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Staff Profile

Professor Matthew Prina

Global Dean (Faculty of Medical Sciences) / Professor of Ageing and Epidemiology

Background

Matthew is Dean of Global within the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Professor of Ageing and Epidemiology at the Population Health Sciences Institute. He has a quantitative background and is committed to advancing both research and education, with a particular focus on capacity building in global health.


His work has an international outlook, and he collaborates closely with global partners, including the World Health Organization. Matthew is one of the leads for the Cochrane Global Ageing Thematic Group and co-leads the Newcastle University Centre for Ageing (NUAGE).


Before joining Newcastle University, Matthew led the Social Epidemiology Research Group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London.


If you are interested in pursuing a PhD or applying for a postdoctoral fellowship in epidemiology and/or ageing, please feel free to get in touch.

Research

Matthew's research primarily focuses on healthy ageing, with a particular interest in the interplay between physical and mental health across the life course. His work increasingly examines how these conditions evolve at different stages of life and how they are shaped by social and environmental contexts. Much of his research adopts a global health perspective, addressing health inequalities at local, national, and international levels. For over 15 years, he has collaborated with the 10/66 Dementia Research Group to investigate the epidemiology of dementia, mental health disorders, and other chronic conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).


Current areas of work:

  • Characterisation of trajectories of functional ability and intrinsic capacity throughout the life course, including their interaction with environmental factors
  • Understanding the impact of climate change on older populations
  • Developing approaches to improve evidence synthesis and enhance the effectiveness of capacity-building programmes.



Teaching

Matthew contributes to the following modules:

  • Ageing across the Life Course (MPH8007) - Module Lead
  • Global Health and Planetary Boundaries (MMB8057/MPH8005)
  • Health Improvement: Theory, Policy and Practice (MPH8009)
Publications