Dr Clare Davenport BSc, MBChB, MSC, PhD, FFPH

Clare Davenport

Institute of Applied Health Research
Associate Clinical Professor

Contact details

Address
Test and Prediction (TAP) team
Institute of Applied Health Research
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham, B15 2TT

Clare Davenport is an Associate Clinical Professor working in the Institute of Applied Health Research. She is a member of the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis, Test Evaluation and Modelling team.

Clare collaborates on methodological and applied health research projects. Her research interests include methods for undertaking systematic reviews of test accuracy, methods for evaluating the impact of testing on patient outcomes and diagnostic decision making.

Clare has several scientific and advisory roles. She has an editorial role for the Cochrane Collaboration. 

Qualifications

  • PhD in Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham. 2012
  • MSC Public Health, University of London, 1996)
  • MBChB, University of Leicester, 1992
  • BSC, Medical Sciences 1st class Hons, University of Leicester, 1989
  • Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians, 2006

Biography

Clare qualified in Medicine in 1992. She completed an MSc in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1996. After completing specialist training in Public Health in Oxford, Clare was seconded to the University of Birmingham where she gained experience undertaking Heath Technology Assessments for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Clare developed an interest in complex interventions and evaluation of medical tests. In 2004 she was awarded a PhD fellowship from the West Midlands Postgraduate Deanery to develop methods for formulating and undertaking systematic reviews and meta-analysis of test accuracy that reflected the needs of decision makers.

Clare’s post doctoral methodological research is in methods for undertaking systematic reviews of test accuracy; in methods for aligning primary and secondary test evaluation research to intended use; and methods to support diagnostic decision making.

Clare is also involved in various applied health projects as the methodological lead for systematic review elements funded by the NIHR and other international funders.

Clare is active in the development and delivery of various undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham. She also organises and contributes to courses and workshops on systematic reviews and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy nationally and internationally.

Teaching

Continuing Professional Development

  • Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy
  • Clinical Reasoning 

Postgraduate supervision

Clare is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

  • Methods for the evaluation of medical tests
  • Methodology for systematic reviews
  • Primary studies and systematic reviews of medical tests
  • Communication of research findings

Research

Clare’s post doctoral methodological research has included the development of tools for undertaking systematic reviews of diagnostic  test accuracy, specifically quality assessment and communication of results in plain language.

She is also co-investigator on several methodological projects concerned with ensuring that primary and secondary test evaluation research reflects the value proposition of medical tests.

Clare is interested in improving the accessibility of medical test evaluation methods and results to practitioners and researchers, ultimately to reduce research waste and to ensure that test evaluation research is aligned to clinical need. 

Other activities

Scientific and Advisory Committees:

  • Member QUADAS-3 Steering group
  • Member, Cochrane Screening and Diagnostic Test Methods Group
  • Member QUADAS-2C Steering group (

Editorial positions:

  • Editor, Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Reviews

Publications

Book chapters:

Leeflang MM, Davenport C, Bossuyt PM. Chapter 6: Defining the review question. Draft version (13 May 2022) for inclusion in: Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Leeflang MM, Takwoingi Y, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 2. London: Cochrane.

Leeflang MM, Steingart KR, Scholten RJ, Davenport C. Chapter 13: Drawing conclusions. In: Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Leeflang MM, Takwoingi Y, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 2. London: Cochrane.

Whiting P, Davenport C. Chapter 14: Writing a plain language summary. In: Deeks JJ, Bossuyt PM, Leeflang MM, Takwoingi Y, editor(s). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 2. London: Cochrane

Browne KD, Davenport CF. Doctor-Patient Communication and the Gynaecological History. In D.Luesley, editor. Common Conditions in Gynaecology: a problem solving approach. London. Chapman Hall.1997.

Peer reviewed publications:

See Orchid

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