Richard Hooper
@richardhooper.bsky.social
Professor of Medical Statistics @qmul.ac.uk. I study how to design evaluations of health technologies and health service interventions. Sometimes I just make patterns.
Another day of Teams calls, but just watched a whippet eating a raw carrot, so feeling much better now.
November 6, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Another day of Teams calls, but just watched a whippet eating a raw carrot, so feeling much better now.
Reposted by Richard Hooper
That's just frequents statistics.
sometimes I think math is a whole extremely-long running inside joke that's not actually very funny
October 31, 2025 at 3:52 AM
That's just frequents statistics.
I really enjoyed this inaugural—an academic and a personal journey—thanks @vcornelius.bsky.social
Last night we celebrated our wonderful Director, Professor Victoria Cornelius at her inaugural lecture. She shared her academic journey highlighting the research she has been instrumental in where innovations in statistical methods have led to real changes in clinical trials and their outcomes.
October 31, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I really enjoyed this inaugural—an academic and a personal journey—thanks @vcornelius.bsky.social
[Shamelessly recycling from my "old twitter"]
I think my "introductory stats for ER doctors" session went well—everyone seemed enthused by the homework I set.
I think my "introductory stats for ER doctors" session went well—everyone seemed enthused by the homework I set.
October 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
[Shamelessly recycling from my "old twitter"]
I think my "introductory stats for ER doctors" session went well—everyone seemed enthused by the homework I set.
I think my "introductory stats for ER doctors" session went well—everyone seemed enthused by the homework I set.
Reposted by Richard Hooper
Idea for a Christmas BMJ paper: submit loads of Christmas BMJ papers, then do a survival analysis of time to rejection. Then submit the survival analysis as a Christmas BMJ paper the following year
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Idea for a Christmas BMJ paper: submit loads of Christmas BMJ papers, then do a survival analysis of time to rejection. Then submit the survival analysis as a Christmas BMJ paper the following year
Reposted by Richard Hooper
📝 New Research Methods & Reporting article: Covariate adjustment in cluster randomised trials 📝
A practical guide for when and how to adjust for covariates. Read more ⬇️
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
A practical guide for when and how to adjust for covariates. Read more ⬇️
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
October 27, 2025 at 9:25 AM
📝 New Research Methods & Reporting article: Covariate adjustment in cluster randomised trials 📝
A practical guide for when and how to adjust for covariates. Read more ⬇️
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
A practical guide for when and how to adjust for covariates. Read more ⬇️
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Reposted by Richard Hooper
💡 Have you ever taken part in a clinical trial or thought about it?
We want to hear your views on how health data is collected using technology like apps, wearable devices, and medical records.
🕐 5 mins, anonymous.
imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#PPIE #ClinicalTrials #DigitalHealth
We want to hear your views on how health data is collected using technology like apps, wearable devices, and medical records.
🕐 5 mins, anonymous.
imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#PPIE #ClinicalTrials #DigitalHealth
October 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
💡 Have you ever taken part in a clinical trial or thought about it?
We want to hear your views on how health data is collected using technology like apps, wearable devices, and medical records.
🕐 5 mins, anonymous.
imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#PPIE #ClinicalTrials #DigitalHealth
We want to hear your views on how health data is collected using technology like apps, wearable devices, and medical records.
🕐 5 mins, anonymous.
imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#PPIE #ClinicalTrials #DigitalHealth
📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
October 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
📢 Interested in a PhD in clinical trials methodology? The Trials Methodology Research Partnership are advertising projects for PhDs starting Oct 2026, in statistics, health economics, epidemiology, social science, and more, hosted at one of 12 UK partner institutions.
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
Current Opportunities
We have an iCASE studentship available to start for the 2025/2026 academic year, and applications to our fifth round of recruitment to our DTP to start in October 2026 are now also open. Please see…
mrctmrpdtp.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
📢 Interested in a PhD in clinical trials methodology? The Trials Methodology Research Partnership are advertising projects for PhDs starting Oct 2026, in statistics, health economics, epidemiology, social science, and more, hosted at one of 12 UK partner institutions.
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
Just had a review request where these seem to be the only options. I'm not clicking.
October 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Just had a review request where these seem to be the only options. I'm not clicking.
Family history can turn up some surprising connections. My grandfather, Oliphant Murray Brown, worked at Guinness from the 1930s. I discovered for the first time this week, reading through some of his notes and recollections, that he used to car-share with W. S. Gosset (aka Student, of the t-test)!
October 23, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Family history can turn up some surprising connections. My grandfather, Oliphant Murray Brown, worked at Guinness from the 1930s. I discovered for the first time this week, reading through some of his notes and recollections, that he used to car-share with W. S. Gosset (aka Student, of the t-test)!
Reposted by Richard Hooper
New PhD position available at @mrcctu.bsky.social to develop guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations when choosing an estimand in RCTs.
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Optimising the choice of estimand in randomised trials: developing guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations to ensure results matter to stakeholders at University College London o...
PhD Project - Optimising the choice of estimand in randomised trials: developing guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations to ensure results matter to stakeholders at University Co...
www.findaphd.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
New PhD position available at @mrcctu.bsky.social to develop guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations when choosing an estimand in RCTs.
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Lots of feedback and engagement after this session. Some gentle push-back still: "But what if there's even just a *perception* from sites that a stepped wedge is preferable?" 🧵
The recording of this webinar is now available on the @nihr-rss.bsky.social YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNz...
October 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Lots of feedback and engagement after this session. Some gentle push-back still: "But what if there's even just a *perception* from sites that a stepped wedge is preferable?" 🧵
The recording of this webinar is now available on the @nihr-rss.bsky.social YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNz...
