professor Sarah Wordsworth
Colleges
Sarah Wordsworth
BSc MSc PhD
Professor of Health Economics
I joined the Health Economics Research Centre in January 2003 and developed a research programme on the economics of genetic and genomic technologies. Of particular interest are the economics of translating high-throughput sequencing technologies such as whole genome sequencing in rare diseases and cancer into healthcare systems.
My other research interests include antimicrobial resistance (AMR) where I explore the contribution that health economics can bring to this important health area and identify barriers to implementing interventions for reducing AMR. I also address methodological challenges in trial-based economic evaluations in the areas of surgery for obesity, lung cancer surgery, cardiovascular disease and eye disease.
I undertake policy work and lead the Health Economics Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership (GeCIP) for the UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project. This is the largest sequencing initiative in the world, and sequenced 100,000 entire genomes from around 70,000 National Health Service patients with rare diseases and cancer.
As a Senior Fellow at St Anne’s College I am a member of the College Governing Body, graduate advisor for DPhil and MSc students and part of the Centre for Personalised Medicine (St Anne’s and Centre for Human Genetics).
I teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate students, I am also Co-Director of the MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine (University of Oxford) and supervise DPhil students.
I worked in the Health Economics Research Unit at the University of Aberdeen from 1995-2002, after completing my MSc in Health Economics in 1995 at the University of York.
Recent publications
Towards a Multi-sectoral Approach to Population Health: A Scoping Review of Cross-sectoral Evaluations of Health Interventions.
Journal article
Koleva-Kolarova R. et al, (2026), Appl Health Econ Health Policy
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding or sleeve gastrectomy for severe obesity: The By-Band-Sleeve randomised controlled trial.
Journal article
(2026), Health Technol Assess, 30, 1 - 224
Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Genomic Medicine: Considerations for Addressing Health Equity.
Journal article
Smith HS. et al, (2025), Value Health, 28, 1213 - 1220
Gabapentin for pain management following major surgery: a placebo controlled, double blind, randomized clinical trial (The GAP Study).
Journal article
Baos S. et al, (2025), Anesthesiology
Measuring patient- and carer-reported outcomes following genome sequencing for rare disease diagnosis: a psychometric assessment of outcome measurement instruments
Journal article
Sansom S. et al, (2025), Value in Health, 28

