Karla Hernandez-Villafuerte | Health Economics Research and Innovation Strategy Lead
WifOR

I’m a health economist and econometrician working at the intersection of health policy, health technology assessment (HTA), and the broader economic value of health.
My work focuses on understanding how health interventions translate into real-world outcomes — not only in terms of clinical benefits, but also productivity, labor market participation, and economic growth. I’m particularly interested in moving beyond traditional evaluation frameworks to better capture the full societal value of health.
At the WifOR Institute, I develop methodologies to assess the macroeconomic and socioeconomic impact of health interventions and support evidence-based decision-making in healthcare and policy.
Previously, I worked at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) on the socioeconomic burden of cancer, pharmaceutical R&D cost drivers, and cost-effectiveness of screening strategies. At the Office of Health Economics (OHE) in London, I contributed to work on health system efficiency, opportunity costs, and methodological challenges in oncology.
More broadly, I’m interested in how we can improve priority setting in healthcare and ensure that decisions reflect the true value of health for individuals and society. I enjoy working across disciplines and translating complex evidence into actionable insights.