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Noran Hairi is best known for her work on the epidemiology of aging, with a particular focus on physical disability, sarcopenia, and frailty. She has also conducted important research on elder abuse and neglect, as well as financial mistreatment among older adults. Noran led the Prevent Elder Abuse and Neglect Initiative (PEACE), which adopted a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to address abuse in late life. This was achieved through the development of training modules and programs for healthcare professionals, as well as public awareness campaigns, forums, and media Op-Eds. From a legal standpoint, PEACE provided a platform for legislators and policymakers to discuss ways to protect elders from abuse. As a result of PEACE’s efforts, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia announced the need for a new act to protect the welfare of Malaysian elders. Noran conducted another consultancy project for the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development, called “Kajian Kandungan, Pendekatan, dan Skop Bagi Pewujudan Satu Akta Khusus Untuk Warga Emas Di Malaysia”. The PEACE 1.0 study revealed that financial exploitation were the most common forms of elder abuse experienced by older adults. This led to the PEACE 2.0 project – Prevent Elder finAnCial Exploitation 2.0, a collaborative research effort with Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), Bank Negara Malaysia. The PEACE 3.0 team is currently working with the Department of Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), to evaluate the psychometric properties of EAN assessment tools (PEACE 3.0.). 

Building on her extensive experience in epidemiology, Noran’s expertise became even more critical during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the need for reliable and comprehensible public health information became apparent. With her background in public health, Noran, along with other academics in the Social and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, address this critical issue. As the pandemic progressed, a significant gap in public health information emerged, particularly in terms of disease prevention and control. Recognizing this urgency, the team worked proactively to bridge this gap. Their primary objectives were to provide accurate, user-friendly information to the public, counteract the spread of misinformation, and harness the power of science communication. To achieve these goals, the team utilized media contacts and partnerships to disseminate information effectively. As a result, they produced more than 500 science communication materials, including articles, interviews, and media appearances, which can be found at https://spm.um.edu.my/category/covid19/. These actions resulted in significant outcomes, providing the public with accurate and timely information and demonstrating the importance of evidence-based science communication in managing public health crises and enhancing health literacy in a digital age.

Noran’s extensive experience in epidemiology and public health was instrumental not only in addressing elder abuse and neglect but also in responding to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership in both domains underscores her commitment to improving public health and protecting vulnerable populations.