Projects per year
Overview
Profile summary
As Director of PenCTU, I have responsibility for the management and strategic direction of PenCTU. I take primary responsibility for the programme of independent, externally funded clinical trials and related research projects. I ensure that all trials in PenCTU are conducted according to appropriate regulatory, scientifically rigorous and evidence-based standards. I lead and co-ordinate research activities of the Medical Statistics Group. I act as senior statistician on projects, contributing to setting the research agenda and leading the statistical and methodological elements, developing and managing staff and attracting sustained and major funding through bids and reputation. The Statistical Consultancy Service run statistical clinics for staff and students . I work collaboratively with academics, clinicians and other health services researchers providing statistical expertise and leadership. My work focuses on bringing together the knowledge of a range of experts from different specialisations to help identify and answer key research questions. I support the development and delivery of clinical and applied health and social care research. I have significant experience of leading contributions to the planning and design, conduct, statistical analysis and reporting of clinical trials, and other well designed studies. PenCTU supports the development and delivery of clinical and applied health and care research, offering a range of services, from pre-application methodological support to full study delivery.
Professional memberships
• Science Council (2012) – Chartered Scientist (2012-2020)
• Senior Fellowship of HEA (SFHEA) (2020)
Roles on external bodies
- External Examiner for LSHTM MSc in Clinical Trials
- Associate Editor for Trials (April 2019-date)
- Statistical Editor of Health & Social Care in the Community (2016-date)
- Editorial board member for BMJ Open
- Statistical Advisory Board member for BMJ Open
- NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) funding Committee (2021-date)
- Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials programme - Swiss National Science Foundation (2022-date)
- Grant Review Panel for the Multiple Sclerosis Society (2015-date)
- Vice Chair of Catalyst Awards for Multiple Sclerosis Society (2022-Date)
- Swiss National Science Foundation / IICT evaluation panel (2022-date)
- Member of the Royal Society’s International Exchanges Panel (2023-date)
- Health Services Research Initiative Panel for Arthritis UK (2016-2021)
- Cochrane Member (2019-date)
- Chair and member of numerous Trial Steering Committees (TSCs) and Data Monitoring Committees (DMCs)
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Neuropsychiatric Research Register for people with Intellectual Disabilities and Epilepsy
Shankar, R. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Allgar, V. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/08/23 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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CANnabidiol impact on challenging behaviour in Adults with Intellectual Disability with Lennox Gastaut and Dravet syndrome ( CANABID-LD ): a naturalistic case-control study
Shankar, R. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Allgar, V. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/02/25 → 31/01/27
Project: Research
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Reducing Antipsychotics in People with Intellectual Disabilities
Shankar, R. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Allgar, V. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
NHS National Institute for Health Research
1/06/23 → 30/11/24
Project: Research
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A novel way to understand and communicate the burden of Antipsychotic Prescribing for Adults across Specialist Intellectual Disability Services in England and Wales
Shankar, R. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Allgar, V. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/04/23 → 30/06/24
Project: Research
Research output
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Correction to: Navigating the complexities of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) from risk factors to outcome: insights from the UK Biobank cohort (BMC Nephrology, (2025), 26, 1, (168), 10.1186/s12882-025-04090-7)
Kar, D., Byng, R., Sheikh, A., Nath, M., Zabeen, B., Kar, S., Banu, S., Khan, N., Acharjee, D., Islam, S., Allgar, V., El-Wazir, A., Song, S., Verma, A., Kadam, U. & de Lusignan, S., Dec 2025, In: BMC Nephrology. 26, 1, 239.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Open Access -
Navigating the complexities of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) from risk factors to outcome: insights from the UK Biobank cohort
Kar, D., Byng, R., Sheikh, A., Nath, M., Zabeen, B., Kar, S., Banu, S., Rahman, H., Khan, N., Acharjee, D., Islam, S., Allgar, V., Ordonez-Mena, J., El-Wazir, A., Song, S., Verma, A., Kadam, U. & de Lusignan, S., 1 Apr 2025, In: BMC Nephrology. 26, 1, p. 168 168.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile15 Downloads (Pure) -
An alcohol-related liver disease multi-stakeholder hub (ARMS-Hub) to enhance research activity in underserved communities in the UK
Dhanda, A., Allgar, V., Bhala, N., Callaghan, L., Castro, J., Chokshi, S., Clements, A., Clyne, W., Drummond, C., Forrest, E., Manning, L., Parker, R., Shawcross, D. & Towey, J., 15 Jul 2024, In: NIHR Open Research. 4, 41.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
Breaking down barriers between liver, addiction, and mental health services for people with alcohol-related liver disease
Dhanda, A. D., Allgar, V., Bhala, N., Callaghan, L., Castro, J., Chokshi, S., Clements, A., Drummond, C., Forrest, E. H., Manning, L., Parker, R., Shawcross, D. L. & Towey, J., Oct 2024, In: The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 9, 10, p. 903-905 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
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Improved Structure and Function in Early-Detected Second-Eye Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: FASBAT/Early Detection of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Report 1
FASBAT Study Group, Jun 2024, In: Ophthalmology Retina. 8, 6, p. 545-552 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Realist informed mixed methods evaluation of the Dementia-Personalised Aligned Care Team intervention (D-PACT): a complex intervention for individuals with dementia and carers
Musicha, C. (Creator), Oh, T. (Editor), Ukoumunne, O. C. (Contributor), Goldsmith, K. A. (Contributor), Byng, R. (Editor) & Allgar, V. (Supervisor), University of Plymouth, 29 Apr 2025
DOI: 10.24382/813381ef-bf85-4291-9168-51b65b43b314, https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/foh-datasets/20/
Dataset
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Dementia-PersonAlised Care Team (D-PACT) intervention
Musicha, C. (Creator), Oh, T. (Creator), Ukoumunne, O. (Creator), Goldsmith, K. (Creator), Byng, R. (Creator), Iliffe, S. (Creator) & Allgar, V. (Creator), University of Plymouth, 5 Dec 2023
https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/foh-datasets/10/
Dataset
File