Professor of Life Course Epidemiology at University College London, Diana Kuh is a world-leading pioneer of a life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology, bringing vision, innovation and excellence to the field. Her research revealed how early development, lifetime environment and lifestyle related to objective tests of physical capability and demonstrated their value as predictive markers of ageing, future mortality and morbidity, suggesting early intervention is needed to prevent frailty in later life. She is a clear communicator of science as exemplified by the public engagement events she developed for study members, scientists, parliamentarians and the general public to mark the National Survey of Health and Development’s 65th ‘birthday’.