Sarah Parkinson

Senior Analyst

Cambridge Office

Education

M.S. in social policy, University of Pennsylvania; B.A. in cultural anthropology, University of Pennsylvania

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact RAND Europe Media Relations at +44 (1223) 353 329, x2560, or email europeanmedia@rand.org.

More Experts

Overview

Sarah Parkinson is a senior analyst at RAND Europe in the health and wellbeing group. She works across a range of topics, including public health, health services and health innovation research. Her recent work includes studies on the promotion of novel tobacco products, the future of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), financing of medicines R&D, and the use of new technologies for infectious disease prevention, surveillance and control. She is experienced in qualitative and quantitative methods, evaluations and futures research, and and has extensive experience managing projects for various UK government bodies, international clients and EU institutions.

Prior to joining RAND Europe, Parkinson worked on projects related to prescription opioids and prescription drug monitoring programmes in the US. She holds an M.Sc. in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the same university.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Future-proofing study of EU One Health AMR Action Plan
Study on smoke-free environments and advertising of tobacco and related products
Point of care technologies for infectious diseases
Understanding the financial ecosystem surrounding the development of medicinesFinancing of
Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure

Selected Publications

Parkinson S, Smith J, Sidhu M, "Early development of primary care networks in the NHS in England: a qualitative mixed-methods evaluation," BMJ Open, 11(e055199), 2021

Hocking L, George J, Broberg EK, Struelens MJ, Leitmeyer KC, Deshpande A, Parkinson S, Francombe J, Morley KI, de Carvalho Gomes H, "A Scoping Review of Point-of-Care Testing Devices for Infectious Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control," European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , 2022

Morley KI, Parkinson S, Hocking L, Nederveen F, Hulme S, Evans H, "Study on Smoke-Free Environments and Advertising of Tobacco and Related Products: Final Report," European Commission, Tobacco Studies , 2021

Rodriguez-Rincon D, Parkinson S, Hocking L, Evans H, Hudson E, Morley KI, Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure, RAND Corporation

Marjanovic S, Parkinson S, Francombe J, Romanelli RJ, Rodriguez-Rincon D, Manville C, Progress Report: AMR Industry Alliance 2021 Survey, AMR Industry Alliance , 2022

Smith J, Parkinson S, Harshfield A, Sidhu M, Early Evidence of the Development of Primary Care Networks in England, Published in: National Institute for Health Research, 2020

Parkinson S, Bousfield J, Millar R, George J, Marjanovic S, Communicating research evidence to boards in health and care organisations: A scoping study, RAND Corporation, 2021

Parkinson S, Francombe J, Stevenson C, Evans H, Deshpande A, Guthrie S, Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome Genome Campus Landscape Review, RAND Corporation, 2021

Languages

Spanish

Commentary

Biomedical Research

Improving How Medicines R&D Is Financed Could Support Innovation and Benefits for Patients
Tackling chronic and infectious diseases depends to a large extent on the ability to develop innovative and affordable medicines that are available to patients in need. Policymakers will need to tackle challenges from multiple angles to avoid reducing barriers in one area at the expense of exacerbating challenges in another.
Aug 25, 2022
The RAND Blog
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

Commercialisation and Open Science Do Not Have to Be Uneasy Bedfellows
On the surface, tension exists between commercialization and open science approaches to research. But the two approaches are not irreconcilable--they can exist in harmony and complement one another to generate greater impact from investments in research and innovation.
Aug 6, 2021
Research Professional News
Integrated Care

Primary Care Networks in a Time of Pandemic
Primary care networks in the UK bring together general practices and community providers to develop new services for patients and to provide better integration of health and social care services and sustainability in primary care. While still relatively new, their trajectory is likely to be influenced by COVID-19–related adaptations they have made over the course of the pandemic.
Nov 11, 2020
GP Life

