Professor Frank Kelly heads the environmental research group, a new global centre within the medical faculty of Imperial College London's White City campus, studying how dirty air affects people's health.
Recently made CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to air pollution research in The King's New Year Honours list, Kelly is a key player in H&F Council's Better Air, Better Health partnership.
Together with Imperial College London and the NHS Health Trust, the alliance works to demonstrate how we can clean the air we breathe via cleaner energy, Tiny Forest planting and the installation of Britain's densest network of EV charging points across the borough.
Prof Kelly, 66, is frequently on TV and radio discussing air quality – particularly in London – and whether electric cars, congestion charges and ultra-low emission zones are the answer to city pollution.
He has spent 30 years studying the toxic effects of car exhaust fumes and wood smoke on lungs – the type of pollution that causes seven million premature deaths worldwide every year.
He also pioneered the use of social media and mobile phone technology, designing the LondonAir website which gives free, real-time data on air quality to boroughs including H&F.
White City innovation
For Kelly, the White City Innovation District's location is key to success: surrounded by colleagues in related departments, having multiple innovative start-up companies on the doorstep, and working with clinical teams at Hammersmith Hospital in Du Cane Road.
"The fact that the campus and the Innovation District is part of the Hammersmith & Fulham is key," he said. "We have a forward-thinking council that's very enthusiastic about using our skills and innovation to better the lives and well-being of residents."
As most children are educated indoors in enclosed spaces, he is also studying the effect of air quality in homes and schools.
Kelly's team at White City studied indoor air quality through the WellHome project, where 100 local homes had monitoring devices installed. The research examined how indoor pollution affected asthma symptoms in children by measuring air quality in kitchens, living areas, and children's bedrooms.
Rewarding
The urgency is clear: H&F latest air quality report shows unsafe levels of pollution throughout the borough, with nitrogen dioxide exceeding WHO standards. Between 74 and 83 early deaths in H&F are estimated to be attributable to man-made air pollution – the eighth highest level in London.
With more than 450 scientific papers to his name, Prof Kelly also advises the World Health Organization on air pollution policy. He is married to Dr Julia Fussell, who writes about environmental issues, and has two daughters, Grace and Rose. The family have lived in west London for 28 years.
"I feel incredibly privileged to have received this, as it acknowledges work that has been, and continues to be, so very rewarding," says Prof Kelly. "This honour reflects the collective effort and dedication of many talented and wonderful individuals around the world."
Frank occupies Imperial College's inaugural 'Battcock chair' – named after philanthropist Humphrey Battcock, who coincidentally, was also made a CBE in the honours list for services to education and tackling homelessness.
