Centre: Epidemiology

Within CHS, Epidemiology forms a research centre divided into four sub-themes:

• Cardiovascular epidemiology: Prof Peter Whincup
• Respiratory & environmental epidemiology:  Prof Ross Anderson
• Life-course and genetic epidemiology: Prof David Strachan
• Primary care epidemiology: Prof Derek Cook

Epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of human diseases, is a major focus of research in the Department of Community Health Sciences. The strength of our epidemiological research portfolio was recognised by special mention in the 1996 and 2001 Research Assessment Exercises, and epidemiology continues to be a priority research theme within the School.

Major epidemiological research resources held within the department include:

• The British Regional Heart Study
• The Ten Towns Children’s Study
• The British 1958 Birth Cohort Biomedical Follow-up and DNA Collection
• The Doctors’ Independent Network database of primary care consultations
• The Department of Health Air Pollution Epidemiology Database
• The Lung & Asthma Information Agency databases of routine data relating to respiratory disease

Members of the Centre of Epidemiology also contribute to teaching and examining in population medicine and public health.