What is your current role?
Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology.
Tell us a bit about your research.
I work in the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton. My principal research interest is in musculoskeletal aging, specifically osteoporosis, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. We use large cohort studies to explore how events early in life interact with adult lifestyle factors to determine how we age. Recently, to examine health across three generations, we have established the Hertfordshire Intergenerational Study.
Why did you choose to apply for a NIHR Clinical Lectureship?
During medical school and my early medical training I developed a strong interest in academic rheumatology, owing to the combination of fascinating diseases, research opportunities and ongoing contact with patients. I therefore chose to apply for the NHIR Clinical Lectureship in Rheumatology to further develop myself as a clinical academic and contribute to the advancement of healthcare in this field.
What opportunities did the post provide? What did it enable you to achieve?
My award has enabled me to conduct research in my area of interest whilst completing my clinical training. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with internationally recognised experts in the field and to attend and present at international conferences.
How has being a NIHR Clinical Lecturer benefitted your career?
The award has had a significant impact on my career as I have been able to establish myself as a clinical academic. I have developed a plethora of research skills, published my work in internationally recognised journals and have had excellent preparation for a career as a clinical academic whilst completing my clinical training.
How has your work benefitted patients and the public? Or how will they benefit in the future?
Through the use of epidemiological methods we have delineated environmental influences throughout the lifecourse which are associated with age-related musculoskeletal disease. Based on this we can now develop prevention strategies. For example, we have recently published a research paper detailing how knowledge of co-morbid diseases can predict the impairment of physical activity in later life.