Leadership Team
Robert Wolff
Co-Director
Robert Wolff, MD
Co-Director
Robert is a Co-Director of KSR. He joined KSR in 2008 as a systematic reviewer. Since joining the team, he has worked on a variety of projects for reimbursement agencies in Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK as well as pharmaceutical companies and scientific societies. Robert was promoted to Deputy Director in February 2017 and to Managing Director in May 2021. He has been a Co-Director, alongside Abdullah Pandor, since 2026.
- After finishing his medical education at the universities of Berlin and Freiburg, Robert worked as a paediatrician in Freiburg. During this time, he also worked as a researcher for Cochrane Germany.
- Robert is a member of the Cochrane Comparing Multiple Interventions Group and the Cochrane Prognosis Methods Group. He is also member of the German Network for Evidence Based Medicine and the GRADE Working Group.
- He is a member of the ROBIS (Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews) group, contributed to QUAPAS (Quality Assessment of Prognostic Accuracy Studies), and is a member of the steering group for PROBAST, a tool to assess risk of bias and applicability of prediction model studies.
- His professional interests are varied and include guideline methodology, prognostic topics, knowledge translation and teaching evidence-based medicine.
Abdullah Pandor
Co-Director
Abdullah Pandor, MSc
Co-Director
Abdullah joined KSR in March 2026 as Co-Director, bringing over 20 years’ experience in health technology assessment (HTA) and evidence synthesis. Prior to joining KSR, he worked on a wide range of projects for national and international commissioners, contributing to strategic development, methodological innovation, and high-quality delivery aligned with policy and commissioner priorities. Abdullah brings a combination of strategic leadership, governance experience, and commissioner-focused delivery, supporting KSR’s ambitions as an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
- Prior to joining KSR, Abdullah held senior leadership roles at the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR), University of Sheffield, including HTA Reviewers’ Lead, Head of Reviews for SCHARR-TAG, and Senior Research Fellow in Evidence Synthesis. He led large portfolios of complex HTA projects for major funders including NIHR, NICE, industry, and international agencies.
- Abdullah has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, including around 20 HTA monographs, and has contributed to methodological innovation, particularly in rapid reviews and the application of AI and automation in evidence synthesis.
- He is a standing member of NICE’s Medical Technologies Advisory Committee (MTAC) and the NIHR Decarbonising Health and Social Care Committee, contributing to national funding and policy decisions. He has also served as an expert evaluator for the Horizon Europe Health Research Programme and was a member of the NIHR HTA General Funding Committee (2022–2026).
- His professional interests include the strategic development of HTA and evidence synthesis to inform healthcare decision-making, methodological innovation (including AI, automation, and rapid reviews), diagnostic and prognostic evaluation, and the integration of evidence into cost-effectiveness modelling and policy.
John Franklin
Director of Reviews
John Franklin, PhD
Director of Reviews
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John has over 16 years’ experience as a Senior Lecturer in Research Methods, developing research projects at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, leading and developing the MRes Clinical Research programme, and continuing to supervise and support PhD students.
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He has expertise in leading and delivering high-quality evidence synthesis projects, including systematic reviews, diagnostic test accuracy studies, meta-analyses, and applied interdisciplinary health research.
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John is skilled in a broad range of research methodologies, spanning quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, with applications across diverse clinical areas such as stroke rehabilitation, frailty, chronic fatigue, pain science education, and elderly nutrition.
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In his former role John acted as Vice-Chair of an Allied Health Research Ethics Committee and Chair of the Teesside University Early Career Research Forum, with a strong track record in mentoring, supervision, and supporting research culture.
- John has experience in leading complex clinical guideline development and currently leads the BHF clinical guidelines project.
- He is responsible for pulling together the multidisciplinary project teams from our staff of specialist health economists, information specialists, statisticians and reviewers to ensure successful delivery of client outcomes.
- John is highly skilled in delivering training and has facilitated learning across a broad range of research methodologies, including evidence-based practice, in the UK and internationally, for both the public and private sector.
Sarah Yelland
HR & Operations Director
Sarah Yelland, Chartered MCIPD
HR & Operations Director
Sarah joined KSR in July 2021 as a HR & Office Manager and was promoted in February 2022 to HR & Operations Director where she provides strategic and operational support to the business.
- After finishing her post-graduate diploma in Human Resources, Sarah progressed to obtain her chartered MCIPD.
- Sarah has over 25 years’ experience within HR, Accounts, Payroll, Health and Safety and Office Management across several industry sectors.
- Her professional interests lie within the HR generalist role whilst gaining an understanding of the medical research industry.
At KSR our highly specialised reviewers, statisticians, health economists, information specialists and administrators join forces to provide the best project team to match your specific needs.
To learn how we can help support your research, contact the KSR leadership team using the details above, or send us a message through our online form.