Researchers
Stuart Nicholls

Stuart Nicholls

BSc(Hons), MSc, MRes, PhD

Scientist, Methodological and Implementation Research

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Assistant Professor, School of Epidemiology & Public Health

University of Ottawa

Contact

snicholls@ohri.ca

613-737-8899 x73822

Centre for Practice-Changing Research, General Campus, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6

Research Administrative Assistant: Monika Szejbach | mszejbach@ohri.ca | 613-737-8899 x72297

ORCID 0000-0003-0485-9069
in/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-nicholls-69904822b/

Bio

I completed my PhD degree in Applied Social Statistics at Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK in 2010. My PhD thesis focused on parental experiences of consent to newborn bloodspot screening through a mixed methods approach using qualitative interviews and surveys that were analysed using structural equation modelling techniques. In addition, I hold MRes in Social Statistics, an MSc in Healthcare Ethics, and a BSc (Hons) in Genetics. 

I am currently a Scientist in the Methodological and Implementation (MIR) program at the Ottawa hospital research Institute, having previously been the program lead for the Office for Patient Engagement in Research Activities (OPERA) since September 2020. Prior to joining the OHRI, I was a Methodologist within the Clinical Research Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and completed a CIHR-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa.

To date I have published over 150 peer reviewed publications, a co-authored monograph, and half a dozen book chapters. I have been a principal applicant, co-applicant, or collaborator on 100 funded research studies totalling over $130 Million ($48 Million as nominated or co-principal investigator). 

I serve as a member of the Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) Operations Committee (https://act-aec.ca/) and co-chair the WHO Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF) Working Group to address Action 2 (Enhance involvement and engagement with patients, communities and the public in clinical trial lifecycle) of the Global action plan for clinical trial ecosystem strengthening.
 

Research Goals and Interests

  • Patient engagement in research
  • Health Services Research
  • Ethical challenges in research
  • Methods development in research
  • Implementation of health research methods and practices

The main focus of my work is patient engagement in health research - the active collaboration with patients, families, caregivers or communities in governance, priority setting, developing the research questions, and even performing certain parts of the research itself. My research falls within four main areas, all of which aim to improve the methods and implementation of patient engagement in research:

1. Understanding and/or explaining what influences implementation outcomes: e.g. barriers and facilitators to engagement in research (including use of resources) & building solutions.

2. Describing the processes and practices of engagement in research (esp. underserved areas & focus on equity)

3. Conducting ethical analyses of engaging with people with lived experience (PWLE) and communities in research (research ethics and ‘everyday ethics’)

4. Improving the evidence base and quality of engagement and evaluating the implementation of patient engagement


These goals are achieved by combining research with practice through the Office for Patient Engagement in Research Activities (OPERA), which provides consultation services, training, and resources for teams wishing to engage patients, families, or caregivers as partners in research. 

News

Publications

Barriers and Strategies for Inclusive Clinical Trials: Focus Group Insights on Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility

2026-10-01 Go to publication

Eligibility Criteria and Consent Practices of Randomized Controlled Trials in Trauma Care: A Systematic Review

2026-10-01 Go to publication

The impacts of caring for children with inherited metabolic diseases for families: a cross-sectional study

2026-06-10 Go to publication

Patient and public involvement in pragmatic trials with older adults: a multi-methods study of researchers’ experiences

2026-05-09 Go to publication

Evaluating Toolkits for Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Clinical Trials: A Scoping Review Protocol

2026-05-05
View More on ORCiD

Selected grants and funding

  • LabPartners-Nexus: Embedding patient engagement in preclinical research across Canada
    Lalu M (NPA), Fergusson D, Nicholls S, Richards D (PA), Crawley A, Fiest K, Gerber E, Macala K, Mendelson A, Messner P, Presseau J, Thébaud B(Co-A), Anderson D, Archambault P, Auer R, Avey M, Bell J, Bethell J, Binder, L Chomont N, Dohey A, Draper J, Etchegary H, Fox-Robichaud A, Hendrick K, Ilkow C, Leah M, Leggett C, Li L, Liaw P, Lochmuller H, Loubani O, Mamut M, Michaud S, Osman H, Ramsay T, Santana M, Srinivasan V, Sullivan P, Weise C, Williams C, Zadeh G (collaborators). CIHR Project Grant (Spring 2026): $401,626

     

  • CO-creating Needs, Networks, and EthiCs in Trauma research: CONNECT-Trauma
    Nicholls SG (NPA) Tran A (Co-PA). ELEVATE: $48,888

     

  • Ethical, economic, and patient-focused considerations for using response adaptive randomisation (RAR) in brain and heart platform trials. 
    Ramsay T (NPA). Greenstreet P (Co-PA) Dowlatshahi D, Fergusson D, Fernandes A, Gariepy S, Goldstein C, Hampel C, Kimmelman J, Mielniczuk L, Nicholls S, Presseau J, Sarazin F, Thavorn K, Villar S, Yogendrakumar V,  Weatherald J, Yeates M. (Co-A). Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI) Collaborative Research Planning & Dissemination Grants: $20,000

 

  • Building and sustaining trust in healthcare: Co-developing a compendium of equitable strategies for building, rebuilding and maintaining trust
    Presseau J (NPA), Auer R, Meyer S, Smith M (PA), Albers B, Brehaut J, Desveaux L, Dogba J, Dombrowski S, Etherington C, Heer C, Hsu A, Ivers N, MacPherson P, Manuel D, Marques M, Nicholls S, Olson J, Powell B, Vesnaver E, Wilson K, Wilson M (Co-A), Hopkins J, Lorencatto F, Warshafsky D (Collaborator).CIHR - Project Grant - Fall 2025 and Spring 2026: $956, 248

     

  • Who sets priorities for health research? Exploring equity, diversity, and inclusion within priority setting exercises
    Nicholls SG (NPA) Dawson S, Fergusson D, Stratton C, Tricco A (PA), Chandani S,** Karimijashni M, Lalu M, Maybee A,** McKinnon A,** Ruzycki S, Sayani A, Xu Y (Co-A). CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grants – ICS - Other: $14,853



 



 

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