Professor Rachel Jordan MA (Cantab), MPH, PhD

Professor Rachel Jordan

Department of Applied Health Sciences
Professor of Epidemiology and Primary Care
Director of Global Engagement, College of Medicine and Health

Contact details

Email
r.e.jordan@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
The Murray Learning Centre
Department of Applied Health Sciences
College of Medicine and Health
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham, B15 2TT

Rachel Jordan is a Professor in Epidemiology & Primary Care. Her research focuses mainly on the early diagnosis, management and prognosis of COPD in the primary care setting.

She has successfully led several NIHR-funded programmes including a £2.4m programme grant and a £2m Global Health Research Group grant and is currently co-lead of Breathe Well South America, a £3m Global Health Research Group funded by the NIHR. Rachel is a member of the research leadership team and immediate past chair of the research committee of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG). She is the College Director of Global Engagement and also co-leads the University-wide Global Health Impact Hub.

Other research interests include the effectiveness and uptake of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine in different population groups, occupational lung disease and the health of healthcare workers.

She teaches and supervises postgraduate and undergraduate students in Medicine, Public Health and Clinical Trials.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Epidemiology University of Birmingham, 2007
  • MPH University of Birmingham, 2000
  • MA (Cantab) Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 1993

Biography

Rachel Jordan qualified with a BA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (Emmanuel College) in 1993.

After a brief spell in the pharmaceutical industry she went on to take her first post in epidemiology at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine with Professors Nick Wald and Malcolm Law, undertaking a series of systematic reviews including one which led to the generation of the Polypill idea.

Returning to her home town of Birmingham in 1998, Rachel joined the systematic review team in Public Health & Epidemiology, gaining her MPH and being awarded the Thomas McKeown project prize.  In 2000, although still based at the University of Birmingham, Rachel took up a research role with the Health Protection Agency, gaining her PhD part time over a 6-year period, and publishing further related papers, including 3 invited editorials in the BMJ. Most of her work during this period focussed on acute respiratory hospital admissions and the epidemiology of influenza and influenza vaccines.

Following completion of her PhD Rachel became a Lecturer with responsibility for helping to manage the MPH and moving to work more on chronic respiratory diseases, before in 2008 being awarded a research fellowship from the NIHR entitled “Towards a better understanding of the definition, characteristics and health service requirements of patients with COPD in the UK” comprising a series of studies using the Health Survey for England, the GPRD and published literature. 

She was an integral part of a team of investigators awarded a £2m NIHR programme grant entitled “COPD in Primary Care: from case finding to improving patient outcomes, co-PI on an HTA-funded evidence review of the effectiveness of self-management for COPD and a key investigator on a number of other related primary and secondary research grants. In 2017 she was awarded an NIHR Global Health Research Group grant on COPD in primary care. Her recent trial “TargetCOPD” was awarded 2016 RCGP Research Paper of the Year for the respiratory category.

In 2011 she was promoted to Senior Lecturer, in 2018 to Reader and in 2023 to Professor.

Teaching

Teaching Programmes

Research

Research themes

COPD screening; COPD epidemiology (aetiology, prognosis and effectiveness of new interventions); COPD self-management; health of healthcare workers; seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine epidemiology; systematic reviews; epidemiological studies; health services research; global health.

Current projects

Rachel is the Co-Chief Investigator and Director of Breathe Well South America; an NIHR-funded Global Health Research Group on COPD in Primary Care in South America (£3M; 2024-2028).

COLT Foundation (COl). A mixed-methods study to evaluate the influence of bio-psycho-social and cultural factors on the presence of work-exacerbated asthma; 2022-23; £55,674

NIHR HTA (CoI): Effectiveness of Electronic Cigarettes compared with varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and effect on Lung health (ECAL study); 2021-2024; £1,707,927

Previous grants

Breathe Well; NIHR-funded Global Health Research Group on COPD in Primary Care (£2M; 2017-2021).

NIHR HS&DR (PI): Enhancing the Health of NHS Staff: eTHOS. A randomised controlled pilot trial of an employee health screening clinic for NHS staff. 2018-2020; £701,136

DHSC/UKRI COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative (coI): COPE-Birmingham: The contribution of occupational exposures to risk of COVID-19 and approaches to control among healthcare workers; 2020-2022; £441,309

NIHR HTA (coI): Sputum colour charts to guide antibiotic self-treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD (Colour-COPD); 01/03/2019 to: 28/02/2023 (48 months). £2,056,942.37

LUPUS UK (CoI): Improving working lives and productivity amongst South Asian people with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; 2019-2020; £25,000

NIHR Programme Grant
COPD in Primary Care: from case finding to improving patient outcomes
2011-2018; £2.4m

NIHR Post-doctoral Research Fellowship:
Towards a better understanding of the definition, characteristics and health service requirements of patients with COPD in the UK
2008 – 2013; £337,041

NIHR HTA programme: Supported self-management for patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): an evidence synthesis and economic analysis
2011-2013; £241,472.

