Professor Rebecca Reynolds is Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underpinning the link between a baby’s growth and development in the womb and risk of diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline in later life. Her work suggests that ‘stress’ hormones play a key role.

During her Inaugural Lecture, Professor Reynolds will describe the evidence that ‘hormones matter’ in health and disease across the life course. This evidence has been pieced together from studies using ‘big data’ in Scotland, detailed studies in pregnant women and their children and through clinical trials testing interventions in pregnancy. Further understanding the vital role of stress hormones in pregnancy will improve outcomes for mothers and babies.