MRC Epidemiology UnitProgramme Leader – Dr James Woodcock
Objectives
This programme serves the following Unit Objectives as a main focus:
- To investigate the causes of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders (small part)
- To inform, develop and evaluate population-based approaches to improving health
- To develop new methods, resources and tools for epidemiological and public health research
- To investigate approaches to improving global health, particularly in low and middle income countries
It serves the following Unit Objectives as an element of the programme:
- To build capacity for conducting, understanding and using local, national, and international epidemiology and public health research
- To contribute to the translation of research evidence into policy and practice
Research
Modelling is the simulation of a partial representation of a system. It can help us answer questions that no single empirical study can answer.
Modelling enables us to estimate longer term and population wide health benefits, harms, and trade-offs of interventions, integrate evidence from different domains, test the potential for behaviour change through hypothetical ‘what if’ scenarios, and address issues of cost and cost-effectiveness. Modelling can also be used to investigate how health related practices might change in complex systems.
Modelling studies can be cheaper and quicker than real world studies and do not require the intervention to actually be implemented. They can therefore support getting the best value from intervention studies and natural experiments.
In public health modelling at the MRC Epidemiology Unit we combine evidence from many different primary studies plus insights from experts and other stakeholders. Simulation of models containing uncertainty can be used to indicate where the gaps in our knowledge are most critical for decision making.
We also work as part of GDAR network – www.gdarnet.org
Work with us
If you are interested in doing a summer project, short term collaboration, or longer term a PhD ora post-doctoral position with the group please get in touch.
We are particularly interested in applicants with the following skills/ to collaborate on the following topics:
- Computer vision applied to travel and traffic
- Health impact modelling
- Traffic injury simulation and analysis
- GIS and developing measures of the built enviornment
- Travel behaviours and data in lower and middle income countries
Group members
Other CEDAR regular collaborators
Current and recent visitors
Former members
- Dr Leandro Garcia
- Dr Rahul Goel
- Dr Rob Johnson (based at the MRC BioStatistics Unit with Dr Chris Jackson)
- Dr Marko Tainio
- Dr Philipp Giabbanelli
- Dr Arno Steinacher
Group Studies, Models, Tools, and Projects
Includes: