Andrea Utz Matus de la Parra BSc, MPH

Andrea Utz Matus de la Parra

Department of Applied Health Sciences
Research Associate

Contact details

Address
Department of Applied Health Sciences
IOEM Building
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Andrea Utz is a Public Health professional with experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. She works within the Health Informatics and Multimorbidity team, where she contributes to epidemiological research using routinely collected healthcare data.

She is dedicated to advancing research initiatives focused on vulnerable populations, mental health, and health equity.

Qualifications

  • MPH in Public Health, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, 2024
  • BSc in Medical Technology, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile, 2020

Biography

Andrea Utz is a Research Associate in the Department of Applied Health Sciences at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, working within the Health Informatics and Multimorbidity team. Her work focuses on analysing routinely collected healthcare data to support high-quality epidemiological research. She contributes to literature reviews, consensus-building activities, and patient and public involvement work.

Andrea completed a Master of Public Health at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in 2024. As part of her degree, she conducted a systematic review under the supervision of Dr. Dean Thompson, exploring resilience-based interventions to promote mental well-being in secondary schools. This work focused on evidence synthesis in child and adolescent mental health.

Before moving to the UK, Andrea worked for two years as an Epidemiology professional in Chile, where she was involved in public health surveillance and fieldwork with vulnerable populations. She holds a BSc in Medical Technology from the Universidad de Concepción, where she worked as a Research Assistant on a pilot study that explored the use of human blood components to support stem cell growth and contributed to the development of participant recruitment strategies.

Postgraduate supervision

Andrea is not currently supervising postgraduate students but welcomes opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the field of mental health research.

Research

Current projects

  • Identifying and describing the characteristics of ulcerative colitis in a United Kingdom population-based retrospective cohort study. Funded by the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre.
  • Systematic review on the characteristics and health burdens associated with ulcerative colitis in international populations.

Other activities

  • GMT Intern at Save the Children International (Apr – Jul 2025)
  • Visitor Survey and Fundraising Volunteer at Winterbourne House and Garden, UK (Apr – Sep 2024)
  • HIV Campaign Volunteer, Universidad de Concepción, Chile (Oct – Dec 2018)