Profile

Louise Lafortune

Deputy Theme Lead of Measurement in Health and Social Care

Louise is a Deputy Theme Lead of Measurement in Health and Social Care. Louise’s research seeks to develop a body of evidence to help older people retain independence and quality of life in their communities. Her works involve:

  • synthesising the scientific literature;
  • understanding the drivers of poor physical and mental health and inequalities in older age;
  • identifying priorities for action by engaging with communities;
  • evaluating interventions using routine data sources and tailored data collection; and
  • building capacity for evidence-based public health policy and practice.

This multifaceted approach strives to bring research closer to practice in globally important yet diverse fields of study: public health, ageing, health economics. Her current work includes a public engagement project on the use of routinely collected data to improve health in disadvantaged  communities; a long-standing research programme aimed at developing the evidence base for Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly Community initiatives; collaboration on projects looking at the determinants of public mental health and “what works” to support the mental health of older adults.

Louise holds a dual PhD in Public Health (epidemiology and health care organisation), and has a strong scientific background that includes nine years of industry engagement in clinical trials, health economics and outcomes research. 

email: ll394@medschl.cam.ac.uk