Dr. Nicholls is a Scientist in the Methodological and Implementation (MIR) program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), and Assistant Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health. He has a background in mixed methods and applied health research. As an applied researcher his work focuses on patient engagement in research - the active collaboration with patients, families, caregivers or communities in the design, conduct and governance of research. His research falls within four main areas, all of which aim to improve the methods and implementation of patient engagement in research:
- Understanding and/or explaining what influences the implementation of patient engagement: e.g. barriers and facilitators to engagement in research (including use of resources) & building solutions.
- Describing the processes and practices of engagement in research (esp. underserved areas & focus on equity)
- Conducting ethical analyses of engaging with people with lived experience (PWLE) and communities in research (research ethics and ‘everyday ethics’)
- Improving the evidence base and quality of engagement and evaluating the implementation of patient engagement
Dr. Nicholls completed his PhD in Applied Social Statistics at Lancaster University (UK) in 2010. In addition, he holds an MRes in Applied Social Statistics, an MSc in Healthcare Ethics, and a BSc (Hons) in Genetics. Prior to joining the OHRI, he was a Methodologist within the Clinical Research Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and completed a CIHR-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa.