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

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

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.

• MBChB
• MPH
• MSc Clinical oncology

Continuing Professional Development

• Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy

• Clinical Reasoning 

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

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. 

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