Barbara Black

Background

About Barbara Black

As a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, I investigate how individual differences, such as sex and genotype, influence age-related immune decline and responses to geroprotective treatments. By combining a range of genetic, infection, and data modelling approaches, I explore populations with distinct immune ageing trajectories to better understand the loss – and potential recovery – of immune tolerance and resistance mechanisms. This research is a crucial step towards personalised interventions for healthy ageing, which have the potential to reduce the strain on public healthcare and improve quality of life for older adults. Alongside my academic work, I pursue my passion for teaching as a tutor on the "Introduction to Data Science in Health and Social Care" course, where I guide students in using R programming to analyse and report on real-world datasets. I am eager to collaborate with the research community and contribute to data-driven initiatives that advance evidence-based policies for our ageing population.