Obesity e-Lab: e-Infrastructure for inter-disciplinary collaborative research into obesity

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Medical and Human Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

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Ainsworth J (2012) eLab: bringing together people, data and methods to enhance knowledge discovery in healthcare settings. in Studies in health technology and informatics

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Arnold M (2016) Obesity and cancer: An update of the global impact. in Cancer epidemiology

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Badrick E (2014) Diabetes and cancer: 5 years into the recent controversy. in European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)

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Badrick E (2014) Bias in the estimation of adult body mass index from general practice records in European Journal of Public Health

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Bechhofer S (2013) Why linked data is not enough for scientists in Future Generation Computer Systems

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Birkin M (2010) Elements of a computational infrastructure for social simulation. in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences

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Campbell PT (2015) Association between body mass index and mortality for colorectal cancer survivors: overall and by tumor molecular phenotype. in Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology

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Coe PO (2014) Excess adiposity and gastrointestinal cancer. in The British journal of surgery

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Couch P (2013) e-Labs and the stock of health method for simulating health policies. in Studies in health technology and informatics

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Hickey GL (2013) Clinical registries: governance, management, analysis and applications. in European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery

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Iain Buchan (Author) (2011) MethodBox

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New J (2008) Authors' response in Diabetic Medicine

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New JP (2008) The high prevalence of unrecognized anaemia in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease: a population-based study. in Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association

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Renehan AG (2015) Obesity and cancer: links with survival differ from those with incidence. in Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology

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Renehan AG (2016) Obesity and endometrial cancer: unanswered epidemiological questions. in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology

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Renehan AG (2014) The 'obesity paradox' and survival after colorectal cancer: true or false? in Cancer causes & control : CCC

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Shoaib Sufi (Speaker) (2012) Methodbox : data, methods, people

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Sperrin M (2017) The Authors Respond. in Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)

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Sperrin M (2016) Collider Bias Is Only a Partial Explanation for the Obesity Paradox. in Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)

 
Description This award led to a stream of methodological and applied (obesity) research and applications following its initial findings. The MethodBox methodology was adopted in cohort management systems for MRC (e.g. Asthma eLab and CLOSER) and NIH (e.g. multiple birth cohort data management system). The methodology in terms of broader Research Objects and reproducibility has propagated further in www. researchobject.org. The applied findings have led to new obesity research that has changed thinking, for example in the Obesity Paradox.
Exploitation Route The outcomes have been taken forward by others in methodological and applied (obesity) research and applications. The MethodBox methodology was adopted in cohort management systems for MRC (e.g. Asthma eLab and CLOSER) and NIH (e.g. multiple birth cohort data management system). The methodology in terms of broader Research Objects and reproducibility has propagated further in www. researchobject.org. The applied findings have led to new obesity research that has changed thinking, for example in the Obesity Paradox.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description The MethodBox designs for organising and searching for cohort data have been implemented in large-scale public sector projects such as the Department of Health and Social Care's Connected Health Cities (www.connectedhealthcities.org) programme, specifically in its Trustworthy Research Environments, and in commercial applications such as https://www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/g-cloud/services/949914387464917
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
 
Description Diabetes UK Clinical Research Grant
Amount £218,495 (GBP)
Funding ID 14/0004971 
Organisation Diabetes UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2015 
End 12/2018
 
Description MRC: STELAR
Amount £1,500,000 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2013 
End 12/2017
 
Description NIHR CLAHRC: Healthy children, healthy families: an applied public health research programme
Amount £1,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation National Institute for Health Research 
Department NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Preparing methodbox for national service
Amount £39,925 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/J010014/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2012 
End 07/2012
 
Description The impact of body mass index on cancer-related survival in chemotherapy-naïve patients with non-metastatic colorectal and endometrial cancers: a federation meta-analysis of trial data
Amount £150,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 2016/1626 
Organisation World Cancer Research Fund 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country Global
Start 02/2017 
End 01/2019
 
Title Research Objects and Trustworthy Research Environments (eLabs) 
Description Digital research laboratories with consitent orchestration of algorithms over challenging data sources in healthcare 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2016 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Continued to feed www.researchobject.org and spawned the Trustworthy Research Environment deployments across www.connectedhealthcities.org and wider NHS 
URL https://www.herc.ac.uk/research_project/elab/
 
Title Health survey for England time series dataset, 1991-2009 
Description The Health Survey for England is a time-series dataset of the HSE from 1991-2009 and is a result of a project funded by the University of Manchester to examine obesity. More information about the HSE is available from the Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) Government website including information on the sample design, questionnaire and variables for each year of the survey. The original HSE datasets for 1991 to 2009 are held at the UK Data Archive under GN 33261. Main Topics: The main topics include obesity, socio-economic status variables (e.g education, social class and income). Classification variables: ethnicity, sex, age etc, health-related variables: smoking, drinking, blood pressure, cholesterol, sample design variables: Government Office Region, physical activity, social capital. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Not yet identified 
 
