Sandy Oliver

Professor Sandy Oliver is a leading academic in public policy and evidence-based research, currently serving as Professor of Public Policy at the Social Research Institute, University College London (UCL), and Deputy Director of the EPPI Centre. Her work focuses on bridging research and decision-making in policy, healthcare, and public services. She pioneered patient and public involvement in research, particularly within the NHS, and co-founded the journal Research for All to promote collaborative research between communities and academia.

Education:

• PhD, University of Surrey (1981)
• Bachelor of Arts, University of York (1976)

Research Interests:

• Systematic reviews and evidence synthesis
• Public and stakeholder involvement in research and policy
• Evidence-informed decision-making in global health and development
• Transdisciplinary research approaches
• Health equity and marginalized populations

Awards and Affiliations:

• Member of the Campbell Collaboration Board
• Editor with the Cochrane Collaboration
• Co-editor of Research for All
• Former Director of UCL’s Social Science Research Unit (2015–2020)
• Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg (2018–2023)

Grants and Projects:

• Lead on initiatives like the CEPHI project exploring complexity in public health evidence
• Work with DFID and the WHO on global health guidelines
• Development of frameworks for rapid evidence assessments and stakeholder engagement

Labs and Teams: Active in the EPPI Centre, a global leader in evidence synthesis, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on global health and development projects.