MRC Biostatistics Unit
@mrc-bsu.bsky.social
We develop, apply and promote innovative statistical and data science approaches to advance biomedical science and human health.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science πͺπ
We are proud to have many outstanding women working at the BSU and this graphic represents just some of them.
#WomenInSTEM #WomenInScience #WomenInStatistics #EveryVoiceInScience
We are proud to have many outstanding women working at the BSU and this graphic represents just some of them.
#WomenInSTEM #WomenInScience #WomenInStatistics #EveryVoiceInScience
February 11, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science πͺπ
We are proud to have many outstanding women working at the BSU and this graphic represents just some of them.
#WomenInSTEM #WomenInScience #WomenInStatistics #EveryVoiceInScience
We are proud to have many outstanding women working at the BSU and this graphic represents just some of them.
#WomenInSTEM #WomenInScience #WomenInStatistics #EveryVoiceInScience
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
Join our hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar 'Leveraging External Data for Testing Experimental Therapies with Biomarker Interactions in Randomized Clinical Trials' with Professor Lorenzo Trippa @hsph.harvard.edu & @danafarber.bsky.social
π Friday 27 February, 1 PM
Info & registration buff.ly/xoDhItz
π Friday 27 February, 1 PM
Info & registration buff.ly/xoDhItz
February 4, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Join our hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar 'Leveraging External Data for Testing Experimental Therapies with Biomarker Interactions in Randomized Clinical Trials' with Professor Lorenzo Trippa @hsph.harvard.edu & @danafarber.bsky.social
π Friday 27 February, 1 PM
Info & registration buff.ly/xoDhItz
π Friday 27 February, 1 PM
Info & registration buff.ly/xoDhItz
Exciting news! β¨ We will be hosting MASAMB 2026.
Save the dates: 7 - 8 September, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
More info, including how to submit an abstract, will be coming soon π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/events
#MASAMB2026
Save the dates: 7 - 8 September, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
More info, including how to submit an abstract, will be coming soon π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/events
#MASAMB2026
January 28, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Exciting news! β¨ We will be hosting MASAMB 2026.
Save the dates: 7 - 8 September, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
More info, including how to submit an abstract, will be coming soon π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/events
#MASAMB2026
Save the dates: 7 - 8 September, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
More info, including how to submit an abstract, will be coming soon π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/events
#MASAMB2026
Medicines360 has acquired global licensing rights to innovative pregnancy-risk tools developed by researchers from @cam.ac.uk & Uni Edinburgh.
Paul Kirk is Co-Principal Investigator in the Cambridge team of researchers behind the novel blood-based biomarkers.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/medicin...
Paul Kirk is Co-Principal Investigator in the Cambridge team of researchers behind the novel blood-based biomarkers.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/medicin...
January 22, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Medicines360 has acquired global licensing rights to innovative pregnancy-risk tools developed by researchers from @cam.ac.uk & Uni Edinburgh.
Paul Kirk is Co-Principal Investigator in the Cambridge team of researchers behind the novel blood-based biomarkers.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/medicin...
Paul Kirk is Co-Principal Investigator in the Cambridge team of researchers behind the novel blood-based biomarkers.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/medicin...
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
New paper: "Extending the Use of Mendelian Randomisation With Non-Inherited Variants to Assess Socially Transmitted Parental Exposures Under Assortative Mating" published at Genetic Epidemiology and led by Benji Woolf: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/.... Brief thread:
January 21, 2026 at 12:23 PM
New paper: "Extending the Use of Mendelian Randomisation With Non-Inherited Variants to Assess Socially Transmitted Parental Exposures Under Assortative Mating" published at Genetic Epidemiology and led by Benji Woolf: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/.... Brief thread:
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
MPhil PHS job opportunity: Education Operations Manager
Full details at www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/educati... @dphpc.bsky.social @mrcepid.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social
Full details at www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/educati... @dphpc.bsky.social @mrcepid.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social
Education Operational Manager (Fixed Term)
The Department of Public Health and Primary Care in Cambridge is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual to provide operational leadership and management of the MPhil in Population Health
www.cam.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
MPhil PHS job opportunity: Education Operations Manager
Full details at www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/educati... @dphpc.bsky.social @mrcepid.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social
Full details at www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/educati... @dphpc.bsky.social @mrcepid.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
Our first Bradford Hill Seminar of 2026 will be in-person with Professor Clare Turnbull of the Institute of Cancer Research to discuss expanding testing of cancer susceptibility genes from the clinic to the population.
