James is Professor of Public Health and Simulation. He previously held an ERC Consolidator Grant (GLASST) and currently is an investigator on the European UBD Policy project, the national DARe Hub, and the Singapore National Research Foundation HD4 Programme.
James’ work on agent based modelling led to the first integration of health exposures and outcomes into a transport modelling framework. His ITHIM tool is the most widely used research model for health impact assessment of active transport, while he led the Propensity to Cycle Tool, recommended in UK transport appraisal guidance.
James’ work centres on methods, models and tools to investigate how changes to the population determinants of health, particularly transport and the built environment, would affect population exposures and behaviours, and how changes in these would affect health outcomes and inequalities. He combines simulation modelling with empirical studies, primarily meta-analyses of physical activity and air pollution, alongside studies of traffic injury risk.
He works across developed and developing countries and uses a variety of research and modelling methods (from the simple such as comparative risk assessment to the complex such as agent based modelling) depending on data availability and application.
Recognising the policy challenges of a destabilising climate and economic shocks, James is increasingly interested in developing multisectoral simulation models (e.g. housing, food and transport) and incorporating the cost of living, and adaptation, alongside climate change mitigation.
Projects
- Urban Burden of Disease Policy
- HD4 Programme, Health-drive design for cities: National Research Foundation Singapore
- DARe Hub: National Hub for Decarbonised, Adaptable, and Resilient Transport Infrastructures: DfT / ESPRC
- Including morbidity in transport appraisal: Active Travel England
- AI for healthy and sustainable cities. Cambridge University Accelerate Programme