Determining major risk factors for non-communicable diseases in ethnically diverse cohorts

external supervisor

Professor Emanuele DiAngelantonio, University of Cambridge

background

Population cohorts have characterised major causes of premature death from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but the precise impact of these factors can vary greatly across populations. A major challenge in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is for cohorts to achieve longitudinal follow-up of new-onset disease outcomes, which usually requires both passive (eg, electronic health records) and active methods including the use of verbal autopsy (VA) to determine causes of death.

The objectives of this DPhil project will be to:

1. Develop systems to use EHRs and active validation to improve outcome ascertainment;
2. Streamline ascertainment of cause of death in two cohorts in India and Bangladesh;
3. Assess the age- and sex-specific relevance of major risk factors for NCDs in these understudied populations.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH METHODS AND TRAINING

This project will use data from two large prospective studies: the Indian Study of Healthy Ageing (ISHA) and the BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular Events (BELIEVE) study. It will provide unique opportunity for novel insights into disease risks and aetiology to inform global non-communicable disease control and prevention efforts.

Support and training for specific research methods and statistical analyses will be provided within the department and by HDRUK.

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 Bangladesh, and will be expected to travel there for fieldwork. 

PROSPECTIVE  STUDENT

The project will suit someone with an interest in global health, in particular NCDs, with strong quantitative skills and postgraduate level training in epidemiology.