Co- Convenors:
Prof. Mona Nasser
Professor Mona Nasser is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Oral Health Research at the University of Plymouth, UK.
She is a recognised expert in evidence synthesis, research methodology, and research priority setting. She is a co-founder and co-convenor of the Cochrane Priority Setting Methods Group and has contributed to developing methods and frameworks for inclusive, transparent, and evidence-informed research prioritisation.
Her work explores how research evidence, stakeholder perspectives, and organisational decision-making can be integrated to identify priorities that are meaningful, equitable, and responsive to societal needs. She has worked with international research funders and organisations, including NIHR, the Health Research Board (Ireland), PCORI, and the World Health Organization, to inform research priority-setting policies and practices.
Her broader research interests include participatory approaches to knowledge production, evidence ecosystems, artificial intelligence, and decision-making under uncertainty. She has held several international leadership roles within Cochrane, including membership of the Cochrane Board, and previously served as Director of the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research.
Her contributions to evidence-based healthcare have been recognised through Cochrane's Bill Silverman Prize and the UK Research Excellence Framework.
List of publications https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/mona-nasser
Dr Seilin Uhm
She is an academic researcher passionate about improving healthcare and reducing health inequalities. She is a Research Fellow at the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Southampton. Her work synthesises evidence and builds consensus across areas such as sudden and unexpected child deaths, technology in health research, and support for bereaved families. She strives to shape inclusive policies that make a real, positive difference in people's lives. She is currently involved in the Programme of Research for Alcohol Care Teams (ACTs): Implementation, Value and Effect (ProACTIVE) study. For her doctoral study at University College London (UCL), she investigated how stakeholders effectively communicated when advocating different perspectives in health research. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor at the School of Communications, Kookmin University, and has an interest in health inequalities and priority setting.
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/6289hm/doctor-seilin-uhm
Dr. Moni Choudhury
Moni Choudhury is currently a researcher at University of Edinburgh. Previously , she was an analyst in the Science Policy and Research team at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), UK with a particular focus on exploring the impact of NICE research recommendations (identification, prioritisation, return of new evidence generated). Moni facilitates the internal (NICE committees) and external (research funders and researchers) relations in promoting and prioritising important NICE research recommendations. Main funding engagements include: the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment - HTA; Health Services and Delivery Research - HS&DR, and Public Health Research (PHR) programmes, NIHR School for Public Health Research; the Medical Research Council plus the UK Prevention Research Partnership.
Dr. Tarang Sharma
Tarang Sharma has over two decades of experience as a public health researcher and global health advocate. She currently works for the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe as a Technical Officer for the Novel Medicines Platform, working to support strategic cooperation between all stakeholders for improved access of medicines to patients and supporting health technology assessments for the Region. Prior to this, she worked for the Agenda, Policy & Strategy unit in the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals department at the WHO HQ in Geneva, supporting evidence to policy recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and has previously worked for evidence to policy impact and health research mechanisms both at WHO HQ and WHO Europe as a senior consultant and a technical officer. She has worked for three different national governments, in USA (AMNH in New York City as a Research Associate), in UK (for NICE as a Senior Analyst) and in Denmark (for the Danish Medicines Council: Medicinrådet, as a Specialist Consultant). She has also worked for non-governmental agencies/ non-state actors with the Nordic Cochrane Centre (now referred to as Cochrane Denmark) in Denmark as well as part of the Cochrane Central Executive Team at their headquarters in London, UK and previously for Akanksha and Kutumb Foundations in India. She has worked as a health economist for the University of Sheffield in UK and for Novo Nordisk A/S in Denmark and on pre-clinical research as a Research Scientist for Ranbaxy laboratories Ltd (now bought by Sun Pharma) in India.
Dr. Hyunggu Jung
As an Associate Professor at Seoul National University and Director of the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Lab (HCAIL), he has dedicated over 18 years to designing and evaluating technologies for individuals with special needs.
His research lies at the intersection of AI, HCI, and Health Informatics. Leading a dynamic research team, he strives to leverage these technologies to improve quality of life and health outcomes. He brings an interdisciplinary perspective to this work, holding a Ph.D. in Biomedical and Health Informatics from the University of Washington School of Medicine and an M.S. in Computer Science specialising in HCI from Stanford University.
Currently, his focus is on empowering vulnerable populations across diverse domains, including healthcare, education, and the sharing economy. He is deeply passionate about advancing Human-Centered AI to contribute meaningfully to social good.
https://hyunggujung.com/
Dr. Prashanti Eachempati
Dr. Prashanti Eachempati completed her graduation and post-graduation in India and has 17 years’ experience in academia, teaching Prosthodontics to undergraduate and post graduate students. She is currently the Clinical Lecturer at Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth and is the year 3 course lead. She is also the co-lead for the Professionalism module.
