Derek's areas of expertise are mental health policy and economics, the demand and financing of long term care and cost-effectiveness analysis. He has previously worked in the areas of private medical insurance, priority setting in health care, pharmaceutical policy and development of quality of life instruments.

Derek has completed work looking at the intensity of unpaid care provision and its impact on employment with Dr Linda Pickard. He is currently involved in a number of cost and cost-effectiveness studies of health and social care interventions.