Petra Wark

Professor Petra Wark is a nutritional and chronic disease epidemiologist with an additional background in applied statistics as well as learning and teaching. 

Her research focuses on the use, development, characteristics and validation of digital health technologies (e.g. wearables, apps, platforms) for enhancement of wellbeing or disease prevention or management. She focuses on making use of the additional data digital technologies provide, the validity of such data, and the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions using digital technologies (whilst considering health and wellbeing outcomes). She is also interested in the setting in which such technologies are used, and thereby their practical applications in research, health promotion and health care.

Examples of her work include leading the validation study of myfood24, a new online dietary assessment tool for the UK; leading the validation study of new technology for blood pressure measurement and management; and systematic review of mobile apps.

Earlier in her career, she aimed to gain a better understanding of the causation of chronic diseases by using data of large cohort studies. She did so whilst combining research with a role of MSc course organiser, running several epidemiology and chronic disease modules and co-founding and running a leading short course. 

Within the Centre for Innovative Research Across the Life Course, she is leading the "Digital Health and Innovative Methodologies" (DHAIM) theme. She supervises PhD and MRes students, being a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor. She is also an officer for the e- & mHealth Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), Associate Editor of the Nutrition Journal and a Steering Committee member of the International Conference on Diet & Activity Assessment Methods (ICDAM 2020). 

• Efficacy and effectiveness of digital health technologies in primary and secondary chronic disease prevention; and methodological aspects thereof
• Validation, evaluation and assessment of diet, lifestyle, wellbeing and health status using new digital technologies (including other aspects of health)
• Additional insight gained from the additional data that digital health technologies provide, how to make use of the new technologies and embed them in practice
• Nutritional and chronic disease epidemiology
• Interdisciplinary and innovation research projects

New digital health solutions and technologies emerge daily. Several of these developments are very exciting. They have potential to improve one’s wellbeing or health. Many others are not yet optimal and/or do not meet society’s, the health care system’s or the user’s needs. A technological solution is also not always the most appropriate.

It is important to optimise the chances of making a true impact. I believe that technologies should be validated /evaluated throughout their lifecycle, and should be evidence-based. Sometimes my work starts while the technology is being developed or improved. My work can also start after the technology is being implemented, or when already on the market. Doing so requires insight and methods from several disciplines. I thus collaborate with people from different backgrounds. I also collaborate with industry.