Dr Joanna Leaviss

BA (Liverpool), MPA (Liverpool), PhD (Nottingham)

School of Medicine and Population Health

Research Fellow in Evidence Synthesis

Joanna Leaviss
Profile picture of Joanna Leaviss
j.leaviss@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0895

Full contact details

Dr Joanna Leaviss
School of Medicine and Population Health
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
Profile

I conduct evidence synthesis research, in particular systematic reviews of intervention effectiveness, prognostic accuracy, and cost effectiveness modelling. This includes Health Technology Assessment reports for the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and evidence summaries for the National Screening Committee (NSC). I am particularly interested in the synthesis of evidence from studies of complex behavioural/non-pharmacological interventions, and in heterogenous (including transdiagnostic) or screen-detected populations. I am Deputy Ethics Lead for the School of Medicine and Population Health, and Academic PPIE Lead for the SENSS programme.

Research interests

I am interested in the synthesis of evidence evaluating clinical and cost-effectiveness of health interventions, in particular complex behavioural, non-pharmacological or psychological interventions, in transdiagnostic, heterogenous or screen-detected populations.

Current/recent projects: 
• NIHR: The clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of non-pharmacological interventions for fatigue in long-term conditions (EIFFEL)
• UKRI Complex Emotions Hub: Causes and mechanisms of Borderline Personality Disorder
• NIHR: Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): behaviour modification interventions in primary care settings
• WHO: Behavioural interventions for childhood obesity
• NSC: evidence summaries against programme appraisal criteria for the UK National Screening Committee including newborn screening for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH); Severe Combined Immunodeficiency; and Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).
 

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Leaviss J, Forsyth JE, Booth A, Coyle D, Daly G, Davis S, Dawes H, Deary V, Dwivedi K, Fryer K , McCormick S et al (2026) . BMJ Medicine, 5(1), e001746-e001746.
  • Essat M, Carroll C, Booth A, Leaviss J, Castelblanco Cuevas D & Verstraeten R (2026) . PLOS One, 21(1), e0340875-e0340875.
  • Booth A, Rooney G, Sutton A, Leaviss J, Deary V, Dawes H & Burton C (2025) . Disability and Rehabilitation.
  • Davis S, Mon-Yee M, Sutton A, Leaviss J, Forsyth JE & Burton C (2025) . Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research.
  • Leaviss J, Verstraeten R, Carroll C, Booth A, Essat M & Cuevas DC (2025) . Obesity Reviews, 26(7).
  • Leaviss J, Carroll C, Essat M, van der Windt D, Grainge MJ, Card T, Riley R & Abhishek A (2024) . RMD Open, 10(1).
  • Scope A, Leaviss J, Booth A, Sutton A, Parry G, Buszewicz M & Moss-Morris R (2021) . Br J Health Psychol, 26(4), 1069-1094.
  • Leaviss J, Davis S, Ren S, Hamilton J, Scope A, Booth A, Sutton A, Parry G, Buszewicz M, Moss-Morris R & White P (2020) . Health Technol Assess, 24(46), 1-490.
  • Bessey A, Chilcott J, Leaviss J, de la Cruz C & Wong R (2019) . International Journal of Neonatal Screening, 5(3).
  • Bessey A, Chilcott JB, Leaviss J & Sutton A (2018) . Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 13.
  • Sammy IA, Lecky FE, Sutton A, Leaviss J & O'Cathain A (2016) . Injury, 47(6), 1170-1183.
  • Leaviss J & Uttley L (2015) . PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE, 45(5), 927-945.
  • Leaviss J, Sullivan W, Ren S, Everson-Hock E, Stevenson M, Stevens JW, Strong M & Cantrell A (2014) . Health Technol Assess, 18(33), 1-120.
  • Scope A, Leaviss J, Kaltenthaler E, Parry G, Sutcliffe P, Bradburn M & Cantrell A (2013) . BMC Psychiatry, 13, 321.
  • Carroll C, Rick J, Leaviss J, Fishwick D & Booth A (2013) . BMC Public Health, 13, 1095.
  • Carroll C, Hummel S, Leaviss J, Ren S, Stevens JW, Everson-Hock E, Cantrell A, Stevenson M & Michaels J (2013) . Health Technol Assess, 17(48), i-141.
  • Carroll C, Booth A, Leaviss J & Rick J (2013) . BMC Med Res Methodol, 13, 37.
  • Goodacre S, Thokala P, Carroll C, Stevens JW, Leaviss J, Al Khalaf M, Collinson P, Morris F, Evans P & Wang J (2013) . Health Technol Assess, 17(1), v-188.
  • Ferguson E, Leaviss J, Townsend E, Fleming P & Lowe KC (2005) . Transfusion Medicine, 15(5), 401-412.
  • Boaden N & Leaviss J (2000) . Medical Education, 34(11), 921-927.
  • Leaviss J (2000) . Medical Education, 34(6), 483-486.

