Elizabeth Draper

Professor Elizabeth Draper is a Professor of Perinatal and Paediatric Epidemiology at the University of Leicester's Department of Population Health Sciences. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for preterm infants, optimizing paediatric intensive care practices, and understanding the impact of pandemics like COVID-19 on maternal and child health. She leads national surveillance initiatives such as MBRRACE-UK and PICANet, which provide critical insights into perinatal outcomes and paediatric care during public health crises. Dr. Draper’s research integrates population-level data to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for vulnerable newborns and children with complex medical needs.

Her research expertise spans epidemiological methodologies, health service optimization, and the analysis of long-term outcomes for preterm-born individuals. She collaborates extensively with national and international organizations to advance evidence-based practices in neonatal and paediatric critical care. Key projects include evaluating transport systems for critically ill children and studying the socioeconomic determinants of perinatal mortality.

Dr. Draper’s work also emphasizes translational research, bridging clinical practice and public health policy. She has contributed to developing core datasets for preterm birth cohort studies (RECAP Preterm) and has authored numerous high-impact publications on topics such as neonatal discharge timing, vaccine efficacy in neurodisability populations, and the comparative analysis of psychiatric disorders in extremely preterm cohorts.

Her contributions to global health are evident through her involvement in multinational studies and her commitment to reducing preventable stillbirths and improving bereavement care in high-income countries. Dr. Draper’s interdisciplinary approach ensures her research has direct implications for clinical guidelines and public health strategies.