Kelly obtained his first degree from
Queen's University Belfast, before taking a Ph.D. in
physiology there as well. He then joined
Pennsylvania State University, as a postdoctoral fellow. After working in the United States, he returned to the UK as a lecturer at
Southampton University. During the early part of his career, his research focused on
free-radical biology and human disease, and lung damage in
premature babies and
cystic fibrosis patients. In 1992, Kelly moved to London and developed a new research interest in the effect of air pollution on
lungs and respiratory health. He became a Senior Lecturer at
St Thomas’ Hospital, where his research interests included the health effects of
vitamin E, before moving to
King's College, London, where he was Professor of Environmental Health and Director of the Environmental Research Group. His current work includes WellHome, a large study of how
indoor air pollutants affect childhood
asthma in urban environments. Kelly works with the
World Health Organization on air pollution issues and is a member of the
Health Effects Institute (HEI) Review Committee. He has also served as Chairman of the UK Department of Health Expert
Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP), President of the European Society for Free Radical Research, and Chairman of the British Association for Lung Research. == Awards ==