Dr Jonathan Briody, health economist at the School of Population Health, RCSI, Dublin, took time out to talk to us about all things health economics, and why he is a good person to know if you've lost your keys!
What is your area of research?
I currently lead a team of researchers as head of Health and Economic Impact Modelling for the RCSI Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The field of health economics reflects that healthcare budgets are finite, and investments in one area of the healthcare system will necessarily be at the expense of others. As a health economist, I analyse whether proposed health interventions are an effective and efficient use of strained resources to guide whether such shifts will lead to a net gain or loss in the total health produced in the healthcare system.
What made you interested in this area?
Designing a health economic model to accurately represent Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia (AD) is complex, and many existing Irish models fail to capture the natural history, quality of life or costs of the disease. Unfortunately, these models currently directly affect national decisions on the provision of care. I became interested in this area as I saw an opportunity to improve such health economic modelling in Ireland. I believe that people living with Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia (PwAD) and their family carers are experts by experience, possessing a unique perspective on these conditions. Consequently, I saw an opportunity to integrate greater co-production with such stakeholders to ensure that decisions around resource allocation, healthcare planning, and the development of support services are more responsive to this population's unique needs.
What impact would you like your research to have?
I want to keep AD on the public and policy agenda by providing direct access to an advanced decision-making process that anyone can use, update and refine at any point in the future per their requirements to advocate for continued research and improved care for those affected by the disease. That is why my work is always designed to outlast the task it has been created for; by developing health economic models as fully open-source software, I can continue providing meaningful support beyond the initial research phase.
Who has helped or inspired you in your area of research?
The greatest inspiration has come from participating in events to promote the voices of individuals with AD and their family carers. These events have demonstrated the depth of understanding that PwAD and their families bring to this field. From a health economics perspective, engaging in collaborative discussions with experts like Professor Andrew Briggs, Dr Joshua Soboil, and Dr Eline Krijkamp, the generosity of time and research energy of the community has been truly inspiring.
What current research are you most excited about (your own, or that of others)?
As a health economist, I find the development of economic models that explicitly consider open science to be the most promising. Similarly, I think generative artificial intelligence has terrific potential for advancements in nearly all fields if thoughtfully applied.
What do you do when you are not working?
When it comes to hobbies, I like to learn new skills! In the past, this has included learning lockpicking, card tricks, musical instruments and programming video games.
What is your favourite pastime?
I'm a social person, so my favourite thing is being in conversation with others!
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Not advice, but a quote: "It is never wrong to do the right thing."― Mark Twain.
Contact Details:
Please feel free to reach out to me at: