Francesca Cornaglia

Francesca Cornaglia is a Professor of Economics at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), affiliated with the School of Economics and Finance. She holds an office in Room GC520 and can be reached at f.cornaglia@qmul.ac.uk. Her research focuses on Health Economics, Mental Health Economics, and Applied Microeconometrics, with notable contributions to understanding mental health admissions in pediatric care and the socioeconomic determinants of health behaviors.

Educational Background

• PhD in Economics from the University of Turin (2005)
• British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellowship at University College London (pre-QMUL appointment)

Research Interests

Cornaglia’s work addresses critical issues in health economics, including mental health policy, labor market dynamics, and the application of advanced econometric methods. She leads the Mental Health Admissions to Paediatric Wards Study (MAPS), analyzing trends in mental health-related pediatric hospitalizations in England. Her research bridges quantitative analysis with policy relevance, particularly in marginalized populations and global health contexts.

Key Research Contributions

Her recent work examines rising mental health admissions among children and young people, exploring systemic challenges in healthcare access and crisis management. Earlier studies include groundbreaking research on tobacco taxation, smoking behavior, and the intergenerational transmission of mental health outcomes.

Advising & Collaboration

While no students are listed, Cornaglia collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on large-scale studies like MAPS, involving clinicians, epidemiologists, and policymakers. Her work often informs health system reforms and public health strategies.

Labs/Teams

Her research group is part of QMUL’s Health Economics cluster and actively contributes to the MAPS initiative, a collaborative effort with NHS partners to improve pediatric mental health care pathways.