Rachael McCool smiling at the camera in an office setting, with the YHEC logo visible on the wall behind her

Rachael McCool

Director of Reviews and Evidence Synthesis

Rachael is YHEC's Director of Reviews and Evidence Synthesis. She has a strong passion for research and oversees the delivery of literature review projects for clients in both the private and public sectors. She is an author on over 40 peer-reviewed publications, and her expertise ranges from pragmatic reviews for internal decision-making to robust systematic reviews for HTA submissions. She has worked across a diverse range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

Rachael finds fulfilment in the real-world impact of her work, particularly in how reviews inform HTA decisions and influence patient access to life-changing treatments. She is interested in the transferability of review methods across a broad range of research questions and is focused on the challenges of AI in the review field. She also has experience conducting qualitative projects, having developed, validated and critiqued patient-reported outcome measures in a previous role.

Rachael’s YHEC career progressed from Research Assistant to Director, providing her with practical knowledge of every level within the company. Clients value Rachael’s flexibility, proactivity, curiosity and passion for creating innovative solutions.

 

Explore Rachael's recent publications

Peer-reviewed publication

Opportunities for and Challenges of Conducting Indirect Treatment Comparisons and Meta-Analyses for Vaccines in a Post-EU HTA Regulation Era

YHEC authors: Charlotte Graham, Erin Barker, Joe Moss, Emily Gregg, Rachael McCool
Publication date: June 2025
Journal: Journal of Market Access & Health Policy
Peer-reviewed publication

A Systematic Review of Bone Graft Products Used in Lumbar Interbody Fusion Procedures for Degenerative Disc Disease

YHEC authors: Anita Fitzgerald, Rachael McCool, Emma Carr, Paul Miller, Katie Reddish
Publication date: January 2025
Journal: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)
Peer-reviewed publication

Single-Arm Interventional versus Observational Studies for Assessing Efficacy: A Meta-Epidemiological Study

YHEC authors: Mary Chappell, Deborah Watkins, Alice Sanderson, Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano, Paul Miller, Hariet Fewster, Anita Fitzgerald, Mary Edwards, Rachael McCool
Publication date: January 2025
Journal: Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods