As Lead Health Data Scientist in RGA’s Global Data and Analytics department, Richard Russell provides specialist resources to enhance RGA’s mortality and morbidity modelling capability, including underwriting manual research, actuarial pricing, and innovation projects. He is also a key member of RGA’s COVID-19 modelling group tasked with measuring and forecasting the impacts of the pandemic on RGA’s business. Richard joined the company in 2013. Prior to his role with RGA, Richard was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at City, University of London for two years, and at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London for two years. In both fellowships he was involved in a number of projects concerned with glaucoma research, including the U.K. Glaucoma Treatment Study, the first and only randomized, placebo-controlled trial in the medical treatment of glaucoma. Richard received a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in biotechnology, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in bioinformatics (with distinction), and a Ph.D. in statistics from Imperial College London. He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles for journals such as The Lancet, BMJ Open, PLoS One, and Annals of Actuarial Science.