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background

It is proposed that treatment could explain some associations between type 2 diabetes and cancer risks. There have been reports in the association between metformin and cancer risks, but confounding issues in this association remain to be addressed. The development of oral medications in the past 20 years also provides new opportunities to investigate the different pathways of these diabetes-associated risks in greater detail.

The candidate will

  • conduct a literature search on changes in diabetes treatment in the UK and internationally since the 2000s
  • conduct a systematic review on diabetes, its treatment, and associated cancer risks
  • explore patterns of diabetes medication prescribing in the UK using routinely collected primary care databases in the UK (Clinical Practice Research Datalink, CPRD) and the UK Biobank, linked to UK cancer registries
  • identify a potential pattern of metformin prescription that could suggest metformin intolerance
  • investigate the associations between diabetes medication and cancer risks in the CPRD and the UK Biobank. 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH METHODS AND TRAINING

The candidate is expected to gain knowledge and experience in diabetes, cancer epidemiology, use of large healthcare databases for research, and pattern recognition approaches. Publication of research findings is also expected.

FIELD WORK, SECONDMENTS, INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS AND TRAINING

In addition to tutorials, group discussion, and presentations in the highly inspiring research environment within the department, the candidate will receive in-house training on using CPRD and the UK Biobank for research, and will be able to access additional training inside and outside the University appropriate for the candidates’ own research and directly relevant ongoing career.

PROSPECTIVE  STUDENT

The candidate must show potential to understand the clinical context of the research question, show adequate flexibility to develop in-house, research question-driven methods for database handling, data analysis, and programming (STATA and R preferred). For example, the candidate would ideally have a Master's degree in epidemiology or a related  discipline that involves training in study design and statistics. Knowledge or experience of treatment of diabetes and primary care is also desirable.

Supervisors