NIHR HTA programme
The cost-effectiveness of community based non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with stable end stage COPD with hypercapnic respiratory failure. A systematic review and economic evaluation
2012-2013; £213,264.

National Schools of Primary Care
Evaluation of the PiKo-6 as a novel screening test for case finding for COPD in primary care
Jan – Dec 2012: £58,957

National Schools of Primary Care
Patient self-management in primary care in patients with COPD
Jan 2013– Dec 2015: £802,000

National Schools of Primary Care
A pilot study to assess the prevalence and characteristics of emphysematous lung change in patients with symptoms of COPD and normal spirometry
Jan – Dec 2012: £50,000

NIHR HS&DR Programme
Enhancing the Health of NHS Staff: eTHOS.  A randomised controlled pilot trial of an employee health screening clinic for NHS staff. 
2018-2020; £701,136

NIHR HTA programme
Sputum colour charts to guide antibiotic self-treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD (Colour-COPD)
2019-2023; £2,056,942

Other activities

  • npjPCRM editorial Board member
  • NIHR Global Health Research Panel Member
  • RfPB COPD panel member
  • Past member of British Lung Foundation Research Committee


Publications

Recent publications

Article

Gkini, E, Adams, RL, Spittle, D, Ellis, P, Allsopp, K, Saleem, S, McKenna, M, le Mesurier, N, Gale, N, Tearne, S, Adab, P, Jordan, RE, Bakerly, N & Turner, AM 2025, 'Sputum colour charts to guide antibiotic self treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the Colour-COPD RCT', Health Technology Assessment. https://doi.org/10.3310/KPFD5558

Gkini, E, De Soyza, J, Spittle, DA, Ellis, PR, Tearne, S, Adab, P, Jordan, R, Bakerly, ND & Turner, AM 2025, 'Sputum colour charts to guide antibiotic self-treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the Colour-COPD RCT', BMJ Open Respiratory Research, vol. 12, no. 1, e003615. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2025-003615

Keene, SJ, Driessen, JHM, Jordan, RE, Sitch, A, Adab, P & Franssen, FME 2025, 'The independent and combined effects of smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on body mass index trajectories', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 10, 32883. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17270-0

D'Elia, A, Jordan, RE, Cheng, KK, Chi, C, Correia de Sousa, J, Dickens, AP, Enocson, A, Farley, A, Gale, N, Jolly, K, Jowett, S, Maglakelidze , M, Maghlakelidze, T, Martins, SM, Pan, Z, Sitch, A, Stavrikj, K, Turner, A, Williams, S & Adab, P 2024, 'COPD burden and healthcare management across four middle income countries within the Breathe Well research programme: a descriptive study', Global Health Research. https://doi.org/10.3310/WKVR4250

Dickens, AP, Gale, N, Adab, P, Cheng, KK, Chi, C, Correia de Sousa, J, Enocson, A, Farley, A, Jolly, K, Jowett, S, Maglakelidze , M, Maglakelidze, T, Martins, S, Pan, Z, Sitch, A, Stavrikj, K, Turner, A, Williams, S & Jordan, RE 2024, 'Development and application of a rapid research prioritisation process for identifying health research priorities in low- and middle-income countries: the RAPID-RP stakeholder analysis', Global Health Research, pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.3310/CTHF1385

Fernandes, G, Williams, S, Adab, P, Gale, N, de Jong, C, Correia-de-Sousa, J, Cheng, KK, Chi, C, Cooper, BG, Dickens, AP, Enocson, A, Farley, A, Jolly, K, Jowett, S, Maglakelidze, M, Maghlakelidze, T, Martins, S, Sitch, A, Stamenova, A, Stavrikj, K, Stelmach, R, Turner, A, Pan, Z, Pang, H, Zhang, J & Jordan, RE 2024, 'Engaging stakeholders to level up COPD care in LMICs: lessons learned from the "Breathe Well" programme in Brazil, China, Georgia, and North Macedonia', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 24, no. 1, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10525-4

