Dr Rubén Mújica-Mota

Profile

I am an economist by undergraduate and postgraduate training with a PhD in health and labour economics. My career started in 1999 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich and since then I have specialised in using decision analysis to synthese evidence for informing policy decisions. My research has informed NICE recommendations for adoption of new drugs and diagnostic devices in the NHS. I have received financial support from NIHR HTA, NIHR PGfAR, NIHR RfPB, Cancer Research UK, MRC (Newton Fund) and InHealth (AdvaMed Washington US) research grants.

Previous Roles

Before joinin the University of Leeds as an Associate Professor in May 2019,  I was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter after having worked as a Senior Research fellow at the University of Liverpool.  

Research interests

My main research interest is in the use of observational data to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatments used in routine practice, with focus on the clinical areas of orthopaedics, cardiovascular disease, and oncology. Using standard and network meta-analysis and decision analytic modelling I have applied these methods to inform NICE guidance in the areas of Neuroendocrine Tumours and Diagnosis of Preterm Labour. Other areas of applied research include the use of biomarkers for causal inference and estimation of treatment effectiveness, in particular the application of Mendelian Randomisation methods to understand mechanisms of effect.

I have also conducted research in developing country settings in the areas of HIV/AIDS and Malaria. This research has informed the development of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Service policies in Kenya, the roll-out of antiretroviral drugs in Uganda, and contributed representative survey evidence on health seeking behaviour and stated preferences for antimalarial drugs in rural and urban communities of malaria endemic areas of Malawi.

Current Research Interests

I am interested in the application of genetic epidemiology approaches to study mechanisms of effect of lifestyle (e.g. obesity) and healthcare (elective hip and knee replacements) exposure on health and labour market outcomes (retirement). I am also interested in the application of (doubly or multiply) robust methods of causal inference to evaluate elective operations using electronic health records. 

Qualifications

• PhD in Health and Labour Economics, University of Liverpool 2006
• MSc in Economics, University of York 1996
• Diploma in Mathematical Economics, Universidad Autonoma de Mexico 1995
• BSc in Economics (1st) Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (Mexico) 1994

Professional memberships

• Health Economics Study Group (HESG) 2000 to date
• international Health Economics Association (iHEA) 2001 to date

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
• Academic Unit of Health Economics