Melissa Barlow

Melissa’s research aims to improve early cancer diagnosis in primary care by evaluating tests and examining health inequalities that influence diagnostic pathways and outcomes. Her work focuses on improving the timely and equitable diagnosis of early-onset cancers and ensuring ethnic equity in the use and effectiveness of diagnostic tests.

Current research projects

• Evaluating the rates at which patients from different ethnic groups undergo primary care blood tests and how this can affect cancer prediction
• Assessing pre-diagnostic full blood count trends before a leukaemia diagnosis 

Research Skills

• Management, preparation and analysis of large healthcare datasets including NHS, CPRD, HES APC, NCRAS and the UK Biobank
• Diagnostic accuracy studies
• Regression modelling
• Patient and public involvement and engagement co-ordination
• Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
• Proficient in Stata coding
• In-vitro cell culture

Qualifications:

• BSc (Hons) Medical Science (Pharmacology & Therapeutics) – University of Exeter