Born in Bradford (BiB) is continuing to attract worldwide talent to the city after the appointment of the first Hall Dorman research fellow.

Noortje Uphoff, a PhD student from Holland, was working in Ecuador when she applied for the new post and will now spend the next three years examining the health of the BiB children.

She added: “In South America I was looking at respiratory problems in children living in urban and rural areas whereas in Bradford I’ll be looking at the difference in children’s health in one city and seeing what impacts the different ethnic backgrounds might have for their wellbeing.

“Bradford is one of the most interesting places in Europe for a health researcher to work because of its diverse communities and the data that is being collected by BiB.

“I’ll be examining the likes of social support and cohesion, cultural factors, family and neighbourhood networks, as well as comparing and contrasting the different health and education outcomes for the children.”

A key element of Noortje’s research will be to investigate the theory that neighbourhoods with more ethnic minorities - despite being poorer - can have a  more beneficial impact on children’s health due to the presence of increased family support or better social support from the neighbourhood.

The new fellowship has been made possible thanks to a charitable bequest from a relative of local paediatrician and expert in rare diseases, Peter Corry.

Dr Corry, an Ulsterman who recently retired from Bradford Teaching Hospitals after 25 years, explained: “My uncle, Hall Dorman, was a solicitor in Belfast who died in 2010 aged 99. He always took a keen interest in my work with children here in Bradford so it seems fitting that the money that he gifted should be put towards the great work going on here at Born in Bradford.”

Professor John Wright, director of the Bradford Institute for Health Research which oversees the BiB project said he was delighted to welcome Noortje to Bradford.

He continued: “One of the aims of the Born in Bradford study is to attract the best brains in the world to come to the city to work on exciting new medical research. The Hall Dorman fellowships are a major step to ensuring that we achieve this aim. We are hugely grateful to Dr Peter Corry and the Dorman family for their generosity and vision in providing the funding to make this happen.”

Noortje will be based between the BiB offices at Temple Bank House, which are situated within the grounds of the Bradford Royal Infirmary, and the University of York where she will study for her doctorate under Professor Kate Pickett.

A second Hall Dorman fellow will be appointed later this year.