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 current 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.  Examples of her recent 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 assessment 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 Technology Enabled Health Research, she is leading the "Innovation, Design and Technology" (IDT) theme and supervises PhD students. She is also an officer for the e- & mHealth Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), and Associate Editor of the Nutrition Journal. 

• Web-based and app-driven assessment tools of diet, lifestyle, and wellbeing/health status (content development and validation)
• Assessment of diet, lifestyle and wellbeing using new technologies (including other aspects of health)
• Efficacy and effectiveness of apps and wearable devices for primary and secondary chronic disease prevention; and methodological aspects thereof
• 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.