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Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU)

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The Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU) generates and disseminates reliable evidence from observational epidemiology and from randomised trials that leads to practicable methods of avoiding premature death and disability. 

 

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group leads

  • Rory Collins
    Rory Collins

    Head of Nuffield Department of Population Health and BHF Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology

  • Richard Peto
    Richard Peto

    Emeritus Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology

  • Colin Baigent
    Colin Baigent

    Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology

Related research themes

Despite improvements in survival in recent decades, cancer remains a major cause of death. The most common types of cancer in males are lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer, and in females, are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer.
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes all the diseases of the heart and circulation such as coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, congenital heart disease and stroke. Despite improvements in the prevention and treatment of CVD, it remains the leading cause of death worldwide particularly in developed countries.
Cardiovascular Disease
Blood lipids are a major cause of cardiovascular disease. It has been known for some time that higher levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with higher heart disease risk, but effective treatments to substantially lower LDL cholesterol have only become available in recent decades.
Cholesterol
The emergence of new digital technologies is allowing huge quantities of information on health exposures and outcomes to be captured, stored, and analysed using advanced statistical techniques. ‘Big data’ will provide new ways to conduct research and offers the potential of a dramatic increase in the scale and efficiency of clinical studies.
Big Data
Degenerative diseases of the brain and nervous system such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease, are common and serious health problems of middle and old age.
Dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases
Aspirin can block the aggregation of blood platelets and in the early 1980s several randomised trials assessed whether it might be able to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people at high risk of such an event. These trials were too small to provide a definitive answer, so we established the Anti-Platelet Trialists’ (APT) Collaboration to conduct a meta-analysis of all such trials.
Aspirin and other Anti-Platelet Drugs
More than half a million people worldwide have a kidney transplant and many more are waiting for one. People with kidney disease have a much higher risk of developing a number of diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease. In Diabetes Mellitus blood sugar levels are raised over a prolonged period. People with diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and damage to the eyes. Rates of type-2 diabetes have increased rapidly in recent decades due to changes in diet and other lifestyle factors.
Kidney Disease and Diabetes
Obesity is a major factor influencing the burden of disease globally. We investigate the impact of obesity on health and on the healthcare system across a range of diseases. Our research into diet and nutrition assesses the environmental determinants of dietary behaviour and models and evaluates population based interventions, such as food labelling and so-called junk food taxes, which aim to promote healthier eating.
Diet, Nutrition and Obesity
Infectious diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. Despite improvements in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, they remain a leading cause of death and disability in many countries. New infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, can spread rapidly with serious global consequences.
Infectious Diseases