Rate My Professor Julie Byles

Emeritus Professor Julie Byles is an Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine and Public Health within the University of Newcastle's College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine in 1985 and Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine in 1994, both from the University of Newcastle, with her PhD thesis titled 'Strategies to promote screening for cancer of the uterine cervix'. Her career spans teaching, research, and leadership roles since 1987, beginning as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Epidemiology. She progressed to Assistant Dean of Research and Research Training, Head of Department, and Deputy Head of School in Public Health. Byles directed the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing and served as Director (Newcastle node) of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) from 2004 to 2022, contributing to its establishment since 1995. Appointed Global Innovation Chair in Responsive Transitions in Health and Ageing in 2017, she also leads the Hunter Ageing Alliance and holds senior advisory roles at the Hunter Medical Research Institute and Sax Institute. Internationally, she has been Co-President of the ILC Global Alliance, Chair of Social Research and Planning for the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics Asia Oceania Region, and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Longitudinal Studies on Ageing, Gender and Health from 2011 to 2016.

Byles' research specializes in clinical epidemiology and gerontology, focusing on healthy ageing, women's health trajectories, chronic disease progression, disability, dementia, polypharmacy, frailty, and health service utilization in older adults, particularly women aged 70 and over. She examines social, psychological, cognitive, biological factors, preventive care, nutrition, falls prevention, and equity in healthcare. Key publications include 'Health, functioning, and disability in older adults—present status and future implications' (The Lancet, 2015), 'Cohort profile: the Australian longitudinal study on women's health' (International Journal of Epidemiology, 2005), 'Women's Health Australia: recruitment for a national longitudinal cohort study' (Women & Health, 1999), 'Gender, mental health and ageing' (Maturitas, 2019), and 'Body mass index and survival in men and women aged 70 to 75' (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2010). Her work has secured major grants from NHMRC, ARC, and Department of Health and Aged Care. Awards include Officer of the Order of Australia (2022), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2015), Presidential Life Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology (2013), Award for Research Excellence from Hunter Medical Research Institute (2015), and Newcastle Senior Citizen of the Year (2024). Her contributions shape policy on ageing, women's health, and long-term care through leadership in national cohorts like ALSWH and the 45 and Up Study, and involvement in the Lancet Commission on Long-term Care.