Reports

  • Leaviss J, Harnan S, Pandor A & Cantrell A (2022) Newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. External review against programme appraisal criteria for the UK National Screening Committee

Preprints

  • Yee MM, Burton C, Leaviss J, Forsyth JE, Daly G & Davis S (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Leaviss J, Forsyth JE, Booth A, Coyle D, Daly G, Davis S, Dawes H, Deary V, Dwivedi K, Fryer K , McCormick S et al (2026) . BMJ Medicine, 5(1), e001746-e001746.
  • Essat M, Carroll C, Booth A, Leaviss J, Castelblanco Cuevas D & Verstraeten R (2026) . PLOS One, 21(1), e0340875-e0340875.
  • Booth A, Rooney G, Sutton A, Leaviss J, Deary V, Dawes H & Burton C (2025) . Disability and Rehabilitation.
  • Davis S, Mon-Yee M, Sutton A, Leaviss J, Forsyth JE & Burton C (2025) . Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research.
  • Leaviss J, Verstraeten R, Carroll C, Booth A, Essat M & Cuevas DC (2025) . Obesity Reviews, 26(7).
  • Mellor J, Kuznetsov D, Heller S, Gall M-A, Rosilio M, Amiel SA, Ibberson M, McGurnaghan S, Blackbourn L, Berthon W , Salem A et al (2024) . Diabetologia, 67(10), 2210-2224.
  • Mellor J, Kuznetsov D, Heller S, Gall M-A, Rosilio M, Amiel SA, Ibberson M, McGurnaghan S, Blackbourn L, Berthon W , Salem A et al (2024) . Diabetologia, 67(8), 1588-1601.
  • Leaviss J, Carroll C, Essat M, van der Windt D, Grainge MJ, Card T, Riley R & Abhishek A (2024) . RMD Open, 10(1).
  • Scope A, Leaviss J, Booth A, Sutton A, Parry G, Buszewicz M & Moss-Morris R (2021) . Br J Health Psychol, 26(4), 1069-1094.
  • Carlton J, Leaviss J, Pouwer F, Hendrieckx C, Broadley MM, Clowes M, McCrimmon RJ, Heller SR & Speight J (2021) . Diabetologia, 64(6), 1213-1225.
  • Thomas C, Brennan A, Goka E, Squires HY, Brenner G, Bagguley D, Buckley Woods H, Gillett M, Leaviss J, Clowes M , Heathcote L et al (2020) . BMJ Open, 10(9), e037486.
  • Leaviss J, Davis S, Ren S, Hamilton J, Scope A, Booth A, Sutton A, Parry G, Buszewicz M, Moss-Morris R & White P (2020) . Health Technol Assess, 24(46), 1-490.
  • Bessey A, Chilcott J, Leaviss J, de la Cruz C & Wong R (2019) . International Journal of Neonatal Screening, 5(3).
  • Bessey A, Chilcott JB, Leaviss J & Sutton A (2018) . Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 13.
  • Sutton AJ, Galvan De La Cruz MC, Leaviss J & Booth A (2018) . Research Synthesis Methods, 9(4), 551-560.
  • Kearns B, Rafia R, Leaviss J, Preston L, Brazier JE, Palmer S & Ara R (2017) . BMC Health Serv Res, 17(1), 78.
