A first class honours degree in Mathematics, followed by a PhD in Statistics at Nottingham University, led to a short lecturer appointment at Newcastle University, where I became interested in statistical methods applied to clinical and public health data.

I spent 23 years as a non-clinical Scientist and then programme leader (from 2000) at the MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge, during which time I collaborated widely with clinicians and scientists at Papworth Hospital, a specialist hospital in cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

In 2013, I took up a post as Professor of Statistics at Leeds University Clinical Trials Research Unit, leading the Comprehensive trials division and helping to establish a statistical methodology stream in the CTU.

When the opportunity to join the LSHTM as Professor of Medical Statistics arose in 2017, I could not resist. There I specialise in statistical methodology and applications related to evaluation of new health technologies, particularly in cardiovascular diseases and cancer.