Adams, R, Jordan, R, Maher, A, Adab, P, Barrett, T, Bevan, S, Cooper, L, DuRand, I, Edwards, F, Hardy, P, Harris, C, Heneghan, NR, Jolly, K, Jowett, S, Marshall, T, O'Hara, M, Poyner, C, Rai, K, Rickards, H, Riley, R, Ives, N, Sadhra, S, Tearne, S, Walters, G & Sapey, E 2024, 'Health screening clinic to reduce absenteeism and presenteeism among NHS Staff: eTHOS a pilot RCT', Health and Social Care Delivery Research, vol. 12, no. 23, pp. 1-105. https://doi.org/10.3310/KDST3869

Martins, SM, Adams, R, Rodrigues, EM, Stelmach, R, Adab, P, Chi, C, Cheng, KK, Cooper, BG, Correia-de-Sousa, J, Dickens, AP, Enocson, A, Farley, A, Gale, N, Jolly, K, Jordan, RE, Jowett, S, Maglakelidze, M, Maghlakelidze, T, Sitch, A, Stavrikj, K, Turner, AM, Williams, S & Nascimento, VB 2024, 'Living with COPD and its psychological effects on participating in community-based physical activity in Brazil: a qualitative study. Findings from the Breathe Well group', NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, vol. 34, 33. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00386-7

Williams, S, Fernandes, G, Adab, P, Adams, R, Correia de Sousa, J, Chi, C, Dickens, AP, Enocson, A, Farley, A, Maglakelidze , M, Maglakelidze, T, Martins, S, Sitch, A, Stamenova, A, Stavrikj, K, Stelmach , R, Turner, A, Pan, Z, Pang, H, Zhang, J & Jordan, RE 2024, 'Strengthening clinician-researchers’ communication and knowledge translation skills: An innovative game model from the Breathe Well group', Inquiry, vol. 61, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580241273178

Watson, JS, Jordan, RE, Gardiner, L, Adab, P & Jolly, K 2023, 'A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Referral; Adherence; and Uptake of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease', International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, vol. 18, pp. 1637-1654. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S396317

Gjorgjievski, D, Stavrikj, K, Jordan, R, Adab, P, Stanoevski, G, Stamenova, A, Krstevska, E, Simonovska, S, Trpcheski, F, Adams, R, Easter, C, Rai, K, Cheng, KK, Chi, C, Cooper, BG, Correia-de-Sousa, J, Dickens, AP, Enocson, A, Gale, N, Jolly, K, Jowett, S, Maglakelidze, M, Maghlakelidze, T, Martins, S, Sitch, A, Stelmach, R, Turner, A, Williams, S & Farley, A 2023, 'Randomised controlled trial testing effectiveness of feedback about lung age or exhaled CO combined with very brief advice for smoking cessation compared to very brief advice alone in North Macedonia: findings from the Breathe Well group', BMC Public Health, vol. 23, no. 1, 1887. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16644-1

Martins, SM, Dickens, A, Salibe-Filho , W, Albuquerque Neto , AA, Adab, P, Enocson, A, Cooper, BG, Sousa, LVA, Sitch, A, Jowett, S, Adams, R, Cheng, KK, Chi, C, Correia-de-Sousa, J, Farley, A, Gale, N, Jolly, K, Maglakelidze, M, Maghlakelidze, T, Stavrikj, K, Turner, A, Williams, S, Jordan, R & Stelmach, R 2022, 'Accuracy and economic evaluation of different screening tests and their combinations for undiagnosed COPD among people with hypertension in Brazil', NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, vol. 32, 55 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-022-00303-w

Comment/debate

Jordan, RE, Hingorani, AD & Wald, NJ 2025, 'Primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes: Seeking consensus on the polypill approach', BMJ, vol. 388, r208. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r208

Letter

Krishna, MT, Liyanage, G, Shrestha, R, Jordan, RE & Christopher, DJ 2024, 'An urgent need for capacity building towards establishment of drug allergy management systems in the Indian sub-continent', The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia, vol. 20, 100320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100320

Review article

Kongsupon, N, Adab, P, Jordan, RE, Huntley, CC, Rattanakanokchai, S, Wallbanks, S, Li, S & Walters, GI 2025, 'Screening tools for work-related asthma and their diagnostic accuracy: a systematic review', BMJ Open Respiratory Research, vol. 12, no. 1, e003251. https://doi.org/10.1136/ bmjresp-2025-003251

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