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Nikki McCaffrey

Economics of Cancer team leader, Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia, Flinders University

Dr McCaffrey is an accomplished health economist with significant expertise and experience in quantitative and qualitative research, methodological and applied health economics, pharmacoeconomics, health technology assessment, palliative and end-of-life care, epidemiology and outcome measurement. She has had a distinguished career working in academia, health technology assessment, health service provision and pharmacy. Dr McCaffrey holds a PhD in health economics from Flinders University and is one of a few dedicated cancer economists in Australia and advanced cancer economists globally. She is recognised internationally for her palliative and end-of- life care work and has recently expanded into the economics of cancer more broadly.

Since 2017, Dr McCaffrey has headed up the Deakin Health Economics Cancer Stream, leading a team of researchers informing policymakers about the value for money and equity impacts of approaches to reduce cancer burden and improve the quality of life of people affected by cancer. She also leads the Economics of Cancer Collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) to prioritise research to improve care for people affected by cancer.

Dr McCaffrey has served on several state and federal government expert groups (Victorian Cancer Registry Working Group Strategic Advisory Group, Australian Government Department of Health Reference Group for the Post-Market Review of COPD medicines, Palliative Care Economic Impact Analysis Steering Committee, Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) Scientific Committee, Specialist Palliative Care and Advance Planning Advisory Service National Advisory Committee) and provided expert input into the 2016 Parliamentary Commission public inquiry into the reform of specialist palliative care services. Other notable roles include co-lead of the iHEA special interest group, “Economics of Palliative & End-of-Life Care” (121 members across 31 countries), early career researcher mentor for iHEA, editorial board member for Palliative Medicine (2017-21) and PharmacoEconomics Open (2016-current) and Faculty of Health Ethics Advisory Group member (2021-current).

Experience

  • –present
    Health Economist at Dept Palliative & Supportive Services, Flinders University