Leading human health forward
Oxford Population Health is a global pioneer and leader in population health science. We lead human health forward by identifying the most important questions, developing innovative ways to answer them, and making sure that the answers improve lives. By working collaboratively across disciplines and with diverse partners, our research improves health for generations to come, building a healthier and more equitable future for everyone.
World’s largest study of women’s health marks 30 years of pioneering research
1 May 2026
Thirty years after its launch, the Million Women Study continues to shape evidence on HRT, cancer, ageing, and women’s health.
“Switching off” the ovaries reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence by one-fifth in younger women
1 May 2026
Study shows suppressing ovarian function can significantly lower breast cancer recurrence risk in younger women already taking tamoxifen.
RECOVERY trial hailed as one of the two success stories of the COVID-19 pandemic
16 April 2026
The Chair of the COVID-19 Inquiry has described the RECOVERY trial’s identification of the drug dexamethasone as ‘one of the two success stories of the pandemic’.
What have 30 years of tracking a million women taught us about women’s health?
Big Question
Over 1.3 million UK women were recruited to explore how lifestyle, hormones, and ageing impact health. What have 30 years of research uncovered about cancer and beyond?
Research Topics
Aspirin and other anti-platelet drugs
We brought together all trials of antiplatelet drugs to show how treatments like aspirin reduce major vascular risks and to provide clinicians with reliable evidence.
Dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases
Our research focuses on the role of vascular risk factors in dementia and on the methodology of assessing cognitive status in very large-scale studies.
Diet, nutrition and obesity
We investigate how obesity, diet, and nutrition affect health and healthcare systems, and have investigated population-level interventions to promote healthier eating.
Study with us
We offer training and career development opportunities for population health scientists and medical students. Our programmes equip students with the knowledge and skills to tackle complex health challenges and improve health outcomes worldwide.
MSc Courses
Our MSc courses emphasise capacity building, equipping students with the skills to address global health challenges.
DPhils
Our research improves health for generations to come, offering students opportunities to work with world-leading researchers.
Short Courses
We offer short courses to build practical skills in epidemiology, statistics, health economics, and research methods – for real-world impact.
Applied Methods of Cost‑effectiveness Analysis
Death in old age is inevitable, but death before old age is not.
Sir Richard Doll CH OBE FRS (1912 - 2005)
