HDRUK Oxford: Policy Masterclass Workshop

Overview: With science, health and politics increasingly in the popular press and media the interface between scientific evidence and its use in informing health policy is never more under the public scrutiny. Health data research can play an important role in informing health policy -current and future. Yet the two sectors of academia and policy can act somewhat disparately, resulting in research and policy making being siloed.

Aim: In the inaugural masterclass series, we aim to deliver a varied session that combines demystifying the wheels of policymaking, exploring successful examples of health research informing policy and lively debate on how and when scientific evidence could inform future policy development through a topical example.

A further hands-on session specifically for DPhils and ECRs will explore some useful tools, frameworks and opportunities for health data scientists to develop and optimise their work for policy impact.

Agenda:
12:00 – 12:30: Networking & Light Lunch

12:30 – 12:40: Welcome: Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh

12:40 – 13:10: Debunking Policy
Speaker: Tommy Wise (DHSC Social Care and Digital Innovation)
Overview of the machinery of policymaking, examples from digital technology and social care, key considerations of when engaging with policymakers

13:10 – 14:00: Panel Session: Research and Policy Interface: The Evidence Quandary
Moderator: Tommy Wise

Panel: Professor Cathie Sudlow (Strategic Advisor to HDRUK) Professor Dame Jenny Harries (Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer)

Interactive debate: How should evidence be generated to inform policy, by whom and when, and consideration for health data research?

14:00 – 14:20: Audience Q&A and close main session

14:20 – 14:45: Break

14:45 – 16:15: Hands-on Policy Masterclass (DPhils and ECRs only)
Instructors: Jose Rojas Alvarado (OPEN Policy Network) and Tommy Wise

 Introduce some available tools and frameworks to help understand policy landscape and how researchers can work with policy makers to inform their research
 Work through two practical examples
 Highlight opportunities in Oxfordshire and the UK for policy fellows

16:15 – 17:00: Networking and close

Date: 15 September 2025, 12:00
Venue:
Richard Doll Building
Old Road Campus OX3 7LF
See location on maps.ox

Details: Lecture theatre
Speakers: Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh (University of Oxford), Professor Cathie Sudlow (Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh), Professor Dame Jenny Harries (UK Health Security Agency), Tommy Wise (Department of Health and Social Care)
Organising department: Big Data Institute (NDPH)
Organisers: Stuart Faulkner (University of Oxford), Natasha Sahgal (University of Oxford), Sumeeta Maheshwari (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: sumeeta.maheshwari@ndph.ox.ac.uk
Hosts: Stuart Faulkner (University of Oxford), Natasha Sahgal (University of Oxford), Sumeeta Maheshwari (University of Oxford)
Part of: HDRUK Oxford Masterclass Workshop
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: https://forms.office.com/e/DXiw6WjdYY?origin=lprLink
Booking email: hdroxford@bdi.ox.ac.uk
Audience: Public
This talk features in the following public collections:
- Talks of Interest to Medical Sciences
Editors: Sumeeta Maheshwari, Natasha Sahgal