Infectious diseases and cancer

Background

Cancer is known to be associated to a higher risk of infections and of adverse outcomes of infection, due to impaired immune function related both to the cancer and its treatments. Less well established is how infectious disease epidemics alter these risks. During the COVID-19 pandemic individuals with cancer were more likely to be hospitalised if infected with SARS-CoV-2 and more likely to die, and were therefore prioritised for vaccination and other prevention strategies. The aims of this project are:

1. To explore how a pandemic may affect cancer outcomes, related to infection and more broadly;
2. To investigate the associations of cancer with risks of infectious diseases, using data from prospective cohort studies, as well as how risks differ by various patient characteristics and by cancer type.

research experience, research methods and skills training

The project will provide experience in handling and analysing large-scale data. Training in statistics, epidemiology and research methods will be available. It is anticipated that the project will lead to some publications. 

FIELD WORK, SECONDMENTS, INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS AND TRAINING

The student will be based at the Big Data Institute Building. There are excellent facilities and a world-class community of population health, data science, cancer epidemiology, and genomic medicine researchers. There will be training in epidemiology, statistics, and genetics and opportunities for collaboration with international consortia. 

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT

The ideal candidate will have a Masters degree in a relevant area (e.g. statistics/epidemiology/genetics) or a bachelor’s degree and some work experience.