Catz Professor Heidi de Wet speaks at health policy report launch in Parliament

Associate Professor Heidi de Wet, Director of Studies for Pre-clinical Medicine and Fellow and Tutor in Pre-clinical Medicine, was a speaker at the official launch of the The Physiological Society’s ‘Physiology passport: Putting personalised prevention at the heart of resilient health systems’ policy report in Parliament in London, UK, on 14 January. The event was hosted by the Parliamentary and Scientific committee chaired by George Freeman MP and Stephen Benn, Viscount Stansgate, President of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee.

The meeting brought together a group of organisations, professions and scientific disciplines around agreed shared priorities to establish a long-lasting collaboration in the area of preventative medicine. Heidi was joined in launching the report by Professor Dame Melanie Welham (Former Executive Chair of BBSRC), Professor Catherine Ross (Chief Scientific Officer of the Scottish Government) and Dr Alistair Connell, from Our Future Health. Heidi spoke about the benefits of preventative measures in the treatment of obesity and diabetes, and the use of wearable technologies towards better health and healthy ageing.  The interest in preventative medicine was reflected in the number of attendees, there was only standing room left, and the outstanding questions and discussions after.

Above, from left to right: Prof Catherine Ross, Prof Dame Melanie Welham, Prof Heidi de Wet, George Freeman MP, Viscount Stansgate and Dr Alex Steward from Health UK.