Description Childhood Obesity Research Group for Innovation (CORGI) 
Organisation Asda Stores Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution HeRC staff conducting a series of 'mini-workshops' with existing parent groups in primary schools in Manchester to inform the development of mobile health technology solutions to tackle childhood obesity.
Collaborator Contribution Direction and strategy
Impact Multidiscplinary team comprising of NHS; public health; academia; smes; greatersport et al - to address the obesity epidemic in children and adults using innovative technologies. Final outputs from the workshops will be used to inform future technology development. CORGI team are currently applying for further funding from British Heart Foundation to develop mobile technology for children's healthy weight management.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Childhood Obesity Research Group for Innovation (CORGI) 
Organisation British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution HeRC staff conducting a series of 'mini-workshops' with existing parent groups in primary schools in Manchester to inform the development of mobile health technology solutions to tackle childhood obesity.
Collaborator Contribution Direction and strategy
Impact Multidiscplinary team comprising of NHS; public health; academia; smes; greatersport et al - to address the obesity epidemic in children and adults using innovative technologies. Final outputs from the workshops will be used to inform future technology development. CORGI team are currently applying for further funding from British Heart Foundation to develop mobile technology for children's healthy weight management.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Childhood Obesity Research Group for Innovation (CORGI) 
Organisation Manchester City Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution HeRC staff conducting a series of 'mini-workshops' with existing parent groups in primary schools in Manchester to inform the development of mobile health technology solutions to tackle childhood obesity.
Collaborator Contribution Direction and strategy
Impact Multidiscplinary team comprising of NHS; public health; academia; smes; greatersport et al - to address the obesity epidemic in children and adults using innovative technologies. Final outputs from the workshops will be used to inform future technology development. CORGI team are currently applying for further funding from British Heart Foundation to develop mobile technology for children's healthy weight management.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Childhood Obesity Research Group for Innovation (CORGI) 
Organisation Manchester City Football Club
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution HeRC staff conducting a series of 'mini-workshops' with existing parent groups in primary schools in Manchester to inform the development of mobile health technology solutions to tackle childhood obesity.
Collaborator Contribution Direction and strategy
Impact Multidiscplinary team comprising of NHS; public health; academia; smes; greatersport et al - to address the obesity epidemic in children and adults using innovative technologies. Final outputs from the workshops will be used to inform future technology development. CORGI team are currently applying for further funding from British Heart Foundation to develop mobile technology for children's healthy weight management.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Childhood Obesity Research Group for Innovation (CORGI) 
Organisation Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution HeRC staff conducting a series of 'mini-workshops' with existing parent groups in primary schools in Manchester to inform the development of mobile health technology solutions to tackle childhood obesity.
Collaborator Contribution Direction and strategy
Impact Multidiscplinary team comprising of NHS; public health; academia; smes; greatersport et al - to address the obesity epidemic in children and adults using innovative technologies. Final outputs from the workshops will be used to inform future technology development. CORGI team are currently applying for further funding from British Heart Foundation to develop mobile technology for children's healthy weight management.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Large Scale Citizen Science Project for physical activity promotion 
Organisation Nokia
Department Withings
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution As a result of the mature relationship developed between HeRC and Withings, a new project is being scoped and planned at present as a collaboration between Withings, The University of Manchester and ConnectedHhelath Cities. The aim is to conduct a citizen science project with mass participation across the North of England to understand how digital health can be used as an intervention to increase physical activity and lower heartrate.
Collaborator Contribution Withings bring expertise in the digital health and mobile health sector. Agreements are confidential as to scope of involvmenet at present.
Impact In progress
Start Year 2016
 
Description Large Scale Citizen Science Project for physical activity promotion 
Organisation Nokia
Department Withings
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution As a result of the mature relationship developed between HeRC and Withings, a new project is being scoped and planned at present as a collaboration between Withings, The University of Manchester and ConnectedHhelath Cities. The aim is to conduct a citizen science project with mass participation across the North of England to understand how digital health can be used as an intervention to increase physical activity and lower heartrate.
Collaborator Contribution Withings bring expertise in the digital health and mobile health sector. Agreements are confidential as to scope of involvmenet at present.
Impact In progress
Start Year 2016
 
Description Withings Connected Health 
Organisation Nokia
Department Withings
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Analysis of data, preparation of manuscript for publication
Collaborator Contribution Provision of data, critical revision of manuscripts
Impact Paper: Sperrin, M., Rushton, H., Dixon, W., Normand, A., Villard, J., Chieh, A. & Buchan, I (2016). Who Self-Weighs and What Do They Gain From It? A Retrospective Comparison Between Smart Scale Users and the General Population in England. J Med Internet Res, 18(1), e17. eScholarID:296222 | PMID:26794900 | DOI:10.2196/jmir.4767
Start Year 2014
 
Description Does your software look like this? 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presented at The Collaborations Workshop 2011 at the e-Science Institute in Edinburgh

Opportunity to communicate research project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Enabling obesity research using the HSE : the obesity e-Lab project 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Presentation to the Health Survey for England User Group on the 9th July 2009 in London.

