One of the Centre’s leading academics, Professor Lora Fleming, has been awarded the 2013 Delcroix Prize for her outstanding research in the field of oceans and human health.

The prize will be awarded in Oostende, Belgium, on Friday 27th June 2014 and recognises Professor Fleming’s pioneering work in understanding the impact that oceanic factors, such as harmful algal blooms, can have on health.

A board certified physician and epidemiologist, Professor Fleming has over 25 years of experience in a wide range of environment and health issues. Along with colleagues from across Europe, she has played a pivotal part in the setup of Europe’s first oceans and human health research group, and recently hosted a large international conference on the area.

Working closely with organisations such as the Met Office and Public Health England, she is currently exploring new ways to analyse large sets of data. This research is hoping to uncover links between climate and health and is breaking new ground in the way we interpret health data.

The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Prize is an international scientific prize established in honour of Dr. Edouard Delcroix (1891-1973), Belgian orthopaedic surgeon and pioneer in thalassotherapy.

Professor Fleming is the European Centre’s Director and Chair of Oceans, Epidemiology and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School. She is also Professor Emerita in both the Miller School of Medicine and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami, where she was Co-Director of the Oceans and Human Health Centre.