Dr Sarah Berhane BSc, MSc, PhD

Dr Sarah Berhane

Medical Statistician

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 7691
Email
s.berhane@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
Institute of Applied Health Research
Public Health Building
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Sarah Berhane is a research fellow in medical statistics based in the Institute of Applied Health Research. She is a member of the Test Evaluation Research Group (TERG) and the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis and Test Evaluation (BESaTE) teams.

Sarah’s main research interests are diagnostic and prognostic modelling for clinical prediction, and systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy.

Google Scholar profile.

Qualifications

  • Royal Statistical Society Graduate Statistician, 2020
  • MSc in Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 2017
  • PhD in Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, 2012
  • BSc in Biochemistry, Imperial College London, 2005

Biography

Sarah Berhane’s background is in biological sciences, basic science research and medical statistics. She has a BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial College London, PhD in Cancer Sciences from the University of Birmingham and MSc in Medical Statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Sarah began working at the Institute of Applied Health Research as part of the Test Evaluation Research Group (TERG) and the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis and Test Evaluation (BESATE) teams in 2019. She is involved in various projects focusing mainly on diagnostic and prognostic modelling for the purpose of clinical prediction. She also worked on projects related to systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. She made major contributions to over 40 peer-reviewed publications to date (including three first author papers and two book chapters).

Sarah has recently joined the West Midlands Research Design Service (RDS) team as a statistical advisor.

Teaching

Postgraduate supervision

Sarah contributes to the supervision of MSc and PhD students.

Research

Sarah’s research interests are in diagnostic and prognostic modelling for clinical prediction, and systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy.

Her experience in predictive modelling mainly stems from her work in the field of diagnosis and prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). She contributed to the development of models predicting various clinical outcomes in HCC and chronic liver disease patients. This led to publications in high impact journals. Highlights being the development of a measure for liver function (ALBI grade) in HCC patients, which has been independently validated, with the potential to replace the current Child-Pugh grade. Another is the GALAD score for predicting the probability of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease. In 2020, the GALAD score (as part of Roche Diagnostics Liver Indication Program) was granted the Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Sarah is involved in various systematic reviews for evaluating the diagnostic accuracies of tests for colorectal cancer, melanoma, rheumatoid arthritis, ovarian cancer and COVID-19 (antigen and PCR).

Current projects

  • mTBI-predict Study: a prospective cohort biomarker study for identifying novel biomarkers for prognosis of the most disabling sequelae in patients with mild traumatic injury (mTBI).
  • COPE-West Midlands (COPE-WM): a study examining the relative contribution of occupational, sociodemographic, home environment, lifestyle and clinical characteristics in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in several NHS Trusts within the West Midlands.

Publications

2022

  1. Davenport C, Rai N, Sharma P, Deeks JJ, Berhane S, Mallet S, Saha P, Champaneria R, Bayliss SE, Snell K, Sundar S. (2022) A systematic review and meta--analysis of diagnostic models combining clinical information, ultrasound and biochemical markers for ovarian cancer. Cancers, 14, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx Accepted in press
  2. Davenport C, Rai N, Sharma P, Deeks JJ, Berhane S, Mallet S, Saha P, Champaneria R, Bayliss SE, Snell K, Sundar S. (2022) Menopausal status, ultrasound and biomarker tests in combination for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in symptomatic women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Issue 7, DOI:10.1001/14651858. CD011964.pub2 (In press)
  3. Dinnes J, Sharma P, Berhane S, van Wyk SS, Nyaaba N, Domen J, Taylor M, Cunningham J, Davenport C, Dittrich S, Emperador D, Hooft L, Leeflang MMG, McInnes MDF, Spijker R, Verbakel JY, Takwoingi Y, Taylor-Phillips S, Van den Bruel A, Deeks JJ, Cochrane COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Group. Rapid, point-of-care antigen tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD013705. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013705 (accepted/in press).
  4. Grobbee, E. J., P. H. Wisse, E. H. Schreuders, A. van Roon, L. van Dam, A. G. Zauber, I. Lansdorp-Vogelaar, W. Bramer, S. Berhane, J. J. Deeks, E. W. Steyerberg, M. E. van Leerdam, M. C. Spaander and E. J. Kuipers (2022). "Guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests versus faecal immunochemical tests for colorectal cancer screening in average-risk individuals." Cochrane Database Syst Rev 6: CD009276.
  5.  Davies, H. O., M. Watkins, R. Oliver, S. Berhane and A. W. Bradbury (2022). "Adverse neurological events after sodium tetradecyl sulfate foam sclerotherapy - A prospective, observational study of 8056 treatments." Phlebology 37(2): 97-104.
  6.  Hydes, T. J., D. J. Cuthbertson, S. Graef, S. Berhane, M. Teng, A. Skowronska, P. Singh, S. Dhanaraj, A. Tahrani and P. J. Johnson (2022). "The Impact of Diabetes and Glucose-Lowering Therapies on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence and Overall Survival." Clin Ther 44(2): 257-268.
  7.  de Pablo, P., J. Dinnes, S. Berhane, A. Osman, Z. Lim, A. Coombe, K. Raza, A. Filer and J. J. Deeks (2022). "Systematic review of imaging tests to predict the development of rheumatoid arthritis in people with unclassified arthritis." Semin Arthritis Rheum 52: 151919.
  8.  Albargi, H., S. Mallett, S. Berhane, S. Booth, C. Hawkes, G. D. Perkins, M. Norton, T. Foster and B. Scholefield (2022). "Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation for paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in England: An observational registry cohort study." Resuscitation 170: 17-25.

