Prof Gary Abel

I am Professor of Medical Statistics and Health Services Research at the University of Exeter where I lead research into the early diagnosis of cancer, access to primary care and patient experience. My research focuses on the use of routinely collected health data including data derived from primary and secondary care, cancer registration, and national patient experience surveys. I came to primary care research in 2010 with a background in space physics, having been analysing data from large observational studies using ionospheric radar and spacecraft. To facilitate the transition from space to health, I undertook an MSc in Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I initially worked with Martin Roland and his team in the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research (University of Cambridge) before taking up a tenured appointment in Exeter in 2016.

One of the great things about being a statistician is the opportunity to work across a wide range of disease areas and topics and over the years I have had a chance to see and interact with much of the work falling under the SAPC umbrella. Following in the footsteps of Kate O’Donnell, who was the first and (to date) only non-clinical Chair of SAPC I am keen to see SAPC support all its members, whether clinical or non-clinical, and continue the great work that it does.