Ms Amanda Jane Blatch-Jones

I have held a number of research positions at the University of Southampton since 2002 and joined NIHR Evaluations Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (formerly known as NCCHTA) in 2008. I worked in various roles at NETSCC, including portfolio management of HTA funded research before taking a secondment in 2009 to work on a HTA funded project for three years. Since 2012, I've led, managed and supported the strategic development and management of the Research on Research (RoR) programme alongside leading and conducting prioritised research for the NIHR.

I have more than 10 years’ experience of working in the Research on Research discipline and have led a number of studies over that time. I currently lead a netnographic study on funding committee practice as part of the wider strategic priority of peer review and research funding decision making practice. I am an established researcher in RoR and continue to work in this area of research building on and addressing important questions that adds value, enhances and benefits the commissioning, conduct and dissemination of NIHR funded research.

I began my research career at the Southampton Education School (Faculty of Social Sciences) where I was involved in a drug education programme on behalf of the Home Office. I later held a researcher’s position in the Faculty of Medicine where I was involved in a British Liver Trust project on Chronic Liver Disease. I then moved to the Faculty of Health Sciences where I was involved in the extended formulary independent nurse-prescribing project and the Cancer, Palliative and End of Life research group managing large datasets of Views of Informal Carers Evaluation of Services (VOICES) data for publication.

I currently sit on a number of steering and advisory groups for the NIHR and other funding organisations. I also provide academic support to medical students (PAT) and represent the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation (HEI) at the postdoctoral association (PDA) steering committee. 

I am committed to conducting high-quality interdisciplinary research that addresses uncertainties and gaps in the evidence to inform and facilitate improvements to the management of research (from a funder’s perspective). I have a strong research commitment to ensure that research is transparent, open and accessible to those who can benefit from the outcomes and contributes to improving the health of the public.