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Staff Profile

Professor Fiona Matthews

Professor of Epidemiology, Dean Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Sciences

  • Address: Population Health Sciences Institute
    Faculty of Medical Sciences
    Newcastle University
    Biomedical Research Building
    Campus for Ageing and Vitality
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE4 5PL
Background

Introduction

A statistician by training, I have been involved in the design, implementation and analysis of epidemiological studies throughout my career.  Initially working in cancer research in 1997 I moved to the MRC Biostatistics Unit in Cambridge to work on the Cognitive Function and Ageing study (www.cfas.ac.uk) and am now deputy director and principal statistician on this suite of studies. Over the years I have developed a programme of research around developing and using state of the art statistical methods to the issues of understanding ageing. Moving to Newcastle University in 2014, my research programme covers both the development of statistical methods (complex synthesis, multi-state models and Bayesian models) and the use of techniques for estimates of public health importance (prevalence, incidence, understanding risk and protective effects and healthy life expectancy) across a range of outcomes from dementia, cognition through to frailty. Further research consists of understanding the biological underpinning of dementia with neuropathology and clinical research on dementia with Lewy Bodies, but also research designs for complex conditions such as dementia and autism. 

My Google Scholar Profile , ORCID (0000-0002-1728-2388) or Scopus


Roles and Responsibilities

Dean Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University

Chair of the ESRC COVID-19 panel


Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Statistics, University of Reading  (1991)

MSc Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London (1993)

PhD University of Cambridge (2005)


Professional membership

Member of the IDEAL study scientific advisory panel


Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society


Previous Positions

Professor of Epidemiology, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University (2014-2018 part time)

Programme leader – Senior scientist. Lead of programme on statistical epidemiology in ageing research. MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge. 2008 - 2014 (2014-2018 part time)

MRC CFAS statistician. Senior research associate. MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge. 2000-2009

MRC CFAS statistician. Research Associate. MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge. 1997-2000

Non-clinical research scientist, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey. 1993-1997

Computer officer, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey. 1990-1993


Honours and Awards

Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

RCGP Neurology, Mental Health and Dementia Paper of the Year (2013)

Gopal Kanji Prize for best article in Journal of Applied Statistics. (2011)

Research

Research Interests

 

Statistical methodology:

  • Analysis of complex outcomes
  • Missing data models for epidemiological investigations
  • Multi-state models
  • Longitudinal models of epidemiological data
  • Study design for epidemiological studies for complex outcomes
  • Healthy life expectancy methods
  • Dyadic analysis

 

Applied Epidemiology:

  • Prevalence, incidence and survival with dementia and cognitive impairment, depression, frailty and other chronic diseases
  • Risk and protective influences on ageing health
  • Time trends and changing nature of ageing health
  • Population changes in dementia and cognitive impairment
  • Frailty and comorbidity of the older population
  • Understanding quality of life of people with dementia and their carers
  • Autism prevalence and risk factors for autism in populations
  • Impact of inequality on health

 

 

Research Roles

 

Deputy director and Principal Statistician Cognitive Function and Ageing studies


Principal Statistician Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) 

 

 

Postgraduate Supervision

 

Supervise PhD Students across any of the research interests mentioned above, including the use of cohort studies and routine data to address epidemiological investigations, through to developing statistical methodology. 


I currently have five PhD students and am happy to take on new students.



Current research grants


ESRC Identifying and mitigating the individual and dyadic impact of COVID19 and life under physical distancing on people with dementia and carers (INCLUDE). PI Clare (Exeter). £732,655. June 2020 for 18months

MRC-NHMRC The impact of the environment and pollution on cognitive health (EPOCH): Building on the knowledge based through international collaboration. UK PI Matthews, Australian PI Ester Cerin. £538,705 UK and AU$681,240.00 (~£373,000). May 2020 for 36 months

Dam Foundation PhD Studentship Depression, anxiety and social relationships as risk factors for dementia January 2020 for 36 months 3,420,000kr (~£290,000) (PI Selbæk, Oslo)

NHMRC Translating the evidence on dementia risk reduction to generate assessments, advice and training for health professionals, policy makers, patients and public November 2019 for 60 months AUS$ 1,995,480 (~£1,000,000) (PI Anstey, UNSW) (APP1171279)

Alzheimer’s Research UK Neuronal senescence as a contributory mechanism to dementia ARUK-PG2019A-003  £309,035 (PI Wharton, Sheffield) November 2019 for 36 months

NIHR RfPB Improving the Accuracy and Efficiency of Autism Assessment for Adults £295,092 (PI Mandy, UCL) September 2019 for 24 months [delayed due to COVID-19]

NIHR Understanding multimorbidity, frailty and disability trajectories in the very old: A longitudinal study in primary care. £30,816 (PI Kingston, Newcastle). July 2019 for 12 months.

ARUK PhD Fellowship Understanding the Contributions of Multiple Pathologies to Dementia in the BDR Programme. £71,208.87 (PI Thomas, Newcastle). October 2019 for 3 years.

Scientia PhD Fellowship Joint Studentship with Kaarin Anstey, University of New South Wales Australia. Jan 2019 for 36 months.

NIHR Older people and frailty £4,999,999 (PI Todd, Manchester, Newcastle director Hanratty, Newcastle deputy director Matthews) January 2019 for 60 months

Dunhill Trust Making the extra years count: the contribution of disease, multi-morbidity and socio-economic differentials to trends in disability-free life expectancy £135,099 (PI Jagger, Newcastle) January 2019 for 24 months

Alzheimer’s Society Understanding and improving support to help people with dementia and their carers prepare for advanced illness and end of life: a development study £241,238 (PI Knapp, LSE) Jan 2019 for 36 months

BRC Pilot Investigation of Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Lewy Body Disease £111,218 (PI Thomas, Newcastle) October 2018 for 30 months

Alzheimer’s Society Improving the experience of dementia and enhancing active life: a longitudinal perspective on living well with dementia (the IDEAL-2 study) £1,999,704 (PI Clare, Exeter) Jan 2018 (60 months)

ARUK The feasibility and practicality of dementia risk reduction in the older population: A pilot trial of multi-domain internet counselling. 2018-2020 (PI Brayne, Cambridge) £784,375 (30 months)

Alzheimer’s Society (PhD Fellowship) Cognitive Lifestyle: Impact of a changing society on the ageing brain. Principal Investigator and supervisor. 2016-2019 £80,918                                                                           [AS-PhD-2015-026]

MRC BIOlogical Factors that Limit sustAined Remission in rhEumatoid arthritis (the BIO-FLARE study) (PI John Isaacs, Newcastle) 2017-2021 £3,461,217


Teaching

I teach epidemiology on a number of courses both Undergraduate and Masters Courses. 

I have supervised a number of PhD studentship projects and am happy to consider new students.

Publications