Dr Arabella Scantlebury

• PhD Health Sciences, University of York, 2015
• MSc Psychological Approaches to Health, University of Leeds, 2011-2012
• BSc (hons) Sport and Exercise Science, University of Leeds, 2008-2011

Arabella is an applied health researcher and social scientist whose research portfolio includes designing and leading studies across various sectors such as health, education, policing, and the fire service. She is most passionate about research that promotes the adoption of evidence into policy and practice.

As a leading qualitative methodologist and mixed methods researcher, Arabella uniquely combines substantive expertise in Randomised Controlled Trials, implementation science, and evidence synthesis. She is particularly passionate about using methodological innovation to address complex problems in health services delivery and evaluation. Renowned for her methodological work, she has significantly improved the design and delivery of randomised controlled trials and has a keen interest in using methodological innovation to enhance the adoption of evidence into surgical practice. Her recent methodological work has advanced our understanding of designing and analysing large qualitative studies within national mixed methods evaluations of health policy.

Arabella's research in surgery has primarily focused on orthopaedics, where she has conducted Randomised Controlled Trials across multiple orthopaedic specialties. Her wide range of research interests in surgery includes effectiveness studies and exploring how the culture of surgery influences surgical decision-making and practice.

In January 2025, Arabella joined the University of Birmingham to lead the evidence-based surgery research group within the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science, College of Social Sciences. She has taught qualitative research and mixed methods across various postgraduate modules at the University of York and Newcastle University. Arabella also served as Programme Lead and Deputy Programme Lead for the MSc Health Services Research at the University of York from 2020 to 2024.

Arabella leads the Evidence Based Surgery Research Group within the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science at the University of Birmingham. She is a member of the Midlands NIHR Patient Safety Research Centre and NIHR West Midlands Evidence Synthesis Group. 

Key current research projects: 

Chief investigator. NIHR HSDR. Identifying innovative models of urgent and emergency care in rural and coastal areas in England: a mixed methods study. 

Co-applicant. British Orthopaedic association: Optimising recruitment and delivery of orthopaedic trauma trials: practical guidelines and best practice framework. 

Co-applicant NIHR HSDR. The MEASURE Study: Mixed Methods Evaluation of the High-Volume Low-Complexity Surgical Hub Programme. 

Co-applicant NIHR HTA. Surgery versus Conservative OsteOarthritis of Thumb Trial (SCOOTT)An RCT to determine clinical and cost effectiveness of treating arthritis of the base of the thumb, with or without surgery, and to determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of trapeziectomy versus base of thumb joint replacement.

Arabella is a Visiting Associate Professor at University of York.

Member, Panel Stroke Association Rehabilitation and Long-term care panel Project Grant Awards.

NIHR Trial Steering Committee: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to sustain independence for older people living with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and frailty).