Dr Fiona Pearce is an NIHR Advanced Fellow and Clinical Associate Professor of Rheumatology Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, and an Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. She leads the RECORDER group (Rheumatology Complex Rare Diseases – epidemiology and registration) at the University of Nottingham, which specialises in the use of large-scale electronic health record data to improve outcomes for people with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (RAIRDs) including vasculitis. Dr Pearce’s research focuses on observational epidemiology, including the risks and benefits of immunosuppressive treatments including steroids, infection prevention strategies, and health service delivery for rare disease populations. She has led several high-impact national studies using data from the National Disease Registration Service and CPRD to inform clinical practice and policy, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work has directly influenced shielding policies, vaccine prioritisation, and awareness of rare disease vulnerabilities in public health planning. She is also the HDR UK Midlands Regional Co-Director, where she contributes to national data infrastructure and capacity building in health data science.