π Wed 14 Jan, 1 PM (UK)
Register: buff.ly/hZtYEKZ
@phgfoundation.bsky.social
π Wed 14 Jan, 1 PM (UK)
Register: buff.ly/hZtYEKZ
@phgfoundation.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Our first Bradford Hill Seminar of 2026 will be in-person with Professor Clare Turnbull of the Institute of Cancer Research to discuss expanding testing of cancer susceptibility genes from the clinic to the population.
π Wed 14 Jan, 1 PM (UK)
Register: buff.ly/hZtYEKZ
@phgfoundation.bsky.social
π Wed 14 Jan, 1 PM (UK)
Register: buff.ly/hZtYEKZ
@phgfoundation.bsky.social
Genetic evidence suggests that alcoholβs effect is limited to certain cancer types.
New research published in BMC Medicine, led by Stephen Burgess, Susanna Larsson and Siddhartha Kar.
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/genetic...
Read full paper π
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
New research published in BMC Medicine, led by Stephen Burgess, Susanna Larsson and Siddhartha Kar.
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/genetic...
Read full paper π
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Genetic evidence suggests that alcoholβs effect is limited to certain cancer types | MRC Biostatistics Unit
Research published in the journal BMC Medicine demonstrates a link between greater alcohol consumption and higher risk of some cancer types.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk
December 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Genetic evidence suggests that alcoholβs effect is limited to certain cancer types.
New research published in BMC Medicine, led by Stephen Burgess, Susanna Larsson and Siddhartha Kar.
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/genetic...
Read full paper π
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
New research published in BMC Medicine, led by Stephen Burgess, Susanna Larsson and Siddhartha Kar.
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/genetic...
Read full paper π
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
New paper: "Alcohol consumption and risk of cancer: a Mendelian randomization analysis of four biobanks and consortium data" out at BMC Medicine: link.springer.com/article/10.1.... Lots of interesting findings! Brief thread:
Alcohol consumption and risk of cancer: a Mendelian randomization analysis of four biobanks and consortium data - BMC Medicine
Background Alcohol consumption has been linked to cancer risk. Evidence is strongest for seven cancer types: breast, colorectum, oesophagus, liver, mouth, pharynx, and larynx. However, evidence suppor...
link.springer.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:55 AM
New paper: "Alcohol consumption and risk of cancer: a Mendelian randomization analysis of four biobanks and consortium data" out at BMC Medicine: link.springer.com/article/10.1.... Lots of interesting findings! Brief thread:
Libby Daniells from the BSU and colleagues have developed a new technique to improve the reliability of #ClinicalTrials.
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/incorpo...
Paper in Biostatistics π
academic.oup.com/biostatistic...
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/incorpo...
Paper in Biostatistics π
academic.oup.com/biostatistic...
December 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Libby Daniells from the BSU and colleagues have developed a new technique to improve the reliability of #ClinicalTrials.
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/incorpo...
Paper in Biostatistics π
academic.oup.com/biostatistic...
Read more π
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/incorpo...
Paper in Biostatistics π
academic.oup.com/biostatistic...
BSU PhD student, Jackie Rao, is at the Machine Learning for Health Symposium in San Diego, organised by the Association for Health Learning and Inference.
Yesterday, Jackie presented a poster about her work on Federate Variational Inference for Bayesian Mixture Models. Congrats to Jackie π€©π
Yesterday, Jackie presented a poster about her work on Federate Variational Inference for Bayesian Mixture Models. Congrats to Jackie π€©π
December 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
BSU PhD student, Jackie Rao, is at the Machine Learning for Health Symposium in San Diego, organised by the Association for Health Learning and Inference.
Yesterday, Jackie presented a poster about her work on Federate Variational Inference for Bayesian Mixture Models. Congrats to Jackie π€©π
Yesterday, Jackie presented a poster about her work on Federate Variational Inference for Bayesian Mixture Models. Congrats to Jackie π€©π
In a letter published in European Respiratory Society, Benjamin Woolf, Stephen Burgess and colleagues, demonstrate that medical record codes are an unreliable source of information for defining Pulmonary Hypertension cases.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/address...
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/address...
Addressing use of medical record data to define Pulmonary Hypertension cases | MRC Biostatistics Unit
Largescale population-based biobanks with medical record data are becoming increasingly popular as a data source for studying very rare conditions, like Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), a condit...
