Evaluating Medical Tests (EMT): How to assess whether a biomarker or diagnostic test is fit for purpose? (Online) Non-credit

Where are you applying from?

Delivery format
Online
Start date
November 2026
Duration
4 days
Award
Non-credit bearing
Entry requirements
The course is suitable for all researchers with an interest in test evaluation.
Full requirements
Fees (UK/Ireland)
CPD course fees vary. Please see fee details for more information.
Fee details

Course overview

The Evaluating Medical Tests is a 4-day online course designed for researchers seeking to apply robust methods in diagnostic test evaluation. Learn how to evaluate test variability, test accuracy and clinical impact. Explore the role of tests in screening, monitoring and diagnosis and gain insights into study designs and patient pathways.

This course includes sessions where key content, theory and examples will be presented and application sessions where you will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge and ask questions.

The course is delivered by members of the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis, Test Evaluation And prediction Modelling (BESTEAM) research team at University of Birmingham.

Course delivery

The skills you will gain include:

Understanding the phases of test evaluation and development

Know the importance of assessing test variability, accuracy and impact

Have an understanding of the study designs used for assessing test variability, accuracy and impact

Recognise and interpret the key measures used to explain test variability, accuracy and impact

Course dates:

9th - 12th November 2026

Structure of the course

This four-day course will focus on a different aspect of test evaluation: Test variability, test accuracy and test impact.

You will receive a certificate of completion on request.

Lecturers involved in the delivery of the course

Professor Alice Sitch - Professor of Biostatistics
Professor Jon Deeks - Professor of Biostatistics
Dr Clare Davenport - Associate Clinical Professor
Beth Hillier - Pre-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate
Dr Simon Baldwin - Research Fellow
Dr Jac Dinnes - Senior Research Fellow
Dr Laura Quinn - Research Fellow
Katie Scandrett - Research Fellow

Teaching staff

Professor Alice Sitch
Professor of Biostatistics
Professor of Biostatistics who leads the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis, Test Evaluation and prediction Models (BESTEAM) research group
Professor Jon Deeks
Professor of Biostatistics
Professor of Biostatistics who leads the NIHR Birmingham BRC theme of Data, Decision making and Diagnostic Tests
Dr Clare Davenport
Clinical Associate Professor
Associate Clinical Professor and a member of the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis, Test Evaluation and Modelling team.
Dr Simon Baldwin
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics focusing on test evaluation, biological variability, longitudinal modelling, and routine data.
Dr Laura Quinn
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics whose research focuses on diagnostic test evaluation in medical imaging.
Miss Katie Scandrett
Research Associate
Statistician based in the Test Evaluation Research Group within the Department of Applied Health Sciences.