She served as a Deputy Dean, Professor and Head of Prosthodontics and the Research coordinator at Faculty of Dentistry, Manipal University College Malaysia till July 2023.
Dr. Prashanti has more than 30 national and international awards for best paper and poster presentations, a patent in Prosthodontics and various research grants to her credit. She is the recipient of the best teacher award from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, GC Das Memorial National Award for best research in Prosthodontics and the prestigious Ron Harden Innovation in Medical Education Award (RHIME Award) for her innovation in dental education.
She has more than 80 publications to her credit and is adept at conducting Cochrane systematic reviews. She has been associated with the Cochrane Oral health group for the past 11 years, with 10 published systematic reviews and a few ongoing reviews. She is a trainer for Cochrane Malaysia and the co-convenor of the Cochrane Priority setting methods group. Dr. Prashanti has vast experience in conducting workshops pertaining to Cochrane and in training medical and dental teachers in health professions
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/prashanti-eachempati
Dr Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj
His academic roots trace back to Bapuji Dental College and Hospital in Davangere, India, where he earned both his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and his Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) with a specialisation in Oral Medicine and Oral Radiology. These formative years instilled in him a deep appreciation for the intricate world of oral health and set the stage for his subsequent academic endeavours.
His pursuit of excellence led him to a Fellowship from the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. This fellowship, obtained from a Regional FAIMER institute, broadened his perspectives on international medical education and research practices, laying the foundation for a global outlook in his career.
Eager to delve deeper into evidence-based healthcare, he embarked on a journey to University College London, where he earned a Master of Science (MSc) in Evidence-Based Healthcare. This academic pursuit equipped him with advanced skills in critically appraising and synthesising research, aligning seamlessly with his commitment to advancing the methodology of evidence-based medicine.
His professional journey has been marked by diverse experiences as a faculty member in India, Libya, Nepal, and Malaysia. Each of these cultural landscapes has not only enriched his teaching style but has also fuelled his passion for collaborative research in the field of dentistry. He firmly believes in the power of global education in shaping well-rounded professionals and contributing to the international knowledge pool.
A significant chapter of his career unfolded during the year 2022 as a Senior Researcher at the MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, Oslo, Norway. In this role, he has actively contributed to two prestigious European Union-funded research projects, delving into cutting-edge research initiatives. This experience has been instrumental in shaping his perspective on the intersection of academia and research at a global level.
His commitment to advancing research and evidence-based practice is underscored by his substantial contributions to 11 Cochrane systematic reviews. Serving as a Clinical Editor in the Cochrane Collaboration and Co-convenor of the Cochrane Priority Setting Methods Group has allowed him to actively shape the trajectory of evidence-based dentistry on a global scale. His membership in the Adaptation and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) groups in the Guidelines International Network reflects his dedication to addressing healthcare disparities worldwide.
Notably, some of the Cochrane reviews to which he has contributed have been cited in international clinical practice guidelines, including those of the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) and the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendation on the Dental Disease Consultation Document. These citations affirm the practical relevance and impact of his research in shaping healthcare policies and practices.
Beyond research, he has extended his knowledge through co-authoring chapters in books, delivering guest lectures and participating in webinars, sharing insights with the next generation of dental professionals. He has served as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, since 2021, and as an Adjunct Professor of Oral Medicine and Oral Radiology at the Faculty of Dentistry, Manipal University College Malaysia. He remains committed to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in dental education.
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/sumanth-kumbargere-nagraj
Dr Somang Nam
He is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science at Algoma University. His research lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Software Engineering.
Prof. Edward Wilson
Ed is Professor of Health Economics and Health Policy at the University of Exeter. He is director of the Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), one of 11 research units in the UK providing expert advice on the effects and costs of new drugs to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). He is also co-theme lead for sustainability with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Sustainable Innovation, and director of the UK Sustainable Health Systems Hub.
He trained in economics and then health economics at the University of York and holds a PhD in Health Economics from the University of East Anglia. He has worked at the Universities of York, Cambridge and East Anglia, as well as some time in industry and has expertise in decision analytic modelling and economic evaluation alongside clinical trials. Ed has applied these in a variety of disease areas including diabetes, stroke, dementia, Aspergers syndrome, asthma, alcohol misuse, lupus, IVF, pregnancy and childbirth, erectile dysfunction, obesity, physical inactivity, essential thrombocythaemia, actinic keratosis, prostate cancer, renal cancer, melanoma, ulcerative colitis, cholecystitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
He has particular interest in incorporating environmental costs within health economic evaluations. His methodological research is in the area of efficient research design, specifically value of information analysis, a quantitative approach to setting research priorities making use of uncertainty in the results of economic evaluations to quantify the expected return on investment in further research.
https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/38716-ed-wilson