Prof Laurence Taggart is both a nurse and a psychologist and leads the Research Centre ‘Caring for People with Complex Needs’ at the School of Nursing & Paramedicine, Ulster University N. Ireland. His research interests focus on the health surveillance of people with intellectual disabilities, and the health inequalities and inequities this population face in accessing health services. Prof Taggart also has an interest in the development and testing of interventions within complex systems for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently, Prof Taggart is leading on a four-year £2.2m NIHR HTA grant examining the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a structured education programme for adults with intellectual disability and Type 2 diabetes (DESMOND-ID) across the UK.

Prof Taggart has received research funding of over £15 million from a range of research funders. He has published over 200 articles and chapters and is the co-editor of the book ‘Health Promotion for People with Intellectual & Developmental’ Disabilities’. Prof Taggart led on the ‘International Guidelines for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’.

Prof Taggart has held posts within the Royal Society of Medicine, the Royal College of Nursing and was the Expert Advisor for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for older adults with an intellectual disability. He is the current Liaison Officer to the World Health Organisation for IASSIDD (International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability. Laurence was recently awarded a distinguished Fellowship of the IASSIDD for his international research for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.