MRC Epidemiology Unit
An international team led by researchers at the MRC Epidemiology Unit has used a cross-platform approach across several large human studies to identify hundreds of novel genetic variants that regulate […]
Consortium led by Unit researchers develops open platform to help discover COVID-19 drugs
An international consortium led by MRC researchers has developed an open access platform to help prioritise drug discovery and repurposing efforts for the current COVID-19 pandemic. The platform provides information on […]
MRC Epidemiology Unit launches study to monitor COVID-19 in 12,000 Cambridgeshire residents
Participants in Cambridgeshire’s Fenland Study are being invited to join an innovative study that will use a home-administered blood sampling device to find out how many have evidence in their […]
Gene variations that reduce ability to store fat around the hips linked to higher risk of diabetes and heart attacks
People who are less likely to put on excess fat around their hips due to their genes are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart attacks, according to […]
Incorporating active travel into long commutes is associated with reduced body fat
Encouraging more active travel (walking and cycling for transport) is one promising approach to prevent obesity and related diseases. In this study, published online in Preventive Medicine, we looked at […]
Type 2 Diabetes – would you risk it?
Does personalized genetic information help people adopt healthier behaviour? Giving people information about their individual risk of developing type 2 diabetes does not influence them to change their health-related behaviours, […]
Genetic differences in amino acid metabolism are linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes
A study published today in the journal PLOS Medicine has identified the five genetic variants associated with higher levels of the branched-chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine and valine. The researchers […]
Inability to safely store fat increases risk of diabetes and heart disease
A large-scale genetic study has provided strong evidence that the development of insulin resistance – a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart attacks and one of the key […]
Local takeaways create a double burden for obesity
Thomas Burgoine, University of Cambridge and Pablo Monsivais, University of Cambridge People in the UK are spending more than ever on takeaway food and there’s good reason to believe that […]
Neighbourhoods with more takeaways amplify social inequalities in unhealthy eating and obesity
People who live or work near to a greater number of takeaway outlets are more likely to eat more takeaway food and to be overweight, but new research indicates that […]