Summary
Professor Fiona Matthews is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Hull, a role she assumed in October 2023. Prior to this, she was the Dean of Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Newcastle, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the university's research agenda and fostering innovation across disciplines.
In her current position, Professor Matthews leads the strategic development of research and enterprise at the University of Hull. She is responsible for promoting research excellence, advancing interdisciplinary collaborations, and ensuring the growth of a dynamic and supportive research culture. Her vision is to strengthen the university's impact both nationally and globally, while fostering partnerships that drive innovation and enterprise.
Professor Matthews brings extensive experience from her work with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), having served in prominent roles such as Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Grant Assessment Panel, Deputy Chair of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Skills Development Fellowships, and member of the UK Future Leadership Scheme Panel. She currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 Research Diversity Advisory Panel, where she helps shape the future of research evaluation in the UK, with a focus on promoting inclusivity and diversity of research and impact.
Her research expertise lies in advancing cutting-edge analytical methodologies to study population health, with a particular focus on ageing, healthy life expectancy, and autism. She leverages population-based studies and routine data to explore health inequalities, striving to inform policy and practice that address disparities in health outcomes.
A passionate advocate for research excellence, Professor Matthews is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, recognized for her significant contributions to her field .
Journal Article
Brain network connectivity underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms in prodromal Lewy body dementia
Wright, L. M., Donaghy, P. C., Burn, D. J., Taylor, J.-P., O'OBrien, J. T., Yarnall, A. J., Matthews, F. E., Firbank, M. J., Sigurdsson, H. P., Schumacher, J., Thomas, A. J., & Lawson, R. A. (in press). Brain network connectivity underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms in prodromal Lewy body dementia. Neurobiology of Aging, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.04.007
Differences in the risk of frailty based on care receipt, unmet care needs and socio-economic inequalities: A longitudinal analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Sinclair, D. R., Maharani, A., Clegg, A., Hanratty, B., Tampubolon, G., Todd, C., Wittenberg, R., O’Neill, T. W., & Matthews, F. E. (2025). Differences in the risk of frailty based on care receipt, unmet care needs and socio-economic inequalities: A longitudinal analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The Journal of frailty & aging, 14(2), Article 100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjfa.2025.100012
Building ADMISSION – A research collaborative to transform understanding of multiple long-term conditions for people admitted to hospital
Witham, M. D., Bartle, V., Bellass, S., Bunn, J. G., Cartner, D., Cordell, H. J., Doal, R., Evison, F., Gallier, S., Harris, S., Hillman, S. J., Holding, R., Leroux, P., Marshall, T., Matthews, F. E., Missier, P., Nair, A., Osman, M., Pearson, E. R., Plummer, C., …Sayer, A. A. (2025). Building ADMISSION – A research collaborative to transform understanding of multiple long-term conditions for people admitted to hospital. Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 15, https://doi.org/10.1177/26335565251317940
Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study
Gamble, L. D., Clare, L., Opdebeeck, C., Martyr, A., Jones, R. W., Rusted, J. M., Pentecost, C., Thom, J. M., & Matthews, F. E. (2025). Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study. Age and ageing, 54(1), Article afae284. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae284
Ecological study of the association between the English national vaccination programme and area deprivation inequalities in COVID-19 mortality
Bennett, N., Bambra, C., Sinclair, D., Todd, A., & Matthews, F. (2025). Ecological study of the association between the English national vaccination programme and area deprivation inequalities in COVID-19 mortality. BMJ open, 15(1), Article e085195. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085195