Research synthesis methods and health technology assessment, social epidemiology, sexual risk behavior and prevention, child and adolescent development
I joined Warwick Evidence in October 2015 after two years as a lecturer at the University of Oxford, where I completed the DPhil in Social Intervention. I also worked with the Social Science Research Unit at the UCL Institute of Education. Before coming to the United Kingdom, I qualified as a registered nurse and read nursing and health economics as an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania. For my doctoral thesis, I researched drug use and sexual risk behavior in UK men who have sex with men. This included work on social epidemiology and on systematic review methods for answering complex questions that 'pairwise' effectiveness reviews cannot. I continue to work on these two areas, with additional (and primary) focus on health technology assessment within Warwick Evidence.
- Uthman, Olalekan A., Court, Rachel, Enderby, Jodie, Al-Khudairy, Lena, Nduka, Chidozie, Mistry, Hema, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Taylor-Phillips, Sian, Clarke, Aileen, 2022. Increasing comprehensiveness and reducing workload in a systematic review of complex interventions using automated machine learning. Health Technology Assessment
- Uthman, Olalekan A., Al-Khudairy, Lena, Nduka, Chidozie U., Court, Rachel A., Mistry, Hema, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Taylor-Phillips, Sian, Clarke, Aileen, 2020. Determining optimal strategies for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease : systematic review, cost-effectiveness review and network meta-analysis protocol. Systematic Reviews, 9 (1)
- Jones, Helen M., Al-Khudairy, Lena, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Oyebode, Oyinlola, 2019. Viewpoints of adolescents with overweight and obesity attending lifestyle obesity treatment interventions : a qualitative systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 20 (1), pp. 156-169
- Armoiry, Xavier, Connock, M., Tsertsvadze, Alexander, Cummins, Ewen, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Royle, Pamela, Clarke, Aileen, 2018. Ixazomib for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma : review from an evidence review group on a NICE single technology appraisal. PharmacoEconomics, 36, pp. 1073-1081
- Kletter, M., Lilford, Richard, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Taylor, Celia A., 2018. A library of logic models to explain how interventions to reduce diagnostic error work. Journal of Patient Safety
- Tancred, Tara, Paparini, Sara, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Fletcher, Adam, Thomas, James, Campbell, Rona, Bonell, Chris, 2018. Interventions integrating health and academic interventions to prevent substance use and violence : a systematic review and synthesis of process evaluations. Systematic Reviews, 7 (1)
- Armoiry, Xavier, Tsertsvadze, Alexander, Connock, M., Royle, Pamela, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Souquet, Pierre-Jean, Clarke, Aileen, 2018. Comparative efficacy and safety of licensed treatments for previously treated non-small cell lung cancer : a systematic review and network meta-analysis. PLoS One, 13 (7)
- Olino, Thomas M., Leijten, Patty, Gardner, Frances, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Knerr, Wendy, Overbeek, Geertjan, 2018. Parenting behaviors that shape child compliance: A multilevel meta-analysis. PLoS One, 13 (10)
- Tancred, Tara, Paparini, Sara, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Thomas, James, Fletcher, Adam, Campbell, Rona, Bonell, Chris, 2018. A systematic review and synthesis of theories of change of school-based interventions integrating health and academic education as a novel means of preventing violence and substance use among students. Systematic Reviews, 7 (1)
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Armoiry, Xavier, Court, Rachel A., Patterson, Jacoby, Kan, Alan, Auguste, Peter, Madan, Jason, Counsell, Carl, Ciccarelli, Olga, Clarke, Aileen, 2018. Comparative effectiveness of beta-interferons and glatiramer acetate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis : systematic review and network meta-analysis of trials including recommended dosages. BMC Neurology, 18 (1)
