Systematic Investigation of socioeconomic inequalities in cancer

Background

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has described cancer as a “disease of difference,” with disparities evident at both the molecular and societal levels. Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer are well documented within and between countries and remain a major public health concern. Despite the extensive literature in this area, systematic investigations into the mechanisms underlying the association between socioeconomic status and cancer—and how these mechanisms may vary across the cancer continuum—are still limited. Understanding the determinants of inequalities in cancer is crucial for informing effective public health policy and interventions. This project will utilise data from the UK Biobank, a prospective cohort study of 0.5 million adults in the UK, to investigate different approaches to measuring socioeconomic inequalities in cancer, including the interaction and interrelation of these approaches. It will also examine potential environmental and biological determinants that may underlie the effects of socioeconomic status on cancer outcomes. In addition, the project offers the opportunity to explore linkages between UK Biobank and national datasets on households, neighbourhoods, housing, economic factors, and occupation. There is also scope to tailor the project to the student’s interests and background, including engagement in international collaborations.

research experience, research methods and skills training

This project will provide the successful applicant with excellent training in large-scale epidemiology and the statistical analysis of prospective data. It will provide opportunities to network with other researchers. The student will receive training in conducting literature reviews and writing academic papers for peer-reviewed journals, and will work closely with a strong

interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in epidemiological study design, biomarker and molecular epidemiology, statistics and clinical medicine.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in epidemiology or statistics and will be expected to have knowledge and experience in epidemiological study design and related concepts and be adept in statistical analysis. The student will analyse the data using UK Biobank’s Research Analysis Platform and will be using R-studio as the main statistical package.