Andrew Booth

Andrew Booth, Professor in Evidence Synthesis at the University of Sheffield’s Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR), occupies a unique position at the intersection of information management and evidence-based medicine. His academic journey is defined by a 40-year career that transitioned from health information roles in the NHS and Medical Research Council into becoming a world-renowned methodology expert. Today, he co-directs the £3.75 million EnSygN Evidence Synthesis Group and the NIHR Evidence Synthesis Centre, spearheading high-impact reviews for the World Health Organization and national policy bodies. Throughout this work, he maintains an ongoing focus on using evidence synthesis to address global health inequities and improve healthcare access for vulnerable communities.

Professor Booth is internationally recognised for pioneering methodological tools such as the Best Fit Framework Synthesis and GRADE-CERQual, which have become standard frameworks for qualitative research evaluation globally. His academic standing is further evidenced by his six-year tenure as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher and his role as a long-standing Co-Convenor for the Cochrane Qualitative & Implementation Methods Group. As the lead author of the definitive textbook, Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review, and coordinator of the annual ESQUIRE workshop, he remains central to training the next generation of researchers in the rigorous searching, sifting, and synthesis of knowledge.