- Armoiry, Xavier, Kanda, Akira, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Court, Rachel A., Sutcliffe, P. (Paul), Auguste, Peter, Madan, Jason, Counsell, C., Clarke, Aileen, 2018. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes of use of beta-interferon or glatiramer acetate for people with clinically isolated syndrome : a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and network meta-analysis. Journal of Neurology, 265 (5), pp. 999-1009
- Petticrew , M., Shemilt , I., Lorenc , T., Marteau , T. M., Melendez-Torres, G. J., O'Mara-Eves, A., Stautz , K., Thomas, J., 2017. Alcohol advertising and public health : systems perspectives versus narrow perspectives. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 71, pp. 308-312
- Vlahovicova, Kristina, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Leijten, Patty, Knerr, Wendy, Gardner, Frances, 2017. Parenting programs for the prevention of child physical abuse recurrence : a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 20 (3), pp. 351-365
- Ezeh, Alex, Oyebode, Oyinlola, Satterthwaite, David, Chen, Y-F.??, Ndugwa, Robert, Sartori, Jo, Mberu, Blessing, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Haregu, Tilahun, Watson, Samuel I., Caiaffa, Waleska, Capon, Anthony, Lilford, Richard, 2017. The history, geography, and sociology of slums and the health problems of people who live in slums. The Lancet, 389 (10068), pp. 547-558
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Hickson, F., Reid, D., Weatherburn, P., Bonell, C., 2017. Findings from within-subjects comparisons of drug use and sexual risk behaviour in men who have sex with men in England. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 28 (3), pp. 250-258
- Lin, S., Melendez-Torres, G. J., 2017. Critical interpretive synthesis of barriers and facilitators to TB treatment in immigrant populations. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 22 (10), pp. 1206-1222
- Lilford, Richard, Oyebode, Oyinlola, Satterthwaite, David, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Chen, Y-F.??, Mberu, Blessing, Watson, Samuel I., Ndugwa, Robert, Sartori, Jo, Caiaffa, Waleska, Haregu, Tilahun, Capon, Anthony, Saith, Ruhi, Ezeh, Alex, 2017. Improving the health and welfare of people who live in slums. The Lancet, 389 (10068), pp. 559-570
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., O'Mara-Eves, A., Thomas, J., Brunton, G., Caird, J., Petticrew , M., 2017. Interpretive analysis of 85 systematic reviews suggests narrative syntheses and meta-analyses are incommensurate in argumentation. Research Synthesis Methods, 8 (1), pp. 109-118
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Auguste, Peter, Armoiry, Xavier, Maheswaran, H., Court, Rachel A., Madan, Jason, Kan, A., Lin, S., Counsell, C., Patterson, J., Rodrigus, J., Ciccarelli, O., Fraser, Hannah, Clarke, Aileen, 2017. Clinical and cost-effectiveness of beta interferon and glatiramer acetate for treating multiple sclerosis : systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technology Assessment, 21 (52)
- Bonell, Chris, Dickson, Kelly, Hinds, Kate, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Stansfield, Claire, Fletcher, Adam, Thomas, James, Lester, Katrina, Oliver, Elizabeth, Murphy, Simon, Campbell, Rona, 2016. The effects of Positive Youth Development interventions on substance use, violence and inequalities : systematic review of theories of change, processes and outcomes. Public Health Research, 4 (5)
- Platt, Lucy, Melendez-Torres, G. J., O'Donnell, Amy, Bradley, Jennifer, Newbury-Birch, Dorothy, Kaner, Eileen, Ashton, Charlotte, 2016. How effective are brief interventions in reducing alcohol consumption : do the setting, practitioner group and content matter? Findings from a systematic review and metaregression analysis. BMJ Open, 6 (8)
- Dickson, Kelly, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Fletcher, Adam, Hinds, Kate, Stansfield, James, Murphy, Claire, Campbell, Rona, Bonell, Chris, 2016. How do contextual factors influence implementation and receipt of positive youth development programmes addressing substance use and violence? A qualitative meta-synthesis of process evaluations. American Journal of Health Promotion
- Nye, Elizabeth, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Bonell, Chris, 2016. Origins, methods and advances in qualitative meta-synthesis. Review of Education, 4 (1), pp. 57-79
