Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders of Later Life
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
It is suggested that type 2 diabetes arises from a complex interaction between genetic factors, obesity and lifestyle factors such as dietary behaviour and physical activity but the detailed mechanisms underlying these interactions have not been identified. We aim to study the interplay between these factors using a range of different epidemiological study designs across multiple studies around the world. We aim to identify genetic variants associated with risk of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic traits which can identify novel pathways to disease. Identification of these pathways can enable development of new therapies to help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes. A broad range of lifestyle, behavioural, anthropometric and biological risk factors are associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes. However, before we intervene on any of these risk factors, it is important to understand which ones are causal (i.e. would changing the risk factor actually result in reductions in risk?). Through the use of genetics, we can prioritise which of these risk factors is most likely to be causal and thereby define which risk factors are likely to be most fruitful for intervention.
Technical Summary
The overall aim of this programme is to use epidemiological methods to investigate aetiological pathways to type 2 diabetes and to translate that knowledge into preventive action. The descriptive epidemiology of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its variation in time, place and person suggests that it arises from a complex interplay between innate susceptibility and lifestyle behavioural factors. Although global hypotheses have been put forward to explain these variations, the detailed mechanisms and pathways that underlie them are largely unknown. This programme aims to investigate the basis of these interactions by studying the genetic aetiology of obesity, T2DM and related metabolic disorders, the association between lifestyle factors such as diet, nutrition and physical activity, and lastly to study how the interplay between these various factors leads to disease. These goals are studied using a range of different epidemiological study designs including large case-control and case-cohort studies and population-based cohorts with detailed quantitative metabolic characterisation. The study of gene-lifestyle interaction requires a synthesis of data from a range of different studies including a large prospective case-cohort study nested within an existing cohort (EPIC-InterAct) and detailed metabolic phenotype cohorts with objective assessment of key lifestyle behaviours (Fenland study). Specific objectives are currently to (i) Investigate the genetic basis of T2DM (ii) Study the genetics of intermediate quantitative traits in order to identify and validate potential modifiable pathways to diabetes risk and (iii) Study the basis for gene-lifestyle interactions in the causation of T2DM and related quantitative traits.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Publications
Al Balushi M
(2022)
The association between body fat percentage and self-reported depression in the United Arab Emirates
in European Journal of Public Health
Al Balushi M
(2022)
Association between depression, happiness, and sleep duration: data from the UAE healthy future pilot study.
in BMC psychology
AlAnouti F
(2022)
Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, body mass index and body fat composition among Emirati population: Results from the UAE healthy future study.
in Frontiers in endocrinology
Alwan H
(2022)
Subclinical thyroid dysfunction and incident diabetes: a systematic review and an individual participant data analysis of prospective cohort studies.
in European journal of endocrinology
Anouti FA
(2022)
Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Factors among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates.
in Nutrients
Banerjee A
(2020)
Estimating excess 1-year mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic according to underlying conditions and age: a population-based cohort study.
in Lancet (London, England)
Barron E
(2023)
Effectiveness of digital and remote provision of the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme during the COVID-19 pandemic.
in Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association
Bomba L
(2022)
Whole-exome sequencing identifies rare genetic variants associated with human plasma metabolites.
in American journal of human genetics
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC_UU_00006/1 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £6,002,000 | ||
| MC_UU_00006/2 | Transfer | MC_UU_00006/1 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £4,022,000 |
| MC_UU_00006/3 | Transfer | MC_UU_00006/2 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £3,576,000 |
| MC_UU_00006/4 | Transfer | MC_UU_00006/3 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £3,394,000 |
| MC_UU_00006/5 | Transfer | MC_UU_00006/4 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £2,987,000 |
| MC_UU_00006/6 | Transfer | MC_UU_00006/5 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £3,455,000 |
| MC_UU_00006/7 | Transfer | MC_UU_00006/6 | 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2025 | £3,715,000 |
| Description | Developing and disseminating tools for population health improvement: an online interactive atlas for identifying environmental change |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_21024 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | The EPIC-Norfolk Study |
| Amount | £624,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_21036 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBC Look East - Fenland COVID-19 Study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the Fenland COVID-19 Study Team were interviewed by BBC Look East on the start of recruitment for the study. The item was broadcast on BBC Look East news broadcasts on 23/07/2020. A report on this was included in the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine newsletter on 14/08/2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000l6cr/look-east-west-23072020 |
| Description | BBC Radio Cambs - Fenland COVID-19 Study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed live on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire about the launch of the Fenland COVID-19 study |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08jzbzp |
| Description | Berlin Insitute of Health - Rare and common genetic determinants of metabolic individuality and their effects on human health (NW/CL/MP/IS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Berlin Insitute of Health Press Release for Nature Medicine paper "Rare and common genetic determinants of metabolic individuality and their effects on human health". MRC Epidemiology Unit research blog post, Queen Mary University of London also posted news item on their research blogs. Shared blog and paper links on Unit Twitter account. Omicscience twitter account also published a thread. Reported by at least 26 online news outlets, including News Medical, Mirage news and MedicalXpress. Tweeted by >750 twitter accounts, 47 unique views of Unit web article by 20/12/2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221115/Metabolomic-study-of-genetic-regulation-of-biochemical-in... |
| Description | Berlin Institute of Health press release "Tiny molecules with a big impact" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Reported by 6 online research news outlets, including MedicalXpress https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-01-tiny-molecules-big-impact.html. Paper was tweeted by more than 70 twitter accounts. Altmetric https://www.altmetric.com/details/97263057 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/bac-tmw011321.php |
| Description | Blog post - Discovery of genetic regulators of human metabolism and health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Unit news blog post "Discovery of genetic regulators of human metabolism and health" . Submitted to University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine newsletter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/genetic-regulators-human-metabolism/ |
| Description | Blog post - Fenland Study finds widening inequalities in physical activity and diet during the COVID-19 pandemic (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Unit Blog post 'Fenland Study finds widening inequalities in physical activity and diet during the COVID-19 pandemic' discussing Public Health paper 'An investigation of factors affecting changes in health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in a UK population-based cohort study' https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.08.005. Shared on Unit and CEDAR Twitter accounts. Unit blog post got 99 unique views by 0/12/2022. Tweeted by 5 twitter accounts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/2022/10/12/fenland-widening-inequalities-in-physical-activity-di... |
| Description | Business Weekly - Swede dreams as Cambridge backs advance in proteomics (JCZS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Julia Carrasco Sanini Sanchez spoke at the launch of the Olink Explore 3072 proteome profiling service in Gothernburg, and was quoted in the article "Swede dreams as Cambridge backs advance in proteomics" in Business Weekly discussing Claudia Langenberg's programmes use of the Olink platform at the TATAA Biocenter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/biomedtech/swede-dreams-cambridge-backs-advance-proteomics |
| Description | Cambridge Festival online video: Life Sciences - a day in our lives (JCZS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Cambridge Festival online video: Life Sciences - a day in our lives (in just two minutes). PhD students from the Cambridge Biomedical Campus discuss the average day for people working at the cutting edge of life sciences. Features MRC Epidemiology Unit PhD student Julia Carrasco Zanini Sanchez. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/life-sciences-day-our-lives-just-two-minutes-cambridge-biomedi... |
| Description | Coverage of Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology papers on COVID-19 and diabetes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | At least 50 reports in international online news outlets. The International Diabetes Federation referenced the paper "Risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in England: a population-based cohort study" in a call for improved funding and training to help nurses tackle the global diabetes crisis issued on 14 November 2020. Both papers have Altmetric scores of more than 400. https://www.altmetric.com/details/88217529 https://www.altmetric.com/details/88247024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/international-diabetes-federation-calls-for-improved-fund... |
| Description | Daily Mail - Gene inherited from Neanderthals slashes the risk of dying from Covid-19 |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Maik Pietzner quoted in Daily Mail article "Gene inherited from NEANDERTHALS slashes the risk of dying from Covid-19 by triggering production of a protein that helps fight the virus, study finds" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9122423/Gene-inherited-NEANDERTHALS-slashes-risk-dyi... |
| Description | Diabetes UK Scientific and Research Advisory Group (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the Diabetes UK Scientific and Research Advisory Group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/public/2020-09/Diabetes%20UK%20Research%20Strategy%202020-2... |
| Description | Drawbridge health Press release - Fenland COVID-19 study |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Drawbridge health Press release on collaboration with MRC Epidemiology Unit to use OneDraw device in Fenland Covid-19 study. Reported in at least six online technology and finance news outlets, including https://www.massdevice.com/drawbridge-health-cambridge-partner-for-covid-19-remote-blood-sample-collection-study/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drawbridge-health-partners-with-university-of-cambridge-res... |
| Description | EASD Study Group for the Genetics of Diabetes Meeting Conference Oral Presentation (AW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Alice Williamson gave a presentation at the EASD Study Group for the Genetics of Diabetes Meeting, held in Lille, France on 11 May 2022. Her presentation was titled 'Genetic heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes is reflected in the circulating metabolome'. It was well received and produced interesting discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Fenland Covid-19 Participant webinar (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A webinar for Fenland COVID-19 study patients was held on 9 March 2022. The webinar discussed findings, their implications, and future research plans. The panel included study investigators Dr Kirsten Rennie and Professor Nick Wareham, Nikola Dolezalova and Davide Morelli from collaborators Huma Inc, and Fenland Study Participant Panel member Jane Bramwell. 230 Fenland C0VID-19 participants joined the webinar (plus panel and hosts) after >500 registered. Participants asked panelists >30 different questions during the Q&A session. Recording of the webinar was shared on the Unit's YouTube channel and a link was included in the spring 2022 issue of the Unit's external newsletter epigram. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/IS8XftNYJ8I |
| Description | Genomeweb interview - UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project (MP) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Maik Pietzner was interviewed by Adam Bonislawski from genomeweb.com about a recent preprint from the UK Biobank - Pharma Proteomics Project. He was subsequently quoted in article 'UK Biobank Proteomics Project Produces Large-Scale Map of Human Gene-Protein Linkages' which also referred to Pietzner M. et al. 'Synergistic insights into human health from aptamer- and antibody-based 1 proteomic profiling' Nature Communications (2021) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.genomeweb.com/proteomics-protein-research/uk-biobank-proteomics-project-produces-large-s... |
| Description | Huma press release - Fenland COVID-19 Study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Huma, who are partnering with the MRC Epidemiology Unit on the Fenland COVID-19 study, issued a press release on the launch of the study. This was accompanied by an article on study launch published on Unit website https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/launch-fenland-covid-19-study/, which was shared on the Unit Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Huma press release reported by Forbes, Business Weekly, and at lease six other online news outlets. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidprosser/2020/07/23/huma-teams-up-with-cambridge-university-for-rem... |
| Description | Lancet Press Release - Routine care delivery and non-COVID-19-related mortality (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Lancet Press release for Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology paper "Associations between reductions in routine care delivery and non-COVID-19-related mortality in people with diabetes in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based parallel cohort study. Reported in the Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/30/lack-diabetes-checks-first-covid-lockdown-could-have-led-3000/ Mail Online, Yahoo News and more than 12 other online news outlets. Referenced in Conversation article "Five ways the pandemic has affected routine medical care" https://theconversation.com/five-ways-the-pandemic-has-affected-routine-medical-care-184712 that was republished by at least three online news outlets. Paper tweeted by more than 270 twitter accounts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/30/lack-diabetes-checks-first-covid-lockdown-could-have-led... |
| Description | MRC / NIHR PHOSP-COVID Monitoring Group Chair (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is the MRC / NIHR PHOSP-COVID Monitoring Group Chair from 22 April 2021. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | MRC Adolescent Health Steering Group Chair (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is the MRC Adolescent Health Steering Group Chair. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | MRC Infrastructure Advisory Group Member (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the MRC Infrastructure Advisory Group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/about-us/mrc/how-we-are-governed/infrastructure-and-capital-strategic-advisory-... |
| Description | MRC Longitudinal Population Studies Strategic Advisory Panel Chair (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is the MRC Longitudinal Population Studies Strategic Advisory Panel Chair. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://mrc.ukri.org/documents/pdf/longitudinal-population-studies-strategic-advisory-panel-terms-of... |
| Description | MRC PHSG - Population Health Sciences Group Chair (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is the MRC PHSG - Population Health Sciences Group Chair. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/about-us/mrc/how-we-are-governed/population-health-sciences-group/ |
| Description | MRC Strategy Board meeting member (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the MRC Strategy Board. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/about-us/mrc/how-we-are-governed/strategy-board/ |
| Description | MRC and Nature Medicine - Largest ever study using wearable devices |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | MRC press release "Largest ever study using wearable devices finds physical activity is beneficial for health, and more intense activity is better", which was also issued to several local and specialist news outlets by MRC Epidemiology Unit (local/specialist). Nature Medicine also included it in a media release of new papers. Link to paper shared on Unit Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Reported by Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8635361/Exercise-Turning-12-minute-stroll-7-minute-power-walk-daily-lowers-risk-early-death.html, Cambridge Network https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/largest-ever-study-using-wearable-devices-finds-physical-activity-beneficial-health-and-more and at least six other online news outlets. Soren Brage interview with Australian Radio show 3AW 693 News Talk https://www.3aw.com.au/want-to-live-longer-researchers-say-you-should-add-a-two-minute-brisk-walk-to-your-day/. Paddy Dempsey interviewed by Cosmos Magazine https://cosmosmagazine.com/uncategorized/cosmos-qa-steps-along-the-exercise-path/. Article in University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine newsletter on 28/08/2020. Tweeted and retweeted by more than 890 twitter users. Altmetric score of 492 on 13/01/2021 https://www.altmetric.com/details/88399580 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/largest-study-wearable-devices-activity/ |
| Description | MRC blog - UK landscape of prevention research (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham drafted guest blog post for MRC Insight blog. Republished on Unit research blog and shared on Unit and CEDAR twitter accounts, and on Unit Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/2021/02/12/uk-landscape-prevention-research/ |
| Description | NHS issued Press Release for Our Future Health project (RA) |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Raghib Ali was quoted in Guardian 'Millions invited to take part in UK scheme to diagnose diseases earlier', Times 'Five million Britons invited to take part in world's biggest health study', Evening Standard 'More than 3 million in UK invited to take part in world's largest health study', and euronews 'Our Future Health: Study seeks 5 million volunteers to map UK's health and better fight diseases, the Comet. Study launch also covered by BBC News online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/oct/24/uk-scheme-to-diagnose-diseases-earlier-cancer-obesit... |
| Description | NMRC DYNAMO Study Scientific Advisory Board (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the NMRC DYNAMO Study Scientific Advisory Board. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Novo-Nordisk Foundation Steno Research Grant Committee (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the Novo-Nordisk Foundation Steno Research Grant Committee. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/committees/committee-on-steno-research-collaboration/ |
| Description | Opinion article in the Guardian "Why it's the right time to lift plan B restrictions in England" (RA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Raghib Ali wrote an opinion article in the Guardian titled "Why it's the right time to lift plan B restrictions in England" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/28/lift-plan-b-restrictions-england-vaccines-rest... |
| Description | Opinion piece in Guardian "Here's some good news for 2022: this could be the year the pandemic comes to an end" (RA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Raghib Ali wrote an opinion piece in the Guardian titled "Here's some good news for 2022: this could be the year the pandemic comes to an end" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/04/pandemic-end-uk-covid-hospital-vaccines-optimi... |
| Description | Perspectum - Researchers uncover genetic marker associated with fatty liver disease |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Perspectum Press release for Journal of Hepatology paper "rs641738C>T near MBOAT7 is associated with liver fat, ALT, and fibrosis in NAFLD: a meta-analysis". Press release was also published as a News blog post on Unit website and shared on Unit and CEDAR social media channels. Paper was tweeted 45 times by 26 Twitter users. Altmetric https://www.altmetric.com/details/89210458 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/genetic-marker-fatty-liver-disease/ |
| Description | Press Release - Fitness levels can be accurately predicted using wearable devices (NW) |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | University of Cambridge Press Release "Fitness levels can be accurately predicted using wearable devices - no exercise required" for npj Digital Medicine paper "Longitudinal cardio-respiratory fitness prediction through free-living wearable sensors". Accompanied by Unit Research News article and social media promotion. Reported in News Medical, Tech Explorist and nine other online medical, science and technology news outlets. University of Cambridge News post shared more than 1,000 times across social media channels. Unit blog post got 181 unique views by 20/11/2022. Unit LinkedIn post got 27 links and almost 1,000 views by 20/12/2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/fitness-levels-can-be-accurately-predicted-using-wearable-device... |
