In the fast-paced world of healthcare analysis, transparent and rigorous data processing is crucial for building trust. Dr Joe Moss, Principal Statistician at YHEC, specialises in breaking down complex data challenges into elegant, defensible narratives, ensuring there is no “black box” when it comes to demonstrating product value. In this blog, we interview Joe to find out how he got into this role, what his day-to-day work looks like, and what he enjoys most about being part of YHEC.

What is your name and role?

I’m Dr Joe Moss, Principal Statistician at YHEC.

Tell us about your qualifications and career path that brought you to YHEC

I studied Biomedical Sciences at Cardiff University before completing a Master of Research and then a PhD in cardiovascular disease. While I enjoyed the research and statistics as part of my PhD, I realised I preferred the pace of industry over academia. I was looking for a fast-paced industry that still allowed me to pursue research interests. YHEC has a long history of undertaking analysis of big data sets and, since I joined eight years ago, I’ve built on this with a growing team that provides immense value to YHEC’s work via in-house statistical expertise.

What is the main focus of your work at YHEC?

My team handles anything requiring complex data analysis. Beyond just identifying patterns and trends, we provide a clear, evidence-based narrative for the client, often pinpointing specific clinical or economic benefits for their product. Our work is highly collaborative, for example, working with the economic modellers to build robust predictive equations to inform economic models and with review and evidence synthesis colleagues to translate published data into a coherent, defensible evidence base.

What clients do you typically work with? And what’s a key challenge that you help YHEC’s clients overcome?

We work with a broad spectrum of clients across the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Our primary challenge is to navigate complex data, whether that’s evaluating system-level changes in care pathways or synthesising messy, real-world data for an economic model. We’re really flexible and don’t just apply a standard statistical toolkit; we adapt our methodology to match the demands of the project. We ensure we use the right statistical “tool” for every job.

Do you have favourite methods, or are there any methodological developments that interest you?

I have a soft spot for a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM). It’s a technique for modelling patient-level data with repeated measures over long periods. There is something incredibly satisfying about distilling complex, long-term data into a single, elegant equation that can accurately extrapolate and make predictions.

In terms of developments, I’m particularly interested in the new JCA process. The tight timelines mean we’re looking at ways to develop efficient semi-automated analysis pipelines without losing rigour. For example, we are currently exploring how we could predict the different types of PICOs that a client might need, allowing us to rapidly adapt, analyse data and return outputs quickly.

This is an area where YHEC really adds value for clients because we don’t outsource our statistical analysis or our systematic literature reviews. As a company, we are involved in every step of the process from identifying the literature and synthesising the data to incorporating it into an economic model. As statisticians, we are involved in all phases of the project, ensuring a smooth and robust process for the client.

How do you approach a new project to ensure that the advice you give is the most rigorous and reliable?

I approach every project by letting the data speak for itself. Once we identify a trend or potential narrative, we don’t just accept it. Instead, we stress test it through sensitivity analyses and comparisons with existing literature to ensure the results are robust. It’s about verifying that the methodology fits the complexity of the task.

Even with limited data, we use our experience and expertise to draw out the narrative in the data, and we can advise clients about what they should focus on or whether to seek further evidence. Due to being so closely involved in the technical details, we often spot alternative angles or risks the client might have overlooked. That’s where the real value of an in-house statistics team comes through.

When a client works with you, how and where will they notice your impact on the success of the project?

The most immediate impact is a sense of confidence in the results that we provide for the client. We’re always completely transparent about the analysis undertaken, the methods used, and our conclusions. There is no “black box” approach here.

However, I usually consider it a compliment when a client doesn’t notice the statistics team. If we have done our job well, the statistical analysis serves as a robust but invisible foundation for the project. When an economic model is eventually critiqued or reviewed by a third party, our work should stand up to scrutiny without the client ever having to defend it.

What’s one project you’ve worked on recently that you’re particularly proud of, and why?

A recent highlight has been our work on cryoablation. We analysed several clinical trial datasets to generate several predictive equations that underpinned the calculations of an economic model. The finished work had a huge impact, leading to multiple publications relating to a variety of different countries around the globe: the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Denmark. It’s a good example of how our internal analysis directly informs international healthcare conversations.

You can access these publications from YHEC’s Publications Hub.

What are you most excited about for the future of your work at YHEC?

Statistics is moving away from being a backroom function to becoming a central part of how healthcare decisions are made. Statistics has an incredible amount to offer the healthcare sector, so what excites me most is how our team continues to grow and evolve alongside those shifts. I’m looking forward to expanding our technical capabilities so we can tackle increasingly complex data challenges. The goal isn’t just to grow for the sake of growth, but to ensure we’re providing the kind of rigorous analysis that actually makes a difference for our clients.

What is the most rewarding part of your job or what do you enjoy most about working at YHEC?

On a technical level, the most rewarding part of my work is taking a “mess” of raw data, breaking it apart, and weaving it into something meaningful. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of breaking down a complex dataset to understand what it is telling us. It’s all about taking a set of figures and figuring out how to get from A to B in a way that is efficient and defensible.

Beyond the data, it’s the people. Doing this kind of complex work can be high-pressure, so having such wonderful colleagues makes a huge difference. There’s a great balance here between genuine intellectual challenge and a supportive environment.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside work?

Going on a nice long walk in the countryside with my family and dog, preferably up a hill. The Lake District is my favourite escape so, if I can, I’ll go there (I’m aiming to complete the Wainwrights).

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about yourself!

I’m a published poet! My work is featured in a poetry anthology, though the exact piece of work will remain hidden.

I’m a poet and, unlike some, did know it,

But as for the title? I’m not going to show it.

I’ll model your data and find every trend,

But that’s where the public disclosures will end.

How can our expertise in statistics help you?

Find out more about YHEC’s statistical services or get in touch with us to find out how we can help with your project.