Dr Max Barnish

About me:

Max Barnish is a Senior Research Fellow in Health Technology Assessment at the University of Exeter. His long-standing research interest is understanding the interactions between health and society. Dr Barnish has 15 years of experience in this area working at universities across the UK and as part of international collaborations. His recent funding sources include the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Ministry of Health of Singapore, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). 

Max is currently on the Middle Career Researchers subcommittee of the Society for Social Medicine and Population Health and co-ordinates research outputs within the Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG) in Exeter. 

Max teaches research methods for the MSc module in Systematic Reviews for Policy and Practice and supervises on the Independent Research master's module within the Department of Health and Community Sciences. 

Max is passionate about evidence-informed policy and seeking ways to use effective communication and dissemination strategies to generate impact. His work leading projects within PenTAG informs the committee decision-making processes of the Technology appraisal and Medical technologies programmes within NICE. 

Google Scholar profile

Research group webpages: PenTAG, Department of Public Health and Sports Sciences.

Postgraduate research opportunities: Dr Barnish is open to email (m.s.barnish@exeter.ac.uk) enquiries from students who have an excellent academic record, exceed University of Exeter IELTS requirements for English language proficiency, have secured their own funding or have a clear vision of likely funding sources, and wish to study for a PhD in areas related to health policy, health technology assessment, health and society, the arts and health and/or systematic reviewing related to healthcare decision-making. Initial email discussions should not be taken as a guarantee of support to enrol at this university. 

Career: After completing a funded PhD at the University of East Anglia under the supervision of Drs Katherine Deane, Simon Horton and Zoe Butterfint, Max embarked on his first postdoctoral post in Epidemiology at the University of Aberdeen under the supervision of Dr Steve Turner and Prof Graham Devereux. Following a further two years in another postdoctoral role in Aberdeen, Max moved to the University of Exeter where he started to specialise in health technology assessment, applying his systematic reviewing and epidemiological expertise to practical healthcare decision-making settings. Max has developed his skills and experience in Exeter, being promoted twice, becoming a Senior Research Fellow in the July 2024 promotions round. 

Max joined the University of Exeter Medical School in July 2017.