| Description | Press Release - Measuring levels of three proteins to detect undiagnosed prediabetes (NW/CL/MP/JCZS) |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | MRC Epidemiology Unit press release via University of Cambridge Eurekalert account and media contact list 'Detecting the undetected: measuring levels of three proteins in the blood can aid detection of undiagnosed prediabetes' for Nature Medicine paper "Proteomic signatures for identification of impaired glucose tolerance". MRC Epidemiology Unit research news blog, Berlin Insitute of Health and Queen Mary University of London posted news items on their research blogs. Shared blog and paper links on Unit Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts. Omicscience twitter account also published a thread. Julia Carrasco-Zanini was interviewed for the Naked Scientists on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 1 November 2022, and the findings were also reported by at least 17 online science news outlets including Mirage News, News Medical,and Scienmag. Paper tweeted by 66 twitter users, and Unit blog article had 116 unique page views by 20/12/2022. Altmetric https://www.altmetric.com/details/138258593. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/2022/11/10/measuring-levels-three-proteins-blood-detection-undia... |
| Description | Press Release: Metabolomic study links inhaled cortical steroid treatment for asthma to adrenal suppression (NW/CL/IS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Brigham and Women's Hospital Press Release "Metabolomic study links inhaled cortical steroid treatment for asthma to adrenal suppression" for Nature Medicine paper by Kachroo P. et al. "Metabolomic profiling reveals extensive adrenal suppression due to inhaled corticosteroid therapy in asthma" https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01714-5. News article on Unit website https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/2022/03/21/metabolomic-inhaled-cortical-steroid-asthma-adrenal-suppression/ and shared on Unit Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn channels. Covered by 8 online specialist health & science news outlets, including News Medical https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220321/Metabolomic-profiling-reveals-adrenal-suppression-due-to-inhaled-corticosteroid-treatment-for-asthma.aspx and Technology Networks https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/metabolomic-study-links-asthma-treatment-to-adrenal-suppression-359801. Paper shared by 79 twitter accounts. Unit news blog post received 159 unique views (11/04/2022). Article published in University of Cambridge Clinical School newsletter on 11/04/2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/946943 |
| Description | Press release - One in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome (CL/MP/MK) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release University of Cambridge 'One in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome, putting them at higher risk of several common diseases' for paper Zhao, Y. et al. Detection and characterisation of male sex chromosome abnormalities in the UK Biobank study. Genetics in Medicine; 9 Jun 2022. News post published on Unit website https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/2022/06/10/one-in-500-men-extra-sex-chromosome-risk-diseases/ and paper shared on nit twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Ken Ong interviewed by Ian Sample in the Guardian and quoted in article https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/10/men-extra-sex-chromosome-research-uk-health-issues. Press release was republished by more than 60 online health and science news outlets, including MedicalXpress https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-men-extra-sex-chromosome-higher.html and Technology Neetworks https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/1-in-500-men-may-carry-extra-sex-chromosome-362533 . Unit blog post had 356 unique views in period 10/06/2022 - 15/08/2022. Tweeted by 60 Twitter users by 15/08/2022. https://www.altmetric.com/details/129496453 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/one-in-500-men-carry-extra-sex-chromosome-putting-them-at-higher... |
| Description | Press release - Why some people suffer more from COVID-19 than others (NW/CL/MP) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release by (BIH) "Why some people suffer more from COVID-19 than others" for Nature Communications paper "ELF5 is a potential respiratory epithelial cell-specific risk gene for severe COVID-19". Accompanied by MRC Epidemiology Unit research news blog post "Proteogenomic analysis explains why some people suffer more from COVID-19 than others". Tweeted short thread on Unit twitter account, and retweeted Omicscience twitter thread https://twitter.com/omicscience/status/1559142474647470082 and BIH tweets. Maik Pietzner interviewed by DW (Germany) on 13/10/2022 https://www.dw.com/en/do-genes-determine-the-progression-of-covid-infections/av-63429379. Reported in MedicalXpress https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-people-covid-.html, Deutsches Ärzteblatt https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/136689/COVID-19-Weiteres-Risikogen-fuer-schwere-Verlaeufe-gefunden, Infosalus https://www.infosalus.com/salud-investigacion/noticia-genetica-explica-algunas-personas-padecen-covid-19-mas-grave-otras-20220818174222.html and idw - Informationdienst Wissenschaft https://idw-online.de/de/news799749 and at least 8 other specialist online news outlets. Unit research blog post had 71 unique views in period 14/08/22-18/08/22. Altmetric: https://www.altmetric.com/details/134092332/twitter |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bihealth.org/en/notices/why-some-people-suffer-more-from-covid-19-than-others |
| Description | Press releases - Genetic architecture of host proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press releases issued by Unit and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité University Medicine for Nature Communications paper "Genetic architecture of host proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection". Press release published on Unit research news, and paper shared on Unit Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Reported in at least 16 international science news outlets, including https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201216104636.htm. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/consortium-platform-covid-19-drugs/ |
