Cardiometabolic and kidney diseases in South Asians

background

Due to the rise in conditions such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, the number of people affected by kidney disease has been increasing globally, with particularly high rates of mortality in the developing world. However, there is limited longitudinal epidemiological data on the causes and consequences of cardiometabolic and kidney diseases among individuals of South Asian ancestry, and how these may vary between South Asian ancestry in high and low-middle income countries.

This DPhil project will use data from two large prospective cohort studies: the Indian Study of Healthy Ageing (ISHA) and the UK Biobank. The objectives will be to:

1. Analyse biomarkers of cardio-kidney-metabolic disease to determine disease prevalence and associations with diseases in ISHA.
2. Assess differences in biomarkers between individuals of South Asian ancestry living in ISHA compared with those in the UK Biobank.
3. Examine genetic determinants and risk factors of cardio metabolic and kidney diseases using genetic data from South Asians in the UK Biobank and other biomarker data (e.g. proteomics and metabolomics data).

Using data from individuals of South Asian ancestry living in India (ISHA) in combination with data from individuals of South Asian ancestry living in the UK (UK Biobank), provides a unique opportunity for comparisons between South Asians in different geographical locations, and for novel insights into disease risks and aetiology to inform global non-communicable disease control and prevention efforts.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH METHODS AND TRAINING

The student will be expected to undertake a comprehensive and systematic review and conduct epidemiological analyses using appropriate statistical methods. Support and training for specific research methods and statistical analyses will be provided within the department and on external training courses.

The student will be expected to present the results in internal meetings, as well as at national and international conferences, and to write papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.  

FIELD WORK, SECONDMENTS, INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS AND TRAINING

The student will be working collaboratively with researchers from India and be expected to travel for fieldwork.

PROSPECTIVE  STUDENT

The project will suit someone with an interest in the epidemiology of cardiometabolic and kidney diseases with strong quantitative skills and postgraduate level training in statistics and epidemiology. Experience in the analysis of genetic data would be helpful, but training will be provided, if necessary.