People
AHTA is made up of a multidisciplinary team with staff expertise in areas of health technology assessment (HTA), health economics, ethics, research synthesis, methodological research, guideline development, and research information technology management.
Professor Tracy Merlin, Director
Professor Tracy Merlin
AHTA Director
Tracy Merlin is the first Professor of Health Technology Assessment in Australia, having worked in HTA for over 25 years.
As the Director and co-founder of AHTA, Tracy leads a large and experienced team of researchers undertaking nationally significant applied research and evaluation activities. Tracy is a methodologist and clinical epidemiologist. In addition to publishing methodological work, she has written systematic literature reviews, clinical practice guidelines and health technology assessment reports. She has been an active contributor to HTAi and INAHTA. She Chaired INAHTA from 2020-2023 and was on the Board for 8 years. She Chaired the HTA Glossary English Editorial Board for 10 years, on behalf of HTAi and INAHTA. Professor Merlin also Heads the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide.
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Leadership Team
David Tamblyn
AHTA Manager
David is the Manager of and an experienced evaluator at Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA), University of Adelaide, with more than 15 years’ experience in health technology assessment (HTA) and health economic evaluation. He has performed evaluations that support decision making for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, the Singapore Ministry of Health and has provided regulatory assessments of pharmaceuticals and devices for the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Skye Newton
Team Leader, Medical HTA
Skye Newton is a clinical epidemiologist who has 20 years' experience performing and providing guidance and quality assurance for evaluations for the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). Skye has strong expertise in the evaluation of investigative tests, in particular, genetic tests.
Arlene Vogan
Team Leader, Health Economics (HTA)
Arlene is a Senior Health Economist at Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA), with over a decade of experience in health economics and health technology assessment (HTA). Her research supports evidence-based reimbursement decision-making for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). She has also contributed to horizon scanning briefs, ATAGI advice, and international evaluations, including for the Singapore Ministry of Health, and was a contributing author to the most recent update of the MSAC Guidelines.
Camille Schubert
Team Leader, Health Economics (Academic)
Camille Schubert conducts trial-based health economic research and analysis for grant-funded clinical research projects conducted at the University. Camille's areas of interest are; health economic policy associated with funded of health technologies, co-dependent health technologies and health economic implications associated with genetic testing.
Vivian (Zhaohui) Liufu
Team Leader, Pharmaceuticals
Vivian (Zhaohui) Liufu has worked in the field of health technology assessment for 14 years. She is responsible for critical appraisal and evaluation of pharmaceuticals and co-dependent technologies for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and/or Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). She also has experience in clinical medicine, systematic reviews, and evaluation of medical services.
Benjamin Ellery
Team Leader, Medical Devices
Ben leads a team evaluating medical devices for regulatory approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Ben has 15 years of experience in HTA, undertaking assessments of medical services, medical devices, and health/public health programs. His special interest is horizon scanning for new and emerging health technologies.
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Administration
- Lashan Clifton - Senior Administration Officer
- Sharelle Falzon - Administration Officer
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Ethicist
- Dr Drew Carter - Research Fellow (Ethics)
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Pharmaceutical evaluators
- Dr Vivian Liufu - Team Leader, Pharmaceutical Evaluation
- Dr Olivia Choi - HTA Analyst
- Christopher Deane - Senior PBS Strategy Analyst
- Claude Farah - Senior HTA Analyst
- Dr Bron Lett - Senior HTA Analyst
- Kashish Bararia - HTA Analyst
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Healthcare & medical device evaluators
- Skye Newton - Team Leader, Medical HTA
- Benjamin Ellery - Team Leader, Medical Devices
- Hiruni Dasanayaka - HTA Analyst
- Dr Sarah Hancock - Senior HTA Analyst
- Dr Hayley Hill - Senior HTA Analyst
- Sharon Kessels - Senior HTA Analyst
- Dr Mah Laka - Research Associate (HTA)
- Klara Salinger - HTA Analyst
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Health economists
- Arlene Vogan - Team Leader, Health Economics (HTA)
- Camille Schubert - Team Leader, Health Economics (Academic)
- Isaiah Luc - Senior Health Economist
- Dr Ruchi Mittal - Senior Health Economist
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Students
- Dr Vahab Baghbanian - PhD candidate
- Yuan Gao - PhD candidate
- Isaiah Luc - PhD candidate
- Camille Schubert - PhD candidate
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Affiliates and consultants
- Dr Hossein Haji Ali Afzali - Health Economics Consultant
- Dr Jacqueline Street - Consumer Engagement Consultant
- Dr Amy Salter - Statistical Consultant
- Dr Joshua Inglis - Clinical Consultant
- Dr Benjamin Reddi - Clinical Consultant