Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics (CHICAS)

A graphic to show the relationships between data and health

CHICAS research focuses on statistical and epidemiological methods and their implementation in open-source software. We have long-standing expertise in spatial and spatiotemporal methods, population health data research, infectious disease modelling, and field study design. CHICAS has been designated as the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Geostatistical Methods for Neglected Tropical Disease Research.

Lead: Dr Emanuele Giorgi

Meet the researchers working in this theme

Academic Staff
Gemma Chaters

Dr Gemma Chaters

Lecturer in Population Health

CHICAS

Hedley Emsley

Professor Hedley Emsley

Professor of Clinical Neuroscience

Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre, LIRA - Biomedical

Luis Filipe

Dr Luis Filipe

Lecturer in Health Economics

Centre for Health Inequalities Research, CHICAS

Claudio Fronterre

Dr Claudio Fronterre

Lecturer in Biostatistics (Global Health)

CHICAS, DSI - Health

Emanuele Giorgi

Emanuele Giorgi

Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics

CHICAS, DSI - Health

Joanne Knight

Professor Joanne Knight

Chair in Applied Data Science

CHICAS, DSI - Health, FHM Mental Health Theme

A34, A - Floor, Health Innovation One
Keira Markey

Dr Keira Markey

NIHR Clinical Lectureship (Neurology)

CHICAS, Experimental Medicine

Sam Moore

Dr Sam Moore

Lecturer in Biostatistics

CHICAS

Jonathan Read

Dr Jonathan Read

Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics

CHICAS, DSI - Health

Nicola Rennie

Dr Nicola Rennie

Lecturer in Health Data Science

Centre for Marketing Analytics & Forecasting, CHICAS

A34, A - Floor, Health Innovation One
Barry Rowlingson

Barry Rowlingson

Research Fellow

CHICAS, DSI - Health

Anastasia Ushakova

Dr Anastasia Ushakova

Lecturer in Biostatistics (Health Informatics)

CHICAS, DSI - Society, Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre, LIRA - Biomedical

Laura White

Dr Laura White

Academic Clinical Lecturer in Neurology

Research Staff
Freya Clark

Freya Clark

Research Associate, PhD student

CHICAS

Dileepa Ediriweera

Dr Dileepa Ediriweera

Visiting Researcher

Max Eyre

Dr Max Eyre

Visiting Researcher

Irene Kyomuhangi

Dr Irene Kyomuhangi

Senior Research Associate in Geospatial Statistical Methods

CHICAS, DSI - Health

Lucinda Newbury

Dr Lucinda Newbury

Senior Research Associate in Biostatistics

CHICAS, SCC (Communication Systems)

B - Floor, InfoLab21
Thomas Nicholls

Dr Thomas Nicholls

Research Software Engineer

Matthew Timperley

Dr Matthew Timperley

Senior Research Associate

CHICAS

Associate and Visiting Staff
Peter Atkinson

Professor Peter Atkinson

Executive Dean, Distinguished Professor

Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science, DSI - Environment, Geospatial Data Science, Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre, LIRA - Environmental Modelling, LIRA - Fundamentals, STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training

Frances Biggin

Dr Frances Biggin

Honorary Researcher

CHICAS

Peter Diggle

Professor Peter Diggle

Professor Emeritus,

CHICAS, DSI - Health

Christopher Jewell

Professor Christopher Jewell

Professor in Statistics

Bayesian and Computational Statistics, Biostatistics , CHICAS, DSI - Health, MARS: Mathematics for AI in Real-world Systems, STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training

+44 (0)1524 595237
Rebecca Killick

Professor Rebecca Killick

Professor of Statistics

Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science, Changepoints and Time Series, CHICAS, DSI - Foundations, Energy Lancaster, Environmental and Ecological Statistics, Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre, LIRA - Biomedical, LIRA - Environmental Modelling, LIRA - Fundamentals, LIRA - Security and Defence, LIRA - Smart Cities and Mobility, LIRA - Society and Human Behaviour, Network and Systems, Social and Economic Statistics , STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training

+44 (0)1524 593780 B32, B - Floor, Fylde College

PhD Students
Lauren Halsall

Lauren Halsall

Richard Kamwezi

Dr Richard Kamwezi

Yawen Ma

Yawen Ma

PhD student

CHICAS

Jana Purkiss

Jana Purkiss

Research Associate in Biostatistics, PhD student

Nirali Soni

Nirali Soni

Research Excellence Framework 2021 logo

Research Excellence Framework 2021

The Faculty is pleased to announce that in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), 91% of our Research was judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent, and 100% of our research environment was rated world-leading.

REF2021

Divisions

The Faculty of Health and Medicine's multidisciplinary research and teaching operates across three divisions, delivering high quality teaching and research with national and international impact.

  • Biomedical and Life Sciences

    The Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences is responsible for coordinating biomedical teaching and research activities at Lancaster.

  • Health Research

    The Division of Health Research specialises in postgraduate study and high-quality research with national and international impact on health and wellbeing policy.

  • Lancaster Medical School

    In addition to offering our medical degree and course in sports science, Lancaster Medical School conducts research into biomedicine, social and ethical aspects of health and medicine, and medical education.

Public events at the Faculty of Health and Medicine

From public lecture series, to student-focused webinars, there's always something going on at the Faculty of Health and Medicine.

20th Jan

Getting involved in research: collaboration and co-operation in palliative care research across NW

Monday 20 January 2025, 10:00am to 3:30pm
23rd Jan

FACTOR talk: James & Cronin – Digital Dreamscapes & The Spectralisation Of Reality

Thursday 23 January 2025, 3:00pm to 4:00pm
21st Feb

Professor Liz Kelly - Revisiting 'Surviving Sexual Violence'

Friday 21 February 2025, 4:00pm to 6:00pm
26th Feb

‘Delusions, ideologies and the madness of crowds’ – a talk by Professor Richard Bentall

Wednesday 26 February 2025, 12:30pm to 1:30pm

More Events

Latest News

The research, conducted across 15 hospitals, enrolled nearly 2,000 children aged between 72 hours and 18 years with suspected bacterial infections

PCT blood test does not lower antibiotic treatment duration for hospitalised children

A groundbreaking UK study including Lancaster University has examined whether an additional blood test called procalcitonin (PCT) could safely shorten the time children spend on intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospitals. 
Addenbrooke’s during Covid

“Heartbreaking” impact of Covid on treatment of children with brain tumours

The first ever investigation into the impact of the Covid pandemic on children and young people with brain tumours has revealed how investigations or treatments were frequently postponed as key people or resources were not available.
Dr Naveen Salins with the Chancellor the Rt Hon Alan Milburn

Alumni award for palliative care expert

Lancaster postgraduate Naveen Salins has received an Alumni Award at the December graduation ceremonies.
Lived experience group from Blackburn’s Early Break with Katy Cleece (left) Social Work Research Lead from LSCft, who co-produced Why Can’t You Be Normal with Made By Mortals

Why can’t you be normal

Lancaster University has helped create a training package aimed at researchers in order to help break stereotypes around addiction and recovery among families.
Map showing proposed site for replacement Royal Lancaster Infirmary

New hospital planned for site near campus

An area close to Lancaster University’s Bailrigg campus has been announced by the NHS as the potential site for a new hospital.

More News