Professor Chris Sutton

Chris has published widely in clinical trials and has other health research outputs in various disciplines, particularly stroke, musculoskeletal and, more recently, mental health. In addition to discipline-specific publications, usually as the lead statistician on the project, he has a number of publications on trial methodology. In total, he has over 100 peer-reviewed research publications.

Chris' early career was as a lecturer in statistics, specialising in medical and biological teaching in undergraduate courses. He was first employed by the institution in 1988 and contributed to the development of the University's first BSc (Hons) Mathematics programme. In the early 1990s he started collaborating with medical researchers at the Royal Preston Hospital and, through the 1990s and early 2000s this developed further with the increased profile of health education and research at the University. He joined the Preston, Chorley and S Ribble LREC in 1998, remaining a member until 2005 and latterly taking on the role of Deputy Vice-Chair.

In 2002, Chris moved into the Faculty of Health in 2002 and supervised a number of successful PhD students and, with the creation of the National Institute for Health Research in 2006, supported the development and delivery of numerous research projects, typically including randomised controlled trials. In 2012, he was instrumental in the setting up of Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit which increased the profile of the University and has subsequently collaborated on and supported the delivery of high-quality health research, before being promoted to Reader in 2015.

Chris left the University in 2018 and spent almost 7 years as a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Trials at The University of Manchester. During that time, he gained further experience in the design and analysis of clinical trials, particularly in mental health trials, and some associated methodological studies: he was co-investigator on approximately 18 successful funding applications between 2021 and 2024. He was also appointed to the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Commissioning Committee in late 2019, and, following an extension, remains a member until January 2026. Chris returned to the University of Lancashire in January 2025 as Professor of Clinical Trials and Associate Director (Clinical Trials) in Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit.