I am a Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology and Head of the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at UCL. My research focuses on the effects of social connections and behaviours on health, including social deficits (e.g. loneliness and social isolation) and social assets (e.g. community engagement, arts & cultural activities, and social prescribing). I am the author of "Art Cure". I am a 2018 Philip Leverhulme Prize Winner.

I am Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health as well as a member of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on cultural and behavioural insights on health and an Expert Scientific Advisory to DCMS. I led the awarding-winning Covid-19 Social Study - the UK’s largest study into the psychological and social impact of the virus.