  • Sutton A, del Carmen Galvan de la Cruz M, Booth A & Leaviss J (2017) . International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 33(S1), 242-242.
  • Sammy IA, Lecky FE, Sutton A, Leaviss J & O'Cathain A (2016) . Injury, 47(6), 1170-1183.
  • Leaviss J & Uttley L (2015) . PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE, 45(5), 927-945.
  • Carroll C, Hummel S, Leaviss J, Ren S, Stevens JW, Cantrell A & Michaels J (2014) . Br J Surg, 101(9), 1040-1052.
  • Leaviss J, Sullivan W, Ren S, Everson-Hock E, Stevenson M, Stevens JW, Strong M & Cantrell A (2014) . Health Technol Assess, 18(33), 1-120.
  • Leaviss J, Hummel S, Carroll C, Ren S, Stevens JW, Everson-Hock E, Cantrell A, Stevenson M & Michaels J (2014) Clinical and cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of varicosis: Systematic review and economic evaluation. Vasomed, 26(4), 210-211.
  • Scope A, Leaviss J, Kaltenthaler E, Parry G, Sutcliffe P, Bradburn M & Cantrell A (2013) . BMC Psychiatry, 13, 321.
  • Carroll C, Rick J, Leaviss J, Fishwick D & Booth A (2013) . BMC Public Health, 13, 1095.
  • Fishwick D, Carroll C, McGregor M, Drury M, Webster J, Bradshaw L, Rick J & Leaviss J (2013) . Occup Med (Lond), 63(8), 526-536.
  • Carroll C, Hummel S, Leaviss J, Ren S, Stevens JW, Everson-Hock E, Cantrell A, Stevenson M & Michaels J (2013) . Health Technol Assess, 17(48), i-141.
  • Carroll C, Booth A, Leaviss J & Rick J (2013) . BMC Med Res Methodol, 13, 37.
  • Goodacre S, Thokala P, Carroll C, Stevens JW, Leaviss J, Al Khalaf M, Collinson P, Morris F, Evans P & Wang J (2013) . Health Technol Assess, 17(1), v-188.
  • Carroll C, Khalaf MA, Stevens JW, Leaviss J, Goodacre S, Wang J & Collinson PO (2013) . Emergency Medicine Journal, 30(4), 280-286.
  • Leaviss J, Gibb AGF & Bust PD (2008) Ageing workforce in construction - Equipment use and the prevention of early retirement. Contemporary Ergonomics 2008, 221-226.
  • McManus IC, Iqbal S, Chandrarajan A, Ferguson E & Leaviss J (2005) . BMC Medical Education, 5.
  • Ferguson E, Leaviss J, Townsend E, Fleming P & Lowe KC (2005) . Transfusion Medicine, 15(5), 401-412.
  • Boaden N & Leaviss J (2000) . Medical Education, 34(11), 921-927.
  • Leaviss J (2000) . Medical Education, 34(6), 483-486.
  • GOUDIE AJ, LEAVISS J & LEATHLEY MJ (1995) EFFECT OF THE 5-HT3 ANTAGONIST ONDANSETRON ON CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE WITHDRAWAL HYPERTHERMIA. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 114, P379-P379.

