MRC Epidemiology UnitHead of Strategic Communications
Communications Team
Work and interests
Oliver is responsible for the design, delivery and support of impact-related work at the MRC Epidemiology Unit. This includes traditional and digital media, the application of evidence-based products and services, and the promotion of knowledge exchange and partnership between researchers, practitioners, policymakers, the public and other groups.
The goal is that the department’s evidence and methods can be used to develop, improve and evaluate policy and practice, and continue to be guided by the population needs of public health, wellbeing and sustainability. Find out more about our policy and practice work here.
He is also a co-investigator on a number of research projects, and teaches evidence communications and policy engagement skills on the Cambridge Population Health Sciences MPhil.
For media enquiries, please contact comms@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Population Health Improvement UK
Oliver is also the Communications and Impact Manager for the national research network Population Health Research UK (PHI-UK).
PHI-UK has been established with a £35 million investment over four years from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), bringing together expertise and insight from across research, public health and community organisations. Its aim is to find innovative and inclusive ways to improve the health of people, places and communities and reduce health inequalities through the development and evaluation of long-lasting and environmentally sustainable interventions.
For general PHI-UK enquiries, please email phiuk@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Background and experience
Oliver was previously Knowledge Broker for the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), leading on communications and work with policy and practice. Prior to joining CEDAR, Oliver was Head of Internal and Corporate Communications at Oxford University Hospitals (then Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust). In his time there he worked across a number of communications disciplines: press and PR, stakeholder relations, internal communications, web and social media. He was also a member of the Trust’s service improvement team, safety awareness action group, and was involved in policy and governance development. In 2007-8 he was seconded to the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. Previously, Oliver worked as a researcher for television documentaries and in feature film development, and continues to work as a freelance writer. oliverfrancis.net