The Unit

Field Epidemiology Team

The Field Epidemiology Team is responsible for guiding volunteers through their visit to a testing site. Each visit follows a series of questionnaires and tests which have to be carried out accurately and consistently. These tests include:

• clinical tests – blood sampling, electrocardiogram (electrical activity of the heart)
  
• anthropometric measurements – weight, height, hip and waist size
  
• body composition measurements – body fat and bone density
  
• physical activity measurements – heart rate, physical activity and energy expenditure. 

Further information on the stages of a volunteer visit can be found in the Studies and volunteers section.

The Field Epidemiology Team is a multi-skilled group of Research Nurses, Research Assistants and Clinical Research Assistants that work across our three testing sites in Cambridge, Ely and Wisbech. The team works closely with the Study Coordination Team, Anthropometry Team, Physical Activity Technical Team and Data Management Team. Together with these teams they ensure that all data collected from volunteers are fed back to the research scientists in the MRC Epidemiology Unit accurately, securely and fully referenced.

The Research Nurses in the MRC Epidemiology Unit are employed in partnership with Addenbrooke’s Hospital. They are jointly funded with the Diabetes Research Network, who provide an infrastructure to support clinical research into diabetes in the UK.