Rebecca Hardy

Rebecca Hardy is Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics at Loughborough University. She previously worked at University College London (UCL), where she was first a Programme Leader at the MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, and subsequently Director of CLOSER.

Rebecca’s research uses an epidemiological life course approach to study health and ageing, with the aim of identifying potential points of intervention across life to maximise the chances of living a healthier, independent life for longer. Her research investigates modifiable biological, social and psychological risk factors which maximise the development, and slow the age-related decline, of body systems and function. She has particular interests in the development and consequences of overweight and obesity across life; functional trajectories of cardiovascular and respiratory ageing; life course social inequalities in health and ageing; women's health and menopause. She has co-edited two books on a life course approach – one on women’s health and the other on healthy ageing.