| Description | REF2021 Sub-panel 2 (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the REF2021 Sub-panel 2: Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ref.ac.uk/media/1767/main-panel-a-full-membership-list-june-2021.pdf |
| Description | Science Media Centre - Living with Covid (RA) |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Raghib Ali provided an expert reaction to the Government's Living with COVID plan to the Science Media Centre. As a result, he was interviewed by the BBC, and quoted in report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60471607. He was also interviewed on 22/02/2022 by Associated Press on reinfections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-forthcoming-living-with-covid-plan-to-be-set-o... |
| Description | This Cambridge Life - The "zero-chance" doctor who now advises government (RA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Raghib Ali was profiled on the University of Cambridge's website as part of their feature 'This Cambridge Life'. The article he wrote was titled 'The "zero-chance" doctor who now advises government'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.cam.ac.uk/this-cambridge-life/the-zero-chance-doctor-who-now-advises-government |
| Description | Twitter video interview with @UKinGermany (CL) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Claudia Langenberg was interviewed via Twitter video by @UKinGermany - the Twitter account of the UK embassy in Germany - for International Day of Women and Girls in Science on why she became a scientist and what her daughter thinks is the biggest challenge for women in science. Retweeted on Unit and Cedar twitter accounts, and shared on Unit Facebook account. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/UKinGermany/status/1359893877445062656?s=20 |
| Description | UCL Press release - Estimating excess 1- year mortality from COVID-19 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | UCL press release for paper Lancet paper "Estimating excess 1-year mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic according to underlying conditions and age: a population-based cohort study" https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30854-0 and online COVID-19 risk calculator http://covid19-phenomics.org/PrototypeOurRiskCoV.html . Promoted on Unit Social media channels. Submitted article to University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine Newsletter. The paper and COVID-19 risk calculator were reported by Guardian, Sun, Mirror, Independent, Metro, Evening Standard, Daily Star, Bloomberg Business, BNN Bloomberg and several other national and local news outlets. Link to Lancet paper tweeted >600 times in first 24 hours after publication. Article in Clinical School Newsletter on 02 June 2020. Altmetric score of 937 on 11/01/2021. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/12/millions-with-health-conditions-at-risk-from-covid-19-... |
| Description | UKRI Future Leaders Panel Membership (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nick Wareham is a member of the UKRI Future Leaders Panel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FLF-200721-Round5SiftPanelMembership.pdf |
| Description | University of Cambridge - Desk-based jobs may offer protection against poor cognition in later life |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | University of Cambridge Press Release "Desk-based jobs may offer protection against poor cognition in later life" for International Journal of Epidemiology paper "Cross-sectional and prospective relationship between occupational and leisure time inactivity and cognitive function in an ageing population. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) Study." . Posted on University of Cambridge research news blog . Shared on MRC Epidemiology Unit Twitter account. More than thirty articles in online news outlets including the Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8515951/Working-offices-GOOD-mind-New-research-finds-desk-jobs-people-mentally-sharp.html, New Kerala and MedicalXpress. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/desk-based-jobs-may-offer-protection-against-poor-cognition-in-l... |
| Description | University of Cambridge - Moderate exercise in middle and older age cuts time spent in hospital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | University of Cambridge Press Release "Moderate exercise in middle and older age cuts time spent in hospital" for EPIC-Norfolk paper "Usual physical activity and subsequent hospital usage over 20 years in a general population: the EPIC-Norfolk cohort" in BMC Geriatrics. Posted news item on Unit website on 07/05/2020, and posted links on Unit twitter and Facebook accounts. Reported in more than a dozen online news outlets, including Yahoo News, MedicalXpress, Pourquoi Docteur, New Kerela.com, Med India, edexlive, PsychCentral.com and Infosurhoy. Tweeted by 35 twitter accounts. Article in Uni of Cam School of Clinical Medicine Newsletter on 18/05/2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://news.yahoo.com/exercising-older-could-reduce-amount-time-spent-hospital-151601169.html |
| Description | epigram 2021 - MRC Epidemiology Unit newsletter (NW) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Unit Newsletter epigram published https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/2021/10/27/epigram-2021-out-now/ Shared through Unit and CEDAR social media channels, and emailed to more than 200 people who had subscribet to the epigram email list. Link to epigram also included in email newsletter sent to all Fenland Study participants. 182 unique views of epigram newsletter on the Unit website by 07 Dec 2021. Subscriptions to the MRC Epidemiology Unit epigram email list increased following publication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/news/epigram-unit-newsletter/epigram-2021/ |