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Dickson, Kelly, Fletcher, Adam, Thomas, James, Hinds, Kate, Campbell, Rona, Murphy, Simon, Bonell, Chris, 2016. Positive youth development programmes to reduce substance use in young people : systematic review. International Journal of Drug Policy, 36, pp. 95-103
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Bourne, Adam, 2016. Illicit drug use and its association with sexual risk behaviour among MSM. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, 29 (1), pp. 58-63
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Hickson, Ford, Reid, David, Weatherburn, Peter, Bonell, Chris, 2016. An initial typology of contexts of dyadic sexual encounters between men and associations with sexual risk and pleasure : findings from an observational study. Sexual health, 13 (3), pp. 221-227
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Dickson, Kelly, Fletcher, Adam, Thomas, James, Hinds, Kate, Campbell, Rona, Murphy, Simon, Bonell, Chris, 2016. Systematic review and meta-analysis of effects of community-delivered positive youth development interventions on violence outcomes. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Movsisyan, Ani, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Montgomery, Paul, 2016. A harmonised guidance is needed on how to ?properly? frame review questions to make the best use of all available evidence in the assessment of effectiveness of complex interventions. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 77, pp. 139-141
- Bonell, Chris, Hinds, Kate, Dickson, Kelly, Thomas, James, Fletcher, Adam, Murphy, Simon, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Bonell, Carys, Campbell, Rona, 2016. What is positive youth development and how might it reduce substance use and violence? A systematic review and synthesis of theoretical literature. BMC Public Health, 16 (1)
- Witzel, T Charles, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Hickson, Ford, Weatherburn, Peter, 2016. HIV testing history and preferences for future tests among gay men, bisexual men and other MSM in England : results from a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 6 (9)
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Bonell, Chris, Hickson, Ford, Bourne, Adam, Reid, David, Weatherburn, Peter, 2016. Predictors of crystal methamphetamine use in a community-based sample of UK men who have sex with men. International Journal of Drug Policy, 36, pp. 43-46
- Leijten, Patty, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Knerr, Wendy, Gardner, Frances, 2016. Transported versus homegrown parenting interventions for reducing disruptive child behavior : a multilevel meta-regression study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55 (7), pp. 610-617
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Bonell, Chris, 2016. Littoral spaces of performance : findings from a systematic review and re-analysis of qualitative studies on men who have sex with men, substance use and social venues. Sexuality Research and Social Policy
- Lorenc, Theo, Felix, Lambert, Petticrew, Mark, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Thomas, James, Thomas, Sian, O'Mara-Eves, Alison, Richardson, Michelle, 2016. Meta-analysis, complexity, and heterogeneity : a qualitative interview study of researchers' methodological values and practices. Systematic Reviews, 5 (1)
- Tam, Stephanie Y., Houlihan, Shea, Melendez-Torres, G. J., 2015. A systematic review of longitudinal risk and protective factors and correlates for posttraumatic stress and its natural history in forcibly displaced children. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
- Melendez-Torres, G. J., Thomas, James, Richardson, Michelle, Felix, Lambert, Lorenc, Theo, Thomas, Sian, Petticrew, Mark, 2015. Lessons from comparing narrative synthesis and meta-analysis in a systematic review. The Lancet, 386
- Nye, Elizabeth, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Bonell, Chris, 2016. Context and implications document for : Origins, methods and advances in qualitative meta-synthesis. Review of Education, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 80-83
Title | Funder | Award start | Award end |
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PHE Knowledge Dissemination | Public Health England | 01 Aug 2016 | 31 Mar 2017 |
PRP Reviews Facility To Support National Policy Development And Implementation - Subcontract via UCL Institute of Education | Department of Health | 01 Oct 2015 | 28 Feb 2016 |