Scientist, Methodological & Implementation Research
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Scientist, Methodological and Implementation Research Program
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

I completed my PhD degree in Applied Social Statistics at Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK in 2010. My PhD thesis focused on parental experiences of consent to newborn bloodspot screening through a mixed methods approach using qualitative interviews and surveys that were analysed using structural equation modelling techniques. In addition, I hold MRes in Social Statistics, an MSc in Healthcare Ethics, and a BSc (Hons) in Genetics.

I am currently a Scientist in the Methodological and Implementation (MIR) program at the Ottawa hospital research Institute, having previously been the program lead for the Office for Patient Engagement in Research Activities (OPERA) since September 2020. Prior to joining the OHRI, I was a Methodologist within the Clinical Research Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and completed a CIHR-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa.

As an applied researcher in patient engagement and a member of the Ottawa Methods Centre and OPERA, I work with researchers across specialities to support patient engagement in their research whether it is a systematic review, survey, priority setting exercise, or clinical trial. To date I have published over 120 peer reviewed publications, a co-authored monograph, and half a dozen book chapters. I have been a principal applicant, co-applicant, or collaborator on over 80 funded research studies totalling over $75 Million. In addition, I have previously been a member of the Canadian Clinical Trials Coordinating Centre (CCTCC)/Health Canada working group on developing a pan-Canadian accreditation system for Research Ethics Boards reviewing clinical trials and was a member of the Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada Research Ethics Board.

Nicholls SG, Campbell MK. (2024) Embedding patient and provider voices in clinical trials. JAMA, E1-E2 doi:10.1001/jama.2024.6314 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2820595

Fox G, Fergusson DA, Sadeknury A, Nicholls SG, Smith M, Stacey D, Lalu MM (2023). What guidance exists to support patient partner compensation practices? A scoping review of available policies and guidelines. Health Expectations 27(1): e13970 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hex.13970

Vanderhout S, Nevins P, Nicholls SG, Macarthur C, Brehaut JC, Potter B, Gillies K, Goulao B, Smith M, Hilderley A, Carroll K, Spinewine A, Weijer C, Fergusson DA, Taljaard M. (2023) Patient and public involvement in pragmatic trials: descriptive analysis of results from a survey of trialists. CMAJ Open 11 (5) E826-E837 https://www.cmajopen.ca/content/11/5/E826

Nicholls SG, Fox G, Monfaredi Z, Poole E, Garritty C, Maybee A, Presseau J, Shea B, Fergusson DA. (2022) The impact of patient engagement on trials and trialists in Ontario, Canada: An interview study with IMPACT awardees. Research Involvement and Engagement 8, Article number: 50
https://researchinvolvement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40900-022-00381-7

Vanderhout S, Nicholls S; Monfaredi Z; Hampel C; Ashdown L; Bilodeau M; Rich S; Shea B; Fergusson D. (2022) Facilitating and supporting the engagement of patients, families and caregivers in research: The “Ottawa Model” for Patient Engagement in Research. Research Involvement and Engagement 8: 25 https://researchinvolvement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40900-022-00350-0

Health research methods; Health services research; Health technology; Knowledge translation and implementation research; Patient decision aids; Patient engagement; Pragmatic trials; Qualitative methods; Quality Improvement; Rapid reviews; Systematic reviews