Conference proceedings

  • Sutton A, Scope A, Leaviss J & Booth A (2018) . International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, Vol. 33(S1) (pp 48-49). Rome, Italy, 17 June 2017 - 17 June 2017.
  • Bessey A, Leaviss J, Galvan de la Cruz C, Chilcott J & Wong R (2017) . Value in Health, Vol. 20(9) (pp A501-A501)
  • Gibb A, Leaviss J & Bust P (2014) Older construction workers: Needs and abilities. Proceedings 29th Annual Association of Researchers in Construction Management Conference, ARCOM 2013 (pp 261-271)
  • Gibb A, Leaviss J & Bust P (2013) Older construction workers: Needs and abilities. Proceedings 29th Annual Association of Researchers in Construction Management Conference Arcom 2013 (pp 261-271)
  • Carroll C, Goodacre S, Stevens J, Al Khalaf M, Leaviss J, Wang J & Collinson P (2012) . VALUE IN HEALTH, Vol. 15(7) (pp A361-A361)

Reports

  • Leaviss J, Harnan S, Pandor A & Cantrell A (2022) Newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. External review against programme appraisal criteria for the UK National Screening Committee
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix J - Dementia.
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix K - Cardiovascular.
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix H - Psychological Therapies
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix I - Schizophrenia
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) . Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix F - Bowel Cancer.
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix E - Diabetes
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix G - Head and Neck Cancer.
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the collection patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing costeffectiveness Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 13 health conditions specified in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit programme? APPENDIX C, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme. Appendix D - Epilepsy
  • Ara R, Duarte A, Harnan S, Leaviss J, Palmer S, Sculpher M & Brazier JE (2015) Supporting the routine collection of patient reported outcome measures in the National Clinical Audits for assessing cost-effectiveness. Work Package 1. What patient reported outcome measures should be used in the 2013/14 National Clinical Audit Programme.
  • Kearns B, Rafia R, Leaviss J, Preston L, Wong R, Brazier J, Palmer S & Ara R (2014) Whole pathway modelling of depression in patients. (Theme 2: Mental Health). Part 2. Independent economic evaluation: methods and results, discussion and conclusion
  • Kearns B, Rafia R, Leaviss J, Preston L, Wong R, Brazier J, Palmer S & Ara R (2014) Whole pathway modelling of depression in patients. (Theme 2: Mental Health). Appendices.
  • Kearns B, Rafia R, Leaviss J, Preston L, Wong R, Brazier J, Palmer S & Ara R (2014) Whole pathway modelling of depression in patients. (Theme 2: Mental Health). Part 1, Executive summary, introduction, clinical reviews and conceptual modelling.

Posters

  • Carroll C, Goodacre S, Stevens J & Leaviss J Diagnostic accuracy of early biomarkers for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (2012).
  • Leaviss J, Stevens J, J W, Goodacre S & F M Prognostic accuracy of Exercise ECG and CT Coronary Angiography to predict Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) in patients with suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): A systematic review (2012).

Other

  • Carlton J, Leaviss J, Pouwer F, Hendrieckx C, Broadley MM, Clowes M, McCrimmon RJ, Heller SR & Speight J (2022) . Diabetologia, 65(6), 1063-1063.

Preprints

  • Yee MM, Burton C, Leaviss J, Forsyth JE, Daly G & Davis S (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

HEDS, SENSS

Grants
  • NIHR (2024): Specialised Evidence Synthesis Groups (ESGs) to provide research evidence to support the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) - Sheffield Evidence Network for Screening Synthesis (SENSS): £3,799,679.96; Co-Applicant and PPIE Academic Lead
  • NIHR (2023): Effectiveness of Interventions For Fatigue in Long-term Conditions (EIFFEL): £339,038; Co-Principal Investigator
  • NIHR Health Technology Assessment 2015: Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): primary care intervention, £200k, Chief Investigator.
  • Department of Health (IAPT)2013: Psychological interventions for Medically Unexplained Symptoms and Long-Term Conditions. £10k, co-applicant.
  • ScHARR strategic research fund 2012: Psychotherapeutic effects of Compassion-Focused Therapy. £5k, co-PI.
Teaching interests

My teaching interests lie in Systematic Reviews and Critical Appraisal, including research ethics and dealing with problematic papers in evidence synthesis. I teach on SMPH systematic review modules and short courses, including national and international bespoke short courses and technical training.

Professional activities and memberships

• Deputy Lead - SMPH Research Ethics Committee
• Academic PPIE Lead - SENSS