October 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The recording of this webinar is now available on the @nihr-rss.bsky.social YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNz...
Reposted by Richard Hooper
nerds freely nerding in their nerd field is really lovely www.science.org/content/arti...
These ‘ghost flowers’ thrive without photosynthesis. One scientist is learning how
Japanese botanist Kenji Suetsugu studies plants that steal carbon and nutrients from soil fungi
www.science.org
October 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
nerds freely nerding in their nerd field is really lovely www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Richard Hooper
This may just be the best CS paper I’ve read this year. Just read the abstract and first para of the intro! The rest of the intro is really wild too, but very very good:
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
October 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This may just be the best CS paper I’ve read this year. Just read the abstract and first para of the intro! The rest of the intro is really wild too, but very very good:
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
My wife is good to me
October 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
My wife is good to me
Trial statisticians (this may be a well-worn/tedious question)—do you have views/experience of integrating randomised allocation sequences in Qualtrics? Is the built-in randomisation module in Qualtrics fit for purpose? Are there ways of integrating, say, stratified block randomisation?
October 3, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Trial statisticians (this may be a well-worn/tedious question)—do you have views/experience of integrating randomised allocation sequences in Qualtrics? Is the built-in randomisation module in Qualtrics fit for purpose? Are there ways of integrating, say, stratified block randomisation?
This is apropos of nothing, but if the plural of quiz is quizzes, why is the plural of bus buses?
October 1, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This is apropos of nothing, but if the plural of quiz is quizzes, why is the plural of bus buses?
Slightly open-mouthed on reading this pre-print (thanks @statsepi.bsky.social):
"If achievable, this ...[using LLMs] would enable researchers to predict the responses of vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach populations of participants without the need for time- and resource-intensive research studies."
"If achievable, this ...[using LLMs] would enable researchers to predict the responses of vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach populations of participants without the need for time- and resource-intensive research studies."
Science is grounded in observation. Measurement is a tool for observation. Measurements should be evaluated for validity and reliability/uncertainty. Scientists who use measurements without understanding their properties are not really scientists at all.
Can large language models stand in for human participants?
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
October 1, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Slightly open-mouthed on reading this pre-print (thanks @statsepi.bsky.social):
"If achievable, this ...[using LLMs] would enable researchers to predict the responses of vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach populations of participants without the need for time- and resource-intensive research studies."
"If achievable, this ...[using LLMs] would enable researchers to predict the responses of vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach populations of participants without the need for time- and resource-intensive research studies."
I'm doing a webinar in two weeks (15 Oct 1-2pm BST), part of NIHR Research Support Service's Methods Academy series, on the age-old question: should I do a stepped wedge trial?
Free registration, details here: tinyurl.com/z6cjvce3
@nihr-rss.bsky.social @wiphcem.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
Free registration, details here: tinyurl.com/z6cjvce3
@nihr-rss.bsky.social @wiphcem.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 8:32 AM
I'm doing a webinar in two weeks (15 Oct 1-2pm BST), part of NIHR Research Support Service's Methods Academy series, on the age-old question: should I do a stepped wedge trial?
Free registration, details here: tinyurl.com/z6cjvce3
@nihr-rss.bsky.social @wiphcem.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
Free registration, details here: tinyurl.com/z6cjvce3
@nihr-rss.bsky.social @wiphcem.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
I really enjoyed this talk from @richarddriley.bsky.social today, particularly the football quotes! Looking forward to seeing this available on the NIHR YouTube channel soon. @nihr-rss.bsky.social
Giving a talk today which anyone can watch online: 1pm - 2pm
"The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models"
- intended for a broad audience (anyone doing or using prediction model research)
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
"The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models"
- intended for a broad audience (anyone doing or using prediction model research)
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Research Methods Academy: Seminar - The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models. After registering, you w...
Led by Professor Richard Riley
Join this Online Seminar on clinical prediction models estimate individual risk for outcomes from disease. Many studies lack rigorous design; this session will focus o...
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us
September 30, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I really enjoyed this talk from @richarddriley.bsky.social today, particularly the football quotes! Looking forward to seeing this available on the NIHR YouTube channel soon. @nihr-rss.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Hooper
To be way too earnest for on here, I genuinely think nerds being careful is political activism these days and it cheers me up
September 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
To be way too earnest for on here, I genuinely think nerds being careful is political activism these days and it cheers me up
Reposted by Richard Hooper
Giving a talk today which anyone can watch online: 1pm - 2pm
"The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models"
- intended for a broad audience (anyone doing or using prediction model research)
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
"The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models"
- intended for a broad audience (anyone doing or using prediction model research)
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Research Methods Academy: Seminar - The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models. After registering, you w...
Led by Professor Richard Riley
Join this Online Seminar on clinical prediction models estimate individual risk for outcomes from disease. Many studies lack rigorous design; this session will focus o...
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us
September 30, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Giving a talk today which anyone can watch online: 1pm - 2pm
"The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models"
- intended for a broad audience (anyone doing or using prediction model research)
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
"The Importance of Sample Size for the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Prediction Models"
- intended for a broad audience (anyone doing or using prediction model research)
imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Richard Hooper
📢 Registration now open for the 11th annual meeting on Current Developments in Cluster Randomised Trials & Stepped Wedge Designs on 18th & 19th November 2025 in Birmingham UK.
shop.bham.ac.uk/conferences-...
shop.bham.ac.uk/conferences-...
September 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
📢 Registration now open for the 11th annual meeting on Current Developments in Cluster Randomised Trials & Stepped Wedge Designs on 18th & 19th November 2025 in Birmingham UK.
shop.bham.ac.uk/conferences-...
shop.bham.ac.uk/conferences-...