University appoints new director for its Primary & Community Care research centre

The University of Hertfordshire’s Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care (CRIPACC) has announced the appointment of Professor Wendy Wills as director.

The centre, which focuses on children’s health, food and public health, as well as older people’s health, has gained an international reputation for its excellence in primary and community care research.

Professor Wills’ extensive research into food and public health has led to the securing of major research grants for the ESRC and Food Standards Agency, for which she is currently leading a programme on helping to identify how older adults might become vulnerable through the food they eat.

As lead of the University’s Weight and Obesity Research Group, Athena SWAN champion and now director of CRIPACC, Professor Wills’ work continues to be of great importance to the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Health and Social Work.

Professor Wills (pictured) said: ‘I am delighted about this new role. CRIPACC has a world leading reputation for research that benefits patients and the general population in terms of their health and wellbeing and my aim is to build on the successes of my predecessor Professor Sally Kendall. I want to ensure that the wonderful team of researchers and professional staff in CRIPACC are supported to further develop their research endeavours for the good of local, national and international health.

‘The University of Hertfordshire is committed to research on a number of themes, including health and wellbeing and we will shortly be appointing new researchers to expand capacity in CRIPACC,  so I am thrilled to be appointed as Director at such an exciting period in the life of the Centre.’

Professor Wills has several external professional roles that also contribute to the credibility of the research undertaken at the University.