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Professor Deborah Stocken

  • Position: Professor (Clinical Trials)
  • Areas of expertise: early phase and late phase clinical trials; biostatistics; surgical interventions; medical technology; adaptive trial design; good statistical practice
  • Email: D.D.Stocken@leeds.ac.uk
  • Phone: +44(0)113 343 5616
  • Location: 1069, Level 10, Worsley Building

Profile

Currently Professor of Clinical Trials Research, Director of the Surgical Interventions, Diagnostics and Devices (SIDD) Division at the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU), Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research (LICTR), University of Leeds.

Previously Head of Statistics at the Institute of Health and Society and Deputy Director of the Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit, Newcastle University 2012-2017. Prior to this I worked as a Biostatistician at the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit University of Birmingham for 18 years working up to Biostatistics Lead.

I am responsible for the development, management and mentorship of the Surgical Interventions, Diagnostics and Devices (SIDD) Division specifically i) developing and implementing a strategic vision and direction for a portfolio of research which is methodologically robust, appropriate and deliverable and ii) identifying and fostering multi-disciplinary links in relation, but not exclusively, to the expansion of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, dermatology and surgical trials portfolios.

As Statistical and Scientific Lead I input to high impact peer-reviewed research proposals and publications, securing grant income as lead CTRU lead co-investigator.

I sit on various external trial oversight committees as independent Chair and/or statistical expert:

    1. TSC Chair for NIHR HTA L1FE: Lateral Compression Type-1 Fracture Fixation in the Elderly
    2. TSC Statistical Expert for CRUK InPACT: International Penile Advanced Cancer Trial
    3. DMC Statistical Expert for NIHR HTA MePFAC: Methylphenidate versus placebo for fatigue in advanced cancer
    4. TSC Statistical Expert for NIHR EME PITCHES Trial: Phase III trial in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy to evaluate Ursodeoxycholic acid in improving perinatal outcomes
    5. DMC Statistical Expert for EORTC/ NIHR HTA ROAM Trial: Radiation vs Observation following Surgical resection of Atypical Meningioma
    6. DMC Statistical Expert for CRUK NEOBLADE: Phase II randomised placebo-controlled Neoadjuvant chemotherapy study of Nintedanib with Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in locally advanced muscle invasive bladder cancer

Expired:

  1. NIHR Clinical Trials Fellowships Review Committee
  2. Bone Cancer Research Trust, Scientific Advisory Committee
  3. International Society for Clinical Biostatisticians (ISCB)
  4. National Cancer Research Institute Gastrointestinal Clinical Studies Group
  5. NIHR Stroke Research Network Prevention Clinical Studies Group
  6. Independent External Statistical expert for 6 published NIHR or Cancer Research UK trials

Responsibilities

  • Director Surgical Interventions, Diagnostics and Devices Division
  • Head of Statistics

Research interests

My interests and experience are in:

  • early and late phase statistical trial design
  • statistical design and analysis of surgical and medical technology trials
  • statistical analyses including multivariable prognostic and diagnostic prediction modelling of clinical, demographic and biomarker data; joint modelling of quality of life and survival data and IPD meta-analysis
  • study design, conduct, data analysis and presentation within a tight regulatory framework according to MHRA GCP

My research portfolio includes studies funded through NIHR, MRC and other peer-reviewed funding panels (e.g. Wellcome, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK):

  • multi-centre, national and international, late phase 3 definitive studies
  • single and multicentre phase 2 efficacy/safety trials
  • early phase 1 dose escalation trials
  • non-inferiority and factorial trials
  • pilot feasibility studies
  • stratified medicine projects

Qualifications

  • 2010 PhD Prognostic Modelling of Pancreatic Cancer, University of Birmingham
  • 2008 Chartered Statistician, The Royal Statistical Society
  • 1997 MSc Medical Statistics, University of Leicester
  • BSc 2:1 (Hons) Statistics with Maths, University of Central Lancashire

Professional memberships

  • Diabetes UK Research Funding Committee
  • UKCRC Registered CTU Statistics Committee
  • NIHR Statistics Group
  • Royal Statistical Society member

Student education

I teach medical statistics and reserach methods at post-graduate level, supervise PhD students and NIHR fellows and act as internal and external PhD examiner.

Research groups and institutes

  • Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research
  • Surgical Interventions, Diagnostics and Devices Division
  • Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Trials Centre
  • Test Evaluation Group
  • Surgical technology
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>