Real-world health economic value of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) in routine cancer care
Closing date: 23/11/2026
Clinical Research Training Fellowship: Real-world health economic value of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) in routine cancer care
Lead Supervisors: Professor Corinne Faivre-Finn
Co-Supervisors: Professor Sabine Van Der Veer, Mr Gabriel Rogers, Dr Isabella Fornacon-Wood
Applications Deadline: 12:00pm Monday 23rd November 2026
Interviews: Friday 5th February 2027 (in Manchester)
Start date: September 2027
Project Keywords: Digital Health, Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures, Health Economics
Research Opportunity: Clinical Research Training Fellowship leading to the award of PhD
Project Outline
Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) are a digital innovation which enables patients to report symptoms and quality of life to their care team. Over a decade of research has shown that ePROMs improve quality of life, reduce unplanned hospital admissions, and prolong survival. Despite the evidence, implementation remains fragmented, limiting patient access to these benefits.
The 2026 National Cancer Plan for England identifies ePROMs as a priority, aligned with the NHS 10-Year Plan’s commitment to improve care through digital technologies. As NHS adoption increases, robust evidence is needed on how ePROMs are implemented, their costs, and whether they provide value for money.
This PhD will address these evidence gaps by combining implementation science and health economic approaches to generate evidence that can inform policy, commissioning, and sustainable adoption of ePROMs in routine cancer care. It will address three interrelated research questions:
- How are ePROMs implemented and used in routine cancer care?
- What are the costs and budget impact of implementing ePROMs?
- Do ePROMs represent value for money across different patient groups?
The student will evaluate the UK’s largest ePROMs programme at The Christie, which has reached over 40,000 patients and collected more than 150,000 ePROMs. Using implementation science methods, they will examine how ePROMs are delivered across cancer services and the resources required. They will estimate implementation costs and budget impact before evaluating value for money using health economic methods. Finally, they will investigate whether costs and benefits differ across patient groups, including those at risk of health inequalities.
Working with a multidisciplinary team, including patient partners, the student will develop expertise in digital health, implementation science, health economics, PPIE, and real-world evidence. The PhD will generate evidence to support the adoption of ePROMs across the NHS, helping ensure that all people affected by cancer can benefit.
Applications for this project are now open. Please complete your application on The University of Manchester website.
About Professor Corinne Faivre-Finn (project Lead Supervisor)
Professor Corinne Faivre-Finn holds a joint appointment between University of Manchester (Professor of Thoracic Radiation Oncology) and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (Honorary Consultant Clinical Oncologist). She trained in Paris and moved to the UK in 1998. She has numerous professional roles including Radiotherapy Research Lead for Manchester Cancer Research Centre & the CRUK Lung Cancer Centre, Chair of the ESTRO Lung Focus Group and of the Early NSCLC EORTC Lung Group. She is on the editorial board of Lung Cancer.
In recent years she has developed expertise in electronic patient reported outcomes and real-world evidence. She is particularly interested in novel trial methodologies allowing more inclusive and efficient research, such as platform and pragmatic trials.
Key information
Before submitting an application, please ensure you have read the information below about the funding arrangements and eligibility for our Clinical Research Training Fellowships.
We also encourage you to get in contact with the lead supervisor to discuss the project and any particulars.
Further information is available on the Clinical Research Training Fellowships webpage.
The clinical fellowships are usually tenable for three years, although in certain circumstances they may be four years duration. The Fellowship covers:
- running expenses,
- an appropriate salary in line with the applicant’s current NHS salary and grade
- full coverage of University PhD fees at the UK/home fee rate.
International Candidates
The University of Manchester aims to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK.
We are able to offer a limited number of bursaries to high-performing EU and international candidates, covering PhD fees only. Bursaries do not include financial support for visa/health surcharges.
We assess each EU and international candidate’s suitability for a bursary at the application and interview stages.
You must be a post-registration clinician, and ideally have a specialist post in a related subject, to apply for our Clinical Research Training Fellowships.
Applicants must hold an MBChB degree or an equivalent medical qualification. You should also hold, or be about to obtain, a minimum upper second class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. A related master’s degree would be an advantage.
It is generally expected that CRTFs will return to a training programme in the UK upon completion of their research degree.
International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English Language) before contacting potential supervisors to express an interest in their project. Eligibility information can be found on the University’s Country Specific information page.
Applications for this programme are now open. Please submit your application on The University of Manchester application portal.
Key dates
- Applications open: Monday 5th October 2026
- Application deadline (all projects): 12:00pm Monday 23rd November 2026
- Clinical Interviews: Friday 5th of February 2027 (in Manchester)
- Start date: September 2027 with flexible starts for clinicians
Useful Links
Submit your application
Interested in applying for this opportunity? Submit your application on The University of Manchester application portal.
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