From York to Kyoto: strengthening global expertise in HTA

Posted on Friday 4 September 2026

Andrea Manca, Professor of Health Economics at the University of York’s Centre for Health Economics (CHE), travelled to Kyoto, Japan, to deliver the Statistical Methods for Economic Evaluation in HTA (SMEEHTA) short course to a group of health technology assessment (HTA) professionals and PhD students.

The course brought together researchers and practitioners working with health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) data to explore methods for analysing individual patient-level data on costs and effects, including survival and health-related quality of life, as well as other data used in cost-effectiveness analysis.

Reflecting on the experience, Professor Manca said:

“The level of professionalism, rigor, and technical competence in the room was outstanding. The questions were sharp, the discussions were deep, and it was clear that these researchers and practitioners are already thinking critically about the real-world challenges facing HTA in Japan and beyond.”

The visit also strengthened links between the University of York and Japan’s HTA community. Professor Manca worked with Professor Kensuke Moriwaki, Professor Munenobu Kashiwa and their team to deliver the course and support discussions on the challenges of economic evaluation in HTA.

For Professor Manca, the experience offered an encouraging insight into the next generation of HTA research in Japan.

“Leaving Kyoto, I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of HTA in Japan,” he said, pointing to the “curious, capable, and deeply committed” researchers he met during the course.

The visit highlighted the value of international collaboration in developing the skills and evidence needed to support healthcare decision-making.

Learn more about SMEEHTA

Interested in developing your skills in advanced statistical methods for health economic evaluation? Find out more about the SMEEHTA short course and upcoming opportunities to take part.