optimizing antibiotic stewardship and mitigating antimicrobial resistance. This builds on my prior experience as an NIHR Pre-doctoral Fellow at UCL, where my work centered on the impact of rapid testing on AMR control.

My professional experience also encompasses health policy, finance, and healthcare management, gained through roles as a Public Health Consultant at IQVIA and a Senior Researcher at the Health Economics Unit of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population.

Research interests

My research interests focus on the economic evaluation of diagnostic technologies and screening programs in several disease areas including cancer, infections and nephrology.

Qualifications

• PhD Health Economics- inprogress
• MSc Sustainable development -Health Policy
• Dip in Health Economics
• Dip in Health Informatics
• BSc Pharmaceutical sciences

Professional memberships

• UK Health Economics Study Group

Research groups and institutes

• Health economics
• Academic Unit of Health Economics