A psychologist by background, I was awarded a BA in Psychology from the University of Sheffield in 1998, followed by a MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from Imperial College in 2001. I then completed a PhD entitled “The neural basis of the motivation to eat in Prader-Willi syndrome” in 2005 at the University of Cambridge. This consolidated in my interest in understanding the regulation of appetite and obesity, with a view to designing and testing novel interventions for weight management to help young people and adults living with overweight and obesity.

My initial post-doctoral research positions were held at Cardiff University from 2005-2010, which developed my skills in social-cognitive neuropsychology and applied these skills to novel neuroimaging paradigms at the first CUBRIC centre. In 2010, I moved to the University of Bristol to take up a research position within the Nutrition and Behaviour Unit (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/psychology/research/brain/nbu/). My research interests transitioned to more clinical applications with roles at the Clinical Research & Imaging Centre, NIHR Bristol Nutrition Biomedical Research Unit, and NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, Nutrition theme.

I am currently working in two fractional roles: as a Senior Research Fellow at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Diet & Physical Activity theme, based at the University of Bristol, UK (https://www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/people/elanor-hinton/). My team was recently awarded the ASO Ken Clare award for excellence in patient and public involvement and engagement with obesity research at the UK Congress of Obesity in Belfast, Sept 2023. I also work as Head of Clinical Research & Operations for Oxford Medical Products, an exciting biotech company (https://www.oxfordmedicalproducts.com/).