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
In a letter published in European Respiratory Society, Benjamin Woolf, Stephen Burgess and colleagues, demonstrate that medical record codes are an unreliable source of information for defining Pulmonary Hypertension cases.
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/address...
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/address...
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
New pre-print "Mendelian randomization in a multi-ancestry world: reflections and practical advice" led by @amymariemason.bsky.social on - arxiv.org/abs/2510.17554
Mendelian randomization in a multi-ancestry world: reflections and practical advice
Many Mendelian randomization (MR) papers have been conducted only in people of European ancestry, limiting transportability of results to the global population. Expanding MR to diverse ancestry groups...
arxiv.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
New pre-print "Mendelian randomization in a multi-ancestry world: reflections and practical advice" led by @amymariemason.bsky.social on - arxiv.org/abs/2510.17554
Another fantastic Armitage Workshop!
This year, it was on the theme of integration of data from multiple domains, with fantastic talks and discussions.
Thanks to all our speakers and to all those who attended.
This year, it was on the theme of integration of data from multiple domains, with fantastic talks and discussions.
Thanks to all our speakers and to all those who attended.
October 24, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Another fantastic Armitage Workshop!
This year, it was on the theme of integration of data from multiple domains, with fantastic talks and discussions.
Thanks to all our speakers and to all those who attended.
This year, it was on the theme of integration of data from multiple domains, with fantastic talks and discussions.
Thanks to all our speakers and to all those who attended.
Happy #WorldStatisticsDay2025! π
At the BSU, you can find a fantastic group of passionate people driven to improve the way we look at scientific problems and design methods to help us understand the deluge of data we are surrounded by.
At the BSU, you can find a fantastic group of passionate people driven to improve the way we look at scientific problems and design methods to help us understand the deluge of data we are surrounded by.
October 20, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Happy #WorldStatisticsDay2025! π
At the BSU, you can find a fantastic group of passionate people driven to improve the way we look at scientific problems and design methods to help us understand the deluge of data we are surrounded by.
At the BSU, you can find a fantastic group of passionate people driven to improve the way we look at scientific problems and design methods to help us understand the deluge of data we are surrounded by.
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
I'm very excited to be attending my first #ASHG25 this week! Come find me at poster board 1090F to talk about flexible and efficient eQTL mapping with quasar!
October 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I'm very excited to be attending my first #ASHG25 this week! Come find me at poster board 1090F to talk about flexible and efficient eQTL mapping with quasar!
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
π£Preprint alert - a tricky one, as there are no significant results (and we all know null-results are hard to publish)
Do PCSK9 levels affect survival in breast cancer patients?
We tried to replicate findings in cell lines and mouse model using 3 Mendelian Randomization approaches, but failed.
Do PCSK9 levels affect survival in breast cancer patients?
We tried to replicate findings in cell lines and mouse model using 3 Mendelian Randomization approaches, but failed.
PCSK9 and breast cancer survival: a Mendelian Randomization study https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.03.25337270v1
October 6, 2025 at 4:50 PM
π£Preprint alert - a tricky one, as there are no significant results (and we all know null-results are hard to publish)
Do PCSK9 levels affect survival in breast cancer patients?
We tried to replicate findings in cell lines and mouse model using 3 Mendelian Randomization approaches, but failed.
Do PCSK9 levels affect survival in breast cancer patients?
We tried to replicate findings in cell lines and mouse model using 3 Mendelian Randomization approaches, but failed.
Our Director John Whittaker took part in a short video interview discussing; what motivated him to work in biostatistics, why he enjoys being Director, and his thoughts on the future of #Biostatistics.
Watch here π
youtu.be/o3ArK999wgE
Watch here π
youtu.be/o3ArK999wgE
Meet our researchers: Interview with John Whittaker
YouTube video by MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Our Director John Whittaker took part in a short video interview discussing; what motivated him to work in biostatistics, why he enjoys being Director, and his thoughts on the future of #Biostatistics.
Watch here π
youtu.be/o3ArK999wgE
Watch here π
youtu.be/o3ArK999wgE
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
Full recording of the PSI webinar by myself and @jack_bowdenjack on instrumental variable methods is available online: psiweb.org/vod/item/efs...
PSI
The community dedicated to leading and promoting the use of statistics within the healthcare industry for the benefit of patients.
psiweb.