Ties uses economics and management science to help improve health and social care, and to advance health equalities and prevention. His work focuses on the organisation and delivery of services, with a particular interest in organisational behaviour and how frontline staff collaborate and organise themselves to manage resources.

Ties’ studies included research into care patterns and use of advances in science and technology — in such areas as hospital medicine, cancer and mental health — physician performance feedback, interdisciplinary teams and the integration of social care into health services. His latest work examines how care governance influences treatment and support decisions made by frontline staff and how organisational context and social determinants impact people’s health, wellbeing and social care outcomes.

Ties employs quantitative and qualitative research methods. He works closely with local governments, service providers and other organisations within the health and care system.

In addition to his evaluation studies, Ties has published articles on methodology and stakeholder engagement in research. His most important contributions are in information and implementation economics, work which won him various awards and fellowships, including from the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research and ISPOR. He serves as an associate editor for Implementation Research and Practice.

Ties previously taught at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Chicago, University of Glasgow, and Maastricht University. He obtained his doctorate in health economics from Maastricht University and his master’s degree in industrial engineering and management from the University of Twente.