Lianne Kearsley-Fleet

Dr. Lianne Kearsley-Fleet is a Research Fellow in the Division of Musculoskeletal & Dermatological Sciences at The University of Manchester. She specializes in epidemiological research focusing on rheumatic diseases in children, young people, and adults, particularly Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). She co-leads the UK JIA Biologics Register and holds a £750,000 Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellowship to study long-term outcomes of JIA in adulthood.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) in BioVeterinary Science, Royal Veterinary College, University of London (2009)
• MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology, Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (2011)
• PhD in Epidemiology, The University of Manchester (2019)

Research Interests: Dr. Kearsley-Fleet’s work centers on the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases, biologic therapy outcomes, and long-term health impacts of JIA. Her studies leverage large registries such as the BSRBR-RA and UK JIA Biologics Register to investigate treatment efficacy, safety, and patient outcomes. Recent projects include analyzing cardiovascular risks in RA patients and mortality rates in JIA.

Key Contributions: Her research has led to over 70 publications, including studies on biologic switching in JIA, SARS-CoV-2 outcomes in rheumatic disease patients, and the efficacy of JAK inhibitors. She actively contributes to international collaborations, including the EULAR COVID-19 Registry.

Awards:

• Best Clinical Abstract Award, PReS 2021
• EULAR Abstract Award 2019 in Clinical Science
• 4Cite Publications Showcase 2018/2019
• Best Poster Presentation, BSPAR 2015

Grants & Activities: Secured a £750k fellowship (2023–2030) and collaborates with Versus Arthritis and EULAR. She chairs conferences, presents at international meetings, and leads educational courses in epidemiology.

Public Engagement: Creates infographics, YouTube videos, and lay summaries to disseminate research findings to the public. Active on Twitter for rheumatology advocacy.