Presentation Slides
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Interview for an article in The Telegraph 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The HeRC Director and Co-Investigator were ask to comment on a story by The Telegraph on their study published in the International Journal of Obesity.

The article raised the profile of HeRC related research with the public.

Communication of current research findings on obesity to the public was achieved.

The HeRC Directors comments highlighted the need for government approach to this issue to be more detailed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10282592/Britons-have-stopped-getting-fatter.html
 
Description Interview for article in the Daily Mail 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The HeRC Director and Co-Investigator were asked to comment on an article by the Daily Mail detailing the results of their study on obesity rates which was published in the International Journal of Obesity.

The article raised the profile of HeRC related research with the public.

Communication of current research findings on obesity to the public was achieved.

The HeRC Directors comments highlighted the need for the government approach to this issue to be more detailed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2408931/Britains-obese-continue-weight-despite-drop-nation...
 
Description Managing knowledge and sharing expertise in public health research-MethodBox : simplifying and enriching your access to national survey data 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presentation at the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre Seminar, November 2010

Supported associated research project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description MethodBox 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Presentation to the British Library, London, January 2011

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description MethodBox : a service for data users in health research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation at the data management in the social sciences and the contribution of the DAMES Node in Stirling on 30th January 2012.

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description MethodBox : accessing health and social surveys 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presentation at the Community Based Medicine Informatics Seminar, Manchester, June 2010

Supported associated research project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description MethodBox : simplifying your access to national health data 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Health professionals
Results and Impact Presentation at the Mental Health Research Network Seminar

Opportunity to present research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description MethodBox : simplifying your access to national health data 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Presentation to the Primary Care Research Network, Liverpool, October 2010

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Methodbox : finding surveys and sharing methods 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presentation at the Using Large-Scale Government Microdata for Employment and Labour Market Research one day workshop organised by the ESDS government.

Opportunity to present information on research project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Methodbox : finding surveys and sharing methods 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Presentation at the Family Resources Survey meeting at the Royal Statistical Society, London http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/2012-06-22/

http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/2012-06-22/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
URL http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/2012-06-22/
 
Description New Data for Understanding the Human Condition:International Perspectives 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Attendance and presentation at the Oragnisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Global Science Forum in July 2011, which featured discussions surrounding Data and Research Infrastructure for the Social Sciences, including MethodBox. This meeting and discussions led to the the report by the OECD Global Science Forum entitled "New Data for Understanding the Human Condition: International Perspectives" The Global Science Forum established an expert group to review developments in international data availability, consider their suitability for comparative research, detail the challenges to be addressed, and make recommendations to respond to these new opportunities. MethodBox was discussed at this meeting as a platform for preparing, saving and sharing research ready data-sets.

The Global Science Forum established an expert group to review developments in international data availability, consider their suitability for comparative research, detail the challenges to be addressed, and make recommendations to respond to these new op
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Obesity e-Lab 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation of Obesity e-Lab to the Greater Manchester Directors of Public Health in May 2009

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Obesity e-Lab 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Presentation of Obesity e-Lab to the National Obesity Observatory in September 2009

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Obesity e-Lab 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Obesity e-Lab was presented to the Greater Manchester Public Health Information Network

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Obesity e-Lab 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation to Manchester Primary Care Trust in July 2009

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Reflections on Digital Social Research in the e-Research Ecosystem 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact presentation including details on MethodBox at UCLA on 19th May 2011 which discussed DSR projects in the braoder context of the ecosystem nationally and internationally

Presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Resources for crime survey users : MethodBox 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact MethodBox featured in the Resources for crime survey users at the Crime surveys user meeting, December 2011 at the Royal Statistical Society London.

Section not completed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description What is an e-Lab? : on-line social & health data, methods and investigators? 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Health professionals
Results and Impact An e-Lab is a secure, online environment that brings together data, research methods, analytical tools, references and people at the point of investigation or decision making.

Currently, the full potential of scientific work and findings is not being realised as many communities do not have an easy platform to find and share resources on demand. These divisions often occur between both disciplines and working environments. The e-Lab infrastructure aims to blur these boundaries and provide a 'playground' for communities to carry out and enhance their work through the sharing of knowledge and expertise with others.

This talk will cover the motivation driving the development of the e-Lab; an overview of the technical and operational infrastructure; and the use of e-Labs using case-driven examples.

Opportunity to present information on research project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011