Professor Hywel Williams stands as a preeminent global authority in dermatological research and evidence-based medicine. He currently serves as Professor of Dermato-Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, while maintaining his clinical practice as an honorary consultant paediatric dermatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Born and raised in South Wales, he received his medical training in London with specialization in dermatology, followed by advanced academic credentials including a Masters in epidemiology and statistics and both doctorate and higher doctorate qualifications in evidence-based dermatology. His distinguished career encompasses significant leadership roles including his service as Director of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme from 2015, where he shaped national health research priorities through rigorous scientific oversight.
Professor Williams has established himself as the most cited dermatologist globally, with his methodological innovations in systematic reviews and clinical trials fundamentally transforming evidence-based approaches to skin disease treatment. His Google Scholar profile demonstrates extraordinary scholarly impact with over 153,000 citations as of October 2023 and an impressive H-index of 127, reflecting the profound influence of his research across dermatological science. His pioneering work focuses on independent clinical trials and systematic reviews of interventions for skin conditions, particularly childhood eczema, where his clinical expertise has directly informed patient care pathways and treatment guidelines worldwide. The methodological rigor he has brought to dermatological research has elevated scientific standards in the field and established new paradigms for evidence synthesis in clinical practice.
Beyond his research contributions, Professor Williams has been a passionate advocate for genuine patient and public involvement in NHS research, insisting on such participation in all HTA funding committees he has chaired or directed. His exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was formally recognized with an OBE for services to the national research response, where he galvanized coordinated efforts to deliver effective treatments to NHS patients at unprecedented speed. As a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and recipient of the prestigious Sir Archibald Gray medal from the British Association of Dermatologists, his influence extends across multiple professional domains. Currently, he continues to advance the field through his direction of the Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology, which houses the Cochrane Skin Group and UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network, ensuring his ongoing impact on both research methodology and clinical practice in dermatology.
