Introduction
I am Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and in the Social Research Institute at University College London; and Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and at IZA Bonn. I am also Associate Editor at the Journal of Health Economics (the top journal in health economics), Trustee at the Foundation Years Information and Research, and scientific adviser of the Lancet Commission for Gender-Based Violence and Maltreatment of Young People.
My research areas of interest are health economics, the economics of human development, and biology and economics. My research draws on both the biomedical and the social sciences with the aim of understanding the developmental origins of health inequalities, the role of child development as input in the production of lifecycle health and the behavioral and biological pathways through which early life shocks, investments and policies affect well-being throughout the lifecourse. I often use novel sources of data, such as biomarkers (ranging from fetal ultrasound scans to genetic markers), combined with linked administrative records and survey data. I have studied several interventions, such as the iconic Perry Preschool, Abecedarian and Nurse Family Partnership programs in the United States; and large-scale programmes such as Sure Start, the Family Nurse Partnership and Universal Health Visiting in England, and Seguro Popular in Mexico. Most of my work focuses on US and UK, however I have also worked on LMICs such as Colombia, India, Mexico and more recently Ecuador.
I have published on this topic in top journals in different disciplines, such as Science, PNAS, Pediatrics, the Economic Journal, the Journal of Public Economics, the Journal of Econometrics and Lancet. My research has been supported among others by the NIH, H2020, ERC, Nuffield Foundation, Health Foundation, British Academy. My work has been mentioned among others in the New York Times, Financial Times, The Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and discussed in the British Parliament.
In 2019 I was awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Economics (for my project on “Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Universal Health Visiting in UK”), which “recognises the achievement of outstanding researchers whose work has already attracted international recognition and whose future career is exceptionally promising”; and the Nick Hales Award from the DOHaD society, for a “young and emerging investigator who has made an outstanding scientific contribution to the DOHaD field”. I am also the PI of a 5-year ERC Consolidator Award from the European Research Council (SH1 Economics Panel) for my project “The Developmental Origins of Health: Biology, Shocks, Investments, and Policies”. I rank among the top 3% Female Economists, Last 10 Years Publications, and the top 5% Economists, Last 10 Years Publications – only considering my publications in economics.
I hold a PhD in Economics from the University of Essex. Prior to joining UCL, I was a Post-Doctoral Scholar (under the mentorship of Nobel Prize Winner James Heckman) and then an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago.
My research areas of interest are health economics, the economics of human development, and biology and economics. My research draws on both the biomedical and the social sciences with the aim of understanding the developmental origins of health inequalities, the role of child development as input in the production of lifecycle health and the behavioral and biological pathways through which early life shocks, investments and policies affect well-being throughout the lifecourse. I often use novel sources of data, such as biomarkers (ranging from fetal ultrasound scans to genetic markers), combined with linked administrative records and survey data. I have studied several interventions, such as the iconic Perry Preschool, Abecedarian and Nurse Family Partnership programs in the United States; and large-scale programmes such as Sure Start, the Family Nurse Partnership and Universal Health Visiting in England, and Seguro Popular in Mexico. Most of my work focuses on US and UK, however I have also worked on LMICs such as Colombia, India, Mexico and more recently Ecuador.
Expert
I am Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and in the Social Research Institute at University College London; and Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and at IZA Bonn. I am also Associate Editor at the Journal of Health Economics (the top journal in health economics), Trustee at the Foundation Years Information and Research, and scientific adviser of the Lancet Commission for Gender-Based Violence and Maltreatment of Young People.
My research areas of interest are health economics, the economics of human development, and biology and economics. My research draws on both the biomedical and the social sciences with the aim of understanding the developmental origins of health inequalities, the role of child development as input in the production of lifecycle health and the behavioral and biological pathways through which early life shocks, investments and policies affect well-being throughout the lifecourse. I often use novel sources of data, such as biomarkers (ranging from fetal ultrasound scans to genetic markers), combined with linked administrative records and survey data. I have studied several interventions, such as the iconic Perry Preschool, Abecedarian and Nurse Family Partnership programs in the United States; and large-scale programmes such as Sure Start, the Family Nurse Partnership and Universal Health Visiting in England, and Seguro Popular in Mexico. Most of my work focuses on US and UK, however I have also worked on LMICs such as Colombia, India, Mexico and more recently Ecuador.
I have published on this topic in top journals in different disciplines, such as Science, PNAS, Pediatrics, the Economic Journal, the Journal of Public Economics, the Journal of Econometrics and Lancet. My research has been supported among others by the NIH, H2020, ERC, Nuffield Foundation, Health Foundation, British Academy. My work has been mentioned among others in the New York Times, Financial Times, The Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and discussed in the British Parliament.
In 2019 I was awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Economics (for my project on “Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Universal Health Visiting in UK”), which “recognises the achievement of outstanding researchers whose work has already attracted international recognition and whose future career is exceptionally promising”; and the Nick Hales Award from the DOHaD society, for a “young and emerging investigator who has made an outstanding scientific contribution to the DOHaD field”. I am also the PI of a 5-year ERC Consolidator Award from the European Research Council (SH1 Economics Panel) for my project “The Developmental Origins of Health: Biology, Shocks, Investments, and Policies”. I rank among the top 3% Female Economists, Last 10 Years Publications, and the top 5% Economists, Last 10 Years Publications – only considering my publications in economics.
I hold a PhD in Economics from the University of Essex. Prior to joining UCL, I was a Post-Doctoral Scholar (under the mentorship of Nobel Prize Winner James Heckman) and then an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago.
Fields of expertise: Economic policy / inclusive economic development, Education, Gender equality, Health and wellbeing, Monitoring and evaluation, Policy design and delivery, Reduction of inequalities / equity / poverty eradication, Social policy