Dr Matthew Bursnall

School of Medicine and Population Health

Medical Statistician, Research Fellow

Matthew Bursnall
Profile picture of Matthew Bursnall
m.bursnall@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0889
Barber House

Full contact details

Dr Matthew Bursnall
School of Medicine and Population Health
Barber House
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Profile

I joined the CTRU in 2018, having previously worked as a statistician and econometrician in the government sector. My work is split between methodological work in rare disease trials and the design and analysis of individual Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs). I have previously worked in observational studies and quantitative social research and maintain an interested in those areas through my PhD supervision. Most of my experience in this CTRU has been in the areas of mental health and wellbeing of adults and I have previously worked on RCTs of school interventions. 

Qualifications

PhD in Statistics, University of Sheffield 2001
MSc in Statistics, University of Sheffield 1995
BSc in Mathematics, University of Sheffield 1994

Research interests

I have an interest in the following research:

  • Design and analysis methods for trials in rare diseases
  • Sample size estimation for rare disease and cluster trials
  • Assumptions for the inter-class correlation coefficient in cluster and repeated measure trials in the absence of previous evidence
  • Unbiased estimation of treatment effects in step-up trials where treatment intensity is increased depending on a post-randomisation interim outcome
  • The intersection of randomisation and other causal methods 

Current projects

I am currently involved in the delivery of the following projects as part of the statistical team:

  • : Changing Clinical Practice for Rare Diseases Through Innovative Trial Designs

  • : RadiO fRequency ablatION for haemorrhoids (ORION). A Pragmatic multicentre patient-/assessor-blind parallel-group individual participant randomised (1:1 allocation) randomised controlled trial. This is a collaboration with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

  • : An individual randomised CONtrolled trial of Tailored Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older people with treatment resistant Generalised Anxiety Disorder. This is a collaboration with University College London.

  • PUMA: A cluster randomised control trial to determine if incorporating personalised music into care plans using the FITS (Focussed Intervention Training and Support) model reduces distress compared to standard practice without a systematic music intervention.

  • ANCORRA: An individual randomised control trial comparing Higher-calorie refeeding with lower-calorie refeeding in malnourished adults with anorexia nervosa.

Recent projects

  • ESEE Steps - Enhancing Social-Emotional Health and Wellbeing in the Early Years
  • ISOCIALISE - Investigating SOcial Competence and Isolation in children with Autism taking part in Lego®-based therapy clubs In School Environments
  • PRIEST - Pre-hospital Pandemic Respiratory Infection Emergency System Triage
  • VTEAM - Venous Thromboembolism Assessment Model Study
  • Mission EB - A placebo control crossover study children with recessive dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. 
  • Star MS - A trial of Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) vs ‘highly effective’ Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) for Multiple Sclerosis. 
Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Gould RL, Callaghan T, White D, Wetherell JL, Bursnall M, Bradburn M, Wailoo A, Serfaty MA, Graham CD, Howard RJ , Wilkinson P et al (2026) . BMC Geriatrics, 26(359).
  • Bageta ML, López Balboa P, Bursnall M, Wilson I, Biggs K, Glover R, Hutchence K, Ditta S, Julious S, Poudel P , Nadeem M et al (2025) . British Journal of Dermatology, 193(Supplement_3).
  • Brittain G, Petrie J, Duffy KEM, Glover R, Hullock K, Papaioannou D, Roldan E, Beecher C, Bursnall M, Ciccarelli O , Coles AJ et al (2024) . BMJ Open, 14(2).
  • Wright B, Kingsley E, Cooper C, Biggs K, Bursnall M, Wang H-I, Chater T, Coates E, Teare MD, McKendrick K , Gomez de la Cuesta G et al (2023) . Public Health Research, 11(12).
  • Horner D, Rex S, Reynard C, Bursnall M, Bradburn M, de Wit K, Goodacre S & Hunt BJ (2023) . BMJ Open, 13(2).
  • Gould RL, Thompson BJ, Rawlinson C, Kumar P, White D, Serfaty MA, Graham CD, McCracken LM, Bursnall M, Bradburn M , Young T et al (2022) . BMC Neurology, 22(1).
  • Bywater T, Berry V, Blower S, Bursnall M, Cox E, Mason-Jones A, McGilloway S, McKendrick K, Mitchell S, Pickett K , Richardson G et al (2022) . PLoS ONE, 17(4).
  • Bursnall M, Thomas BD, Berntsson H, Strong E, Brayne M & Hind D (2022) . Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, 9(3), 251-262.
  • Thomas B, Goodacre S, Lee E, Sutton L, Bursnall M, Loban A, Waterhouse S, Simmonds R, Biggs K, Marincowitz C , Schutter J et al (2021) . Emergency Medicine Journal, 38(8), 587-593.
  • Butcher B & Bursnall M (2013) . National Institute Economic Review, 225, F4-F14.

Conference proceedings

  • Martin RJ, Bursnall MC & Stillman EC (2001) (pp 225-239)

All publications

Journal articles

  • Gould RL, Callaghan T, White D, Wetherell JL, Bursnall M, Bradburn M, Wailoo A, Serfaty MA, Graham CD, Howard RJ , Wilkinson P et al (2026) . BMC Geriatrics, 26(359).
  • Biggs K, Gomez de la Cuesta G, Kingsley E, McPherson J, Murray F, Laurie M, Bursnall M, Coates E & Barr A (2026) . PLoS ONE, 21(2).
  • Bageta ML, López Balboa P, Bursnall M, Wilson I, Biggs K, Glover R, Hutchence K, Ditta S, Julious S, Poudel P , Nadeem M et al (2025) . British Journal of Dermatology, 193(Supplement_3).
  • Gould RL, Thompson BJ, Rawlinson CV, Bursnall M, Bradburn M, Keetharuth AD, Young T, Lawrence V, White DA, Howard RJ , Serfaty MA et al (2025) . Health Technol Assess, 29(51), 1-28.
  • Bageta ML, Lopez-Balboa P, Bursnall M, Glover R, Hutchence K, Papaioannou D, Biggs K, Julious S, Wilson I, Tappenden P , Turton E et al (2025) . EClinicalMedicine.
  • Kingsley E, Biggs K, Solaiman K, Packham A, Nekooi R, Bursnall M, McKendrick K, Cooper CL & Wright B (2025) . Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences, 6(2), 49-63.
  • Rawlinson C, Gould RL, McDermott CJ, Thompson B, Weeks K, Gossage-Worrall R, Serfaty MA, Graham CD, McCracken L, White D , Howard RJ et al (2024) . The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 17.
  • Gould RL, McDermott CJ, Thompson BJ, Rawlinson CV, Bursnall M, Bradburn M, Kumar P, Turton EJ, White DA, Serfaty MA , Graham CD et al (2024) . The Lancet.
  • Keetharuth AD, Gould R, McDermott C, Thompson B, Rawlinson C, Bradburn M, Bursnall M, Kumar P, Turton E, Tappenden P , White D et al (2024) . European Journal of Neurology, 31(8).
  • Horner DE, Davis S, Pandor A, Shulver H, Goodacre S, Hind D, Rex S, Gillett M, Bursnall M, Griffin X , Holland M et al (2024) . Health Technology Assessment, 28(20).
  • Brittain G, Petrie J, Duffy KEM, Glover R, Hullock K, Papaioannou D, Roldan E, Beecher C, Bursnall M, Ciccarelli O , Coles AJ et al (2024) . BMJ Open, 14(2).
  • Wright B, Kingsley E, Cooper C, Biggs K, Bursnall M, Wang H-I, Chater T, Coates E, Teare MD, McKendrick K , Gomez de la Cuesta G et al (2023) . Public Health Research, 11(12).
  • Gould RL, Rawlinson C, Thompson B, Weeks K, Gossage-Worrall R, Cantrill H, Serfaty MA, Graham CD, McCracken LM, White D , Howard RJ et al (2023) . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 9.
  • Sheldon EM, Bursnall M, Hawkins R, Roman SC, Randall K, Winsor G, WAKEMAN R, Hind D & Lobo AJ (2023) . Gastroenterology, 164(6).
  • Wright B, Kingsley E, Cooper C, Biggs K, Bursnall M, Wang H-I, Chater T, Coates E, Teare MD, McKendrick K , Gomez de la Cuesta G et al (2023) . Autism, 27(8), 2281-2294.
  • Horner D, Rex S, Reynard C, Bursnall M, Bradburn M, de Wit K, Goodacre S & Hunt BJ (2023) . BMJ Open, 13(2).
  • Sheldon E, Roman S, Bursnall M, Hawkins R, Lobo A, Hind D, Randall K, Wakeman R & Ainley R (2023) . Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, 17(Supplement_1), i431-i432.
  • Girling C, Lee MJ, Vimalchandran D, Jayne DJ, Stancliffe S, Wailoo A, Bradburn M, Hind D, Bursnall M, Robinson LK & Brown SR (2023) . Techniques in Coloproctology, 27(2), 117-124.
  • Gould RL, Thompson BJ, Rawlinson C, Kumar P, White D, Serfaty MA, Graham CD, McCracken LM, Bursnall M, Bradburn M , Young T et al (2022) . BMC Neurology, 22(1).
  • Bywater T, Berry V, Blower S, Bursnall M, Cox E, Mason-Jones A, McGilloway S, McKendrick K, Mitchell S, Pickett K , Richardson G et al (2022) . PLoS ONE, 17(4).
  • Anders J, Foliano F, Bursnall M, Dorsett R, Hudson N, Runge J & Speckesser S (2022) . Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 15(4), 748-779.
  • Bursnall M, Thomas BD, Berntsson H, Strong E, Brayne M & Hind D (2022) . Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, 9(3), 251-262.
  • Wang H-I, Wright BD, Bursnall M, Cooper C, Kingsley E, Le Couteur A, Teare D, Biggs K, McKendrick K, de la Cuesta GG , Chater T et al (2022) . BMJ Open, 12(1).
  • Blower SL, Berry VL, Bursnall MC, Cohen J, Gridley N, Loban A, Mandefield L, Mason-Jones AJ, McGilloway S, McKendrick KL , Mitchell SB et al (2021) . Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(8), 1933-1949.
  • Thomas B, Goodacre S, Lee E, Sutton L, Bursnall M, Loban A, Waterhouse S, Simmonds R, Biggs K, Marincowitz C , Schutter J et al (2021) . Emergency Medicine Journal, 38(8), 587-593.
  • Wyld L, Reed MWR, Collins K, Burton M, Lifford K, Edwards A, Ward S, Holmes G, Morgan J, Bradburn M , Walters SJ et al (2021) . British Journal of Surgery, 108(5), 499-510.
  • Goodacre S, Thomas B, Sutton L, Burnsall M, Lee E, Bradburn M, Loban A, Waterhouse S, Simmonds R, Biggs K , Marincowitz C et al (2021) . PLoS ONE, 16(1).
  • Stevens R, Bursnall M, Chadwick C, Davies H, Flowers M, Blundell C & Davies M (2020) . Foot and Ankle International, 41(1), 31-36.
  • Butcher B & Bursnall M (2013) . National Institute Economic Review, 225, F4-F14.
  • Martin RJ, Bursnall MC & Stillman EC (1999) . Statistics and Computing, 9(3), 229-237.
  • Bywater T, Berry V, Blower S, Bursnall M, Cox E, Mason-Jones A, McGilloway S, McKendrick K, Mitchell S, Pickett K , Richardson G et al () . Public Health Research, 10(8), 1-162.

Conference proceedings

  • Ezaydi N, McCormick S, Bursnall M, Sheldon E, Ainley R, Hind D & Lobo A (2024) . Poster Presentations (pp A61.2-A62)
  • Totton N, Sheldon E, Ezaydi N, Bursnall M, Hind D, Wakeman R & Lobo A (2024) . Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, Vol. 18(Supplement 1) (pp I837-I837). Stockholm, Sweden, 21 February 2024 - 21 February 2024.
  • Sheldon E, Bursnall M, Ainley R, Roman S, Randall K, Hind D & Lobo A (2023) . Poster presentations (pp A224-A225)
  • Martin RJ, Bursnall MC & Stillman EC (2001) (pp 225-239)

Digital content

  • Bursnall MC SAP changing mindsets EEF.
  • Bursnall M Embedding Formative Assessment SAP.

Scholarly editions

  • Bursnall M, Nafilyan V & Speckesser S An analysis of the duration and achievement of apprenticeships in England.

Posters

  • Simpson R, Jacques R, Lewis J, Firth N, Bursnall M, Flight L & Walters S Intra-cluster correlation for patient reported outcome measures in individually randomised cluster trials.

Other

  • Bursnall M & Dimairo M () .
  • Guy Z, Julious S, O'Cathain A, Bursnall M & Homer V () .

Preprints

  • Goodacre S, Thomas B, Sutton L, Bursnall M, Lee E, Bradburn M, Loban A, Waterhouse S, Simmonds R, Biggs K , Marincowitz C et al (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Biggs K, Thomas B, Goodacre S, Lee E, Sutton L, Bursnall M, Loban A, Waterhouse S, Simmonds R, Marincowitz C , Schutter J et al (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Professional activities and memberships

I am the independent statistician on the Data Monitoring Committee or Trial Steering Committees for three trials:

  • STOP-D: A multi-centre placebo-controlled double blind RCT to investigate the use of sertraline in reducing depressive symptoms in traumatic brain injury patients.
  • REFRESH:  A cluster randomised trial to test the most effective ways to treat malnutrition in older care home residents. 
  • iACT4CARERS: A randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of internet-delivered self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for family carers of people with dementia.

I have previously had a similar role on these trials:

  • TBI Sertraline:  A multi-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of sertraline in preventing depression in adults following a traumatic brain injury.
  • PROSPECT: A multi-centre, two-arm Phase III single-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the clinical cost-effectiveness of targeted psychological therapy for suicidal male prisoners by enhancing access to therapies.