Professor Matthew (Matt) Sydes is Head of Data-Driven Clinical Trials at NHS England.

For nearly 30 years, Matt has designed, conducted, analysed, reported and communicated clinical trials, usually late-phase, often international and often defining a new standard-of-care for patients.

Matt started as a trial coordinator at the MRC Cancer Trials Office in Cambridge in 1995, later known at MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL. After that, he re-trained to move into a statistical role.

Over time, Matt took an increasing focus on methodological research to improve the delivery of clinical trials, including: implementation into practice of novel designs, particularly multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) platform / master protocols; running academic-led trials with a view to regulatory use and submission; proportionate and efficient monitoring of clinical trial; better clinical trial data sharing; communication of trial findings; and, critically, the potential to transform clinical trial planning and delivery through the use of routinely-collected healthcare systems data.

Matt has presented widely, taught on many courses and contributed to many funding panels. He joins NHS England from University College London (UCL) where he was a Professor of Clinical Trials and Methodology at MRC Clinical Trials Unit. He was also a research director for the Transforming Data for Trials programme at Health Data Research UK and Associated Director for Data-Enabled Trials at the BHF Data Science Centre.