Publications

Journal Article
New and Emerging Technology for Adult Social Care: The Example of Home Sensors with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology
This study evaluates how one example of a technology using home-based sensors with AI capabilities was implemented in three case study sites across England. The focus of this study was on decision-making processes and implementation.
Nov 22, 2022
Journal Article
Digital Facilitation to Support Patient Access to Web-Based Primary Care Services: Scoping Literature Review
This study aimed to identify, characterize, and differentiate between different approaches to digital facilitation in primary care, establish what is known about the effectiveness of different approaches, and understand the enablers of digital facilitation.
Jul 19, 2022
Journal Article
The Financial Ecosystem of Pharmaceutical R&D: An Evidence Base to Inform Further Dialogue
This study's overarching conclusion is that a drug's expected financial return ultimately determines whether it is developed up to launch.
Jun 24, 2022
Journal Article
Assessment of Point-of-Care Testing Devices for Infectious Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control: A Mapping Exercise
This document provides the final report of a mapping exercise undertaken as part of a wider study that was commissioned by ECDC and undertaken by RAND Europe between November 2019 and April 2020.
Apr 29, 2022
Journal Article
A Scoping Review of Point-of-Care Testing Devices for Infectious Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control
This document provides the final report of a scoping review undertaken as part of a wider study that was commissioned by ECDC and undertaken by RAND Europe between November 2019 and April 2020.
Apr 29, 2022
Research Brief
Assessing the potential impact of developments in genetic testing on the British insurance industry
Predictive genetic testing provides individuals with information about their future risk of developing health conditions. Determining whether a genetic test could affect the insurance industry is complex and needs to be evaluated on a per-test basis.
Apr 8, 2022
Report
Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure
Predictive genetic testing provides individuals with information about their future risk of developing health conditions. Determining whether a genetic test could affect the insurance industry is complex and needs to be evaluated on a per-test basis.
Feb 3, 2022
Journal Article
Progress Report: AMR Industry Alliance 2021 Survey
An analysis of AMR Industry Alliance contributions to the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Feb 1, 2022
Journal Article
Study on Smoke-Free Environments and Advertising of Tobacco and Related Products: Final Report
This report presents the results of the external study on smoke-free environments, and advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and related products.
Dec 15, 2021
Journal Article
Assessment of Electronic Health Records for Infectious Disease Surveillance: Final Mapping Exercise Report
The objective of the project is to investigate the current status of EHR systems in the EU and European Economic Area and the potential capacity for the use of these data for surveillance of infectious diseases within ECDC's remit.
Dec 1, 2021
Journal Article
Point of Care Testing for Infectious Disease in Europe: A Scoping Review and Survey Study
This article is a scoping literature review and survey of key stakeholders on point of care testing for infectious diseases in EU/EEA countries as of November 2019.
Oct 22, 2021
Report
Communicating research evidence to boards in health and care organisations: A scoping study
Boards in health and care organisations play a key role in the governance, strategy, direction and culture of an organisation. We conducted a scoping study on how health and care boards use research evidence and how this can be improved.
Sep 27, 2021
Report
Paediatric Early Warning Systems: a scoping study: Lessons from a rapid review
This report shares findings from a rapid review of the evidence on the use of Paediatric Early Warning (PEW) scores and systems in UK healthcare settings, to help staff to identify clinical deterioration and facilitate early intervention.
Jan 22, 2021
Report
Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome Genome Campus Landscape Review
RAND Europe was commissioned by Wellcome to analyse the role and contribution of the Sanger Institute and the Wellcome Genome Campus within the field of genetics and genomics, set within the context of four comparator organisations.
Jan 19, 2021
Journal Article
Digital Technologies for the Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases: A Scoping Review of the Research Literature, 2015–2019
The objective of this review is to obtain an estimate of the size and nature of the literature available on digital technologies with the potential to benefit or disrupt public health functions, focusing on infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control.
2021
Journal Article
Early Development of Primary Care Networks in the NHS in England: A Qualitative Mixed-Methods Evaluation
Primary care networks were introduced to improve care and help address sustainability issues in general practice. The purpose of this study was to collect early evidence on their implementation and development.
2021
Journal Article
Early Evidence of the Development of Primary Care Networks in England: A Rapid Evaluation Study
In 2019, NHS England asked general practices to group into primary care networks and offer extra services to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities. This research looked at how these networks were established, what they have achieved so far and what has helped or hindered progress.
Oct 15, 2020
Research Brief
Moving improvement forward in UK health and care: An evaluation of the Q Initiative 2016–2020
An embedded evaluation of the Health Foundation's Q Initiative was conducted by RAND Europe from 2016 to 2020. The findings of the evaluation demonstrate how Q has impacted its members and national healthcare improvement work.
Jul 13, 2020
Report
Strengthening the contribution of improvers to UK health and care? An evaluation of the Q Initiative 2016–2020
RAND Europe conducted an embedded evaluation of Q from 2016 to 2020. The findings have fed into the ongoing design of Q and have helped understand the impact of Q on its members and on the healthcare improvement landscape.
Jul 13, 2020
Report
Emerging developments in citizen science: Reflecting on areas of innovation
This report explores innovation in citizen science as it relates to data collection, analysis, recruitment and capacity building. It also considers emerging themes and topical issues including policymaking developments.
Feb 16, 2020
Report
Pregnancy research review: Policy report
This study presents a review of UK pregnancy research needs and priorities, comparing this to current research expenditure and setting the findings in the context of NHS costs related to pregnancy.
Jan 13, 2020
Report
Exploring the societal burden of multiple sclerosis: A study into the non-clinical impact of the disease, including changes with progression
We looked at the non-clinical impacts of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the individual with MS, their carers and wider society, focusing on disease progression. We used a rapid evidence assessment and key informant interviews.
Nov 18, 2019
Report
The changing research landscape and reflections on national research assessment in the future
RAND Europe conducted a study to explore current and future changes in the research landscape (shifting environment, rapid technological developments and public policy) and how this may affect the nature of national research assessment (REF).
Oct 3, 2019