2021

  1. Elhassan, Y. S., B. Altieri, S. Berhane, D. Cosentini, A. Calabrese, M. Haissaguerre, D. Kastelan, M. Fragoso, J. Bertherat, A. Al Ghuzlan, H. Haak, M. Boudina, L. Canu, P. Loli, M. Sherlock, O. Kimpel, M. Lagana, A. J. Sitch, M. Kroiss, W. Arlt, M. Terzolo, A. Berruti, J. J. Deeks, R. Libe, M. Fassnacht and C. L. Ronchi (2021). "S-GRAS score for prognostic classification of adrenocortical carcinoma: an international, multicenter ENSAT study." Eur J Endocrinol186(1): 25-36.
  2.  Johnson, P. J., S. Dhanaraj, S. Berhane, L. Bonnett and Y. T. Ma (2021). "The prognostic and diagnostic significance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective controlled study." British Journal of Cancer: 1-3.
  3.  Kolamunnage-Dona, R., S. Berhane, H. Potts, E. H. Williams, J. Tanner, T. Janowitz, M. Hoare and P. Johnson (2021). "Sorafenib is associated with a reduced rate of tumour growth and liver function deterioration in HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma." Journal of hepatology.
  4.  Dinnes, J., J. J. Deeks, S. Berhane, M. Taylor, A. Adriano, C. Davenport, S. Dittrich, D. Emperador, Y. Takwoingi, J. Cunningham, S. Beese, J. Domen, J. Dretzke, L. Ferrante di Ruffano, I. M. Harris, M. J. Price, S. Taylor-Phillips, L. Hooft, M. M. Leeflang, M. D. McInnes, R. Spijker, A. Van den Bruel and C.-D. T. A. G. Cochrane (2021). "Rapid, point-of-care antigen and molecular-based tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection." Cochrane Database Syst Rev3: CD013705.
  5.  Johnson, P. J., S. Berhane, A. J. Walker, F. H. Gordon, S. D. Ryder, S. McPherson, A. Sreedharan, A. A. Ustianowski, K. Agarwal, D. Mutimer, T. Kumada, H. Toyoda, W. L. Irving and H. C. V. R. UK (2021). "Impact of direct-acting antiviral agents on liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection." J Viral Hepat28(1): 168-176.
  6. Hughes, D. M., S. Berhane, C. A. Emily de Groot, H. Toyoda, T. Tada, T. Kumada, S. Satomura, N. Nishida, M. Kudo, T. Kimura, Y. Osaki, R. Kolamunage-Dona, R. Amoros, T. Bird, M. Garciotaa-Finana and P. Johnson (2021). "Serum Levels of alpha-Fetoprotein Increased More Than 10 Years Before Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma." Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol19(1): 162-170 e164.
  7. Struyf, T., J. J. Deeks, J. Dinnes, Y. Takwoingi, C. Davenport, M. M. G. Leeflang, R. Spijker, L. Hooft, D. Emperador, J. Domen, S. R. A. Horn, A. Van den Bruel and Cochrane COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Group. (2021). "Signs and symptoms to determine if a patient presenting in primary care or hospital outpatient settings has COVID‐19." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(2).
  8. Islam, N., S. Ebrahimzadeh, J. P. Salameh, S. Kazi, N. Fabiano, L. Treanor, M. Absi, Z. Hallgrimson, M. M. G. Leeflang, L. Hooft, C. B. van der Pol, R. Prager, S. S. Hare, C. Dennie, R. Spijker, J. J. Deeks, J. Dinnes, K. Jenniskens, D. A. Korevaar, J. F. Cohen, A. van den Bruel, Y. Takwoingi, J. van de Wijgert, J. A. A. G. Damen, J. Wang, M. D. McInnes and Cochrane COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Group. (2021). "Thoracic imaging tests for the diagnosis of COVID‐19." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(3).

2020

  1. Taylor-Phillips, S., S. Berhane, A. J. Sitch, K. Freeman, M. J. Price, C. Davenport, J. Geppert, I. M. Harris, O. Osokogu, M. Skrybant and J. J. Deeks (2020). "Information given by websites selling home self-sampling COVID-19 tests: an analysis of accuracy and completeness." BMJ Open 10(11): e042453.
  2. Stegeman, I., E. A. Ochodo, F. Guleid, G. A. Holtman, B. Yang, C. Davenport, J. J. Deeks, J. Dinnes, S. Dittrich, D. Emperador, L. Hooft, R. Spijker, Y. Takwoingi, A. Van den Bruel, J. Wang, M. Langendam, J. Y. Verbakel, M. M. Leeflang and Cochrane COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Group. (2020). "Routine laboratory testing to determine if a patient has COVID‐19." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(11).
  3. Dinnes, J., J. J. Deeks, A. Adriano, S. Berhane, C. Davenport, S. Dittrich, D. Emperador, Y. Takwoingi, J. Cunningham, S. Beese, J. Dretzke, L. Ferrante di Ruffano, I. M. Harris, M. J. Price, S. Taylor-Phillips, L. Hooft, M. M. Leeflang, R. Spijker, A. Van den Bruel and C.-D. T. A. G. Cochrane (2020). "Rapid, point-of-care antigen and molecular-based tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection." Cochrane Database Syst Rev 8: CD013705.
  4. Deeks, J. J., J. Dinnes, Y. Takwoingi, C. Davenport, R. Spijker, S. Taylor-Phillips, A. Adriano, S. Beese, J. Dretzke, L. F. di Ruffano, I. M. Harris, M. J. Price, S. Dittrich, D. Emperador, L. Hooft, M. M. G. Leeflang, A. Van den Bruel and Cochrane COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Group (2020). "Antibody tests for identification of current and past infection with SARS‐CoV‐2." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(6).
  5. Labeur, T. A., S. Berhane and P. J. Johnson (2020). "Response to: Prognostication of HCC patients under sorafenib is not always possible." Liver Int 40(5): 1243-1244.
  6. Best, J., L. P. Bechmann, J. P. Sowa, S. Sydor, A. Dechene, K. Pflanz, S. Bedreli, C. Schotten, A. Geier, T. Berg, J. Fischer, A. Vogel, H. Bantel, A. Weinmann, J. M. Schattenberg, Y. Huber, H. Wege, J. von Felden, K. Schulze, D. Bettinger, R. Thimme, F. Sinner, K. Schutte, K. H. Weiss, H. Toyoda, S. Yasuda, T. Kumada, S. Berhane, M. Wichert, D. Heider, G. Gerken, P. Johnson and A. Canbay (2020). "GALAD Score Detects Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an International Cohort of Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis." Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 18(3): 728-735 e724.
  7. Han, G., S. Berhane, H. Toyoda, D. Bettinger, O. Elshaarawy, A. W. H. Chan, M. Kirstein, C. Mosconi, F. Hucke, D. Palmer, D. J. Pinato, R. Sharma, D. Ottaviani, J. W. Jang, T. A. Labeur, O. M. van Delden, M. Pirisi, N. Stern, B. Sangro, T. Meyer, W. Fateen, M. Garcia-Finana, A. Gomaa, I. Waked, E. Rewisha, G. P. Aithal, S. Travis, M. Kudo, A. Cucchetti, M. Peck-Radosavljevic, R. B. Takkenberg, S. L. Chan, A. Vogel and P. J. Johnson (2020). "Prediction of Survival Among Patients Receiving Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Response-Based Approach." Hepatology 72(1): 198-212.
  8. Labeur, T. A., S. Berhane, J. Edeline, J. F. Blanc, D. Bettinger, T. Meyer, J. L. A. Van Vugt, D. W. G. Ten Cate, R. A. De Man, F. Eskens, A. Cucchetti, L. J. Bonnett, O. M. Van Delden, H. J. Klumpen, R. B. Takkenberg and P. J. Johnson (2020). "Improved survival prediction and comparison of prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib." Liver Int 40(1): 215-228.
  9. Cucchetti, A., J. Zhong, S. Berhane, H. Toyoda, K. Shi, T. Tada, C. C. N. Chong, B. D. Xiang, L. Q. Li, P. B. S. Lai, G. Ercolani, V. Mazzaferro, M. Kudo, M. Cescon, A. D. Pinna, T. Kumada and P. J. Johnson (2020). "The chances of hepatic resection curing hepatocellular carcinoma." J Hepatol 72(4): 711-717.

2019

  1. Guha, I. N., R. Harris, S. Berhane, A. Dillon, L. Coffey, M. W. James, A. Cucchetti, D. J. Harman, G. P. Aithal, O. Elshaarawy, I. Waked, S. Stewart and P. J. Johnson (2019). "Validation of a Model for Identification of Patients With Compensated Cirrhosis at High Risk of Decompensation." Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 17(11): 2330-2338 e2331.
  2. Chan, A. W. H., S. Berhane, A. Cucchetti and P. J. Johnson (2019). "Reply to: Correspondence concerning "Development of pre and post-operative models to predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection"." J Hepatol 70(3): 573-574.
  3. Dupre, A., S. Berhane, A. W. H. Chan, M. Rivoire, C. C. N. Chong, P. B. S. Lai, A. Cucchetti, G. J. Poston, H. Z. Malik and P. J. Johnson (2019). "Multicentre validation of a clinical prognostic score integrating the systemic inflammatory response to the host for patients treated with curative-intent for colorectal liver metastases: The Liverpool score." Eur J Surg Oncol 45(6): 999-1004.
  4. Berhane, S., R. Fox, M. Garcia-Finana, A. Cucchetti and P. Johnson (2019). "Using prognostic and predictive clinical features to make personalised survival prediction in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing sorafenib treatment." Br J Cancer 121(2): 117-124.

2018

  1. Jackson, R., E. Psarelli, S. Berhane and P. J. Johnson (2018). "Predictors of sorafenib benefit in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma." J Hepatol 68(3): 619-620.
  2. Chan, A. W. H., J. Zhong, S. Berhane, H. Toyoda, A. Cucchetti, K. Shi, T. Tada, C. C. N. Chong, B. D. Xiang, L. Q. Li, P. B. S. Lai, V. Mazzaferro, M. Garcia-Finana, M. Kudo, T. Kumada, S. Roayaie and P. J. Johnson (2018). "Development of pre and post-operative models to predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection." J Hepatol 69(6): 1284-1293.

2017

  1. Jackson, R., E. E. Psarelli, S. Berhane, H. Khan and P. Johnson (2017). "Impact of Viral Status on Survival in Patients Receiving Sorafenib for Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Phase III Trials." J Clin Oncol 35(6): 622-628.
  2. Waked, I., S. Berhane, H. Toyoda, S. L. Chan, N. Stern, D. Palmer, T. Tada, W. Yeo, F. Mo, D. Bettinger, M. M. Kirstein, M. Inarrairaegui, A. Gomaa, A. Vogel, T. Meyer, B. Sangro, P. Lai, T. Kumada and P. J. Johnson (2017). "Transarterial chemo-embolisation of hepatocellular carcinoma: impact of liver function and vascular invasion." Br J Cancer 116(4): 448-454.
  3. Johnson, P., S. Berhane, C. Kagebayashi, S. Satomura, M. Teng, R. Fox, W. Yeo, F. Mo, P. Lai, S. L. Chan, T. Tada, H. Toyoda and T. Kumada (2017). "Impact of disease stage and aetiology on survival in hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for surveillance." Br J Cancer 116(4): 441-447.
  4.  Schweitzer, N., M. Fischer, M. M. Kirstein, S. Berhane, M. Kottas, M. Sinn, M. A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Z. Balta, T. J. Weismuller, C. P. Strassburg, T. Reineke-Plaass, H. Bektas, M. P. Manns, P. Johnson, A. Weinmann and A. Vogel (2017). "Risk estimation for biliary tract cancer: Development and validation of a prognostic score." Liver Int 37(12): 1852-1860.

2016

  1. Toyoda, H., P. B. Lai, J. O'Beirne, C. C. Chong, S. Berhane, H. Reeves, D. Manas, R. P. Fox, W. Yeo, F. Mo, A. W. Chan, T. Tada, M. Inarrairaegui, A. Vogel, N. Schweitzer, S. L. Chan, B. Sangro, T. Kumada and P. J. Johnson (2016). "Long-term impact of liver function on curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: application of the ALBI grade." Br J Cancer 114(7): 744-750.
  2. Berhane, S., H. Toyoda, T. Tada, T. Kumada, C. Kagebayashi, S. Satomura, N. Schweitzer, A. Vogel, M. P. Manns, J. Benckert, T. Berg, M. Ebker, J. Best, A. Dechene, G. Gerken, J. F. Schlaak, A. Weinmann, M. A. Worns, P. Galle, W. Yeo, F. Mo, S. L. Chan, H. Reeves, T. Cox and P. Johnson (2016). "Role of the GALAD and BALAD-2 Serologic Models in Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Prediction of Survival in Patients." Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 14(6): 875-886 e876.

2015

  1. Thomas, A., T. Perry, S. Berhane, C. Oldreive, A. Zlatanou, L. R. Williams, V. J. Weston, T. Stankovic, P. Kearns, K. Pors, R. J. Grand and G. S. Stewart (2015). "The dual-acting chemotherapeutic agent Alchemix induces cell death independently of ATM and p53." Oncogene 34(25): 3336-3348.
  2. Johnson, P. J., S. Berhane, C. Kagebayashi, S. Satomura, M. Teng, H. L. Reeves, J. O'Beirne, R. Fox, A. Skowronska, D. Palmer, W. Yeo, F. Mo, P. Lai, M. Inarrairaegui, S. L. Chan, B. Sangro, R. Miksad, T. Tada, T. Kumada and H. Toyoda (2015). "Assessment of liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a new evidence-based approach-the ALBI grade." J Clin Oncol 33(6): 550-558.

2014

  1. Chan, S. L., P. J. Johnson, F. Mo, S. Berhane, M. Teng, A. W. Chan, M. C. Poon, P. B. Lai, S. Yu, A. T. Chan and W. Yeo (2014). "International validation of the Chinese university prognostic index for staging of hepatocellular carcinoma: a joint United Kingdom and Hong Kong study." Chin J Cancer 33(10): 481-491.
  2. Johnson, P. J., S. J. Pirrie, T. F. Cox, S. Berhane, M. Teng, D. Palmer, J. Morse, D. Hull, G. Patman, C. Kagebayashi, S. Hussain, J. Graham, H. Reeves and S. Satomura (2014). "The detection of hepatocellular carcinoma using a prospectively developed and validated model based on serological biomarkers." Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev23(1): 144-153.
  3. Fox, R., S. Berhane, M. Teng, T. Cox, T. Tada, H. Toyoda, T. Kumada, C. Kagebayashi, S. Satomura and P. J. Johnson (2014). "Biomarker-based prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma: validation and extension of the BALAD model." Br J Cancer110(8): 2090-2098.

2011

  1. Steele, J. C., A. Rao, J. R. Marsden, C. J. Armstrong, S. Berhane, L. J. Billingham, N. Graham, C. Roberts, G. Ryan, H. Uppal, C. Walker, L. S. Young and N. M. Steven (2011). "Phase I/II trial of a dendritic cell vaccine transfected with DNA encoding melan A and gp100 for patients with metastatic melanoma." Gene Ther 18(6): 584-593.
  2. Berhane, S., C. Areste, J. N. Ablack, G. B. Ryan, D. J. Blackbourn, J. S. Mymryk, A. S. Turnell, J. C. Steele and R. J. Grand (2011). "Adenovirus E1A interacts directly with, and regulates the level of expression of, the immunoproteasome component MECL1." Virology 421(2): 149-158.

Book chapters

  1. Johnson PJ, Khan H and Berhane S. (2017). Assessment of liver function: Focus on the ALBI score In: Radiation Therapy for Liver Tumors: Fundamentals and Clinical Practice, 31-38.
  2. Johnson P and Berhane S. (2016). Protein biomarkers in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: Novel combinatory approaches. In: Hepatocellular carcinoma. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 331 - 338.

View all publications in research portal