FELS Inaugural Lecture with Professor Mari Carmen Portillo Event

Time:

3:30pm

Date:

2026-03-18 15:30:00

Venue:

University of Southampton, Centenary Building (100), University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ

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Event details

This is the fourth Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Inaugural Lecture in our 2025-26 series that celebrates the careers of our newly appointed Professors. On Wednesday 18th March 2026, Professor Mari Carmen Portillo from the School of Health Sciences and Professor Andrew Power from the School of Geography and Environmental Science will present their research. Details of both lectures are available via the booking link.

Professor Mari Carmen Portillo

Rethinking research strategy and partnerships to tackle challenges in Long-Term Conditions

Long-term conditions have become a global challenge. Traditional researcher led approaches to long-term conditions are less effective and a conceptual shifting towards multisectoral inclusive strategies is needed to reconcile individual and system drivers at national and international levels. Person centred approaches and optimised support and resources in community neighbourhoods need to be prioritised.

In her inaugural lecture, MC will unfold her trajectory as a pioneer nurse leading large transdisciplinary teams to tackle challenges in long-term conditions and changing research culture. She will discuss key strategies to build sustainable and inclusive applied research and how to improve wellbeing for people with long-term conditions and carers, establishing community, multiagency and innovation partnerships.

MC will also share insights of her career journey across countries, focusing on successes and challenges and key inflection points while delivering a strategic vision in education, research and enterprise for over 25 years.

Biography

Mari Carmen Portillo is Professor of Long-Term Conditions at the University of Southampton and the Long-Term Conditions theme lead for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex. Portillo is a mixed methods nurse researcher with wide experience in applied research, leading sustainable research programmes and multidisciplinary teams national and internationally in relation to living with Long-Term Conditions, personalised care, complex interventions and community social support. Portillo has national and international reputation as a lead in multiple long-term conditions management and an expert in building sustainable research programmes and research capacity across sectors. Professor Portillo has secured over £30M in grants and programmes across countries and has published over 160 outputs. Portillo’s work in education and leading/management model has always attracted new talents seeking further professional development and involves a successful research capacity and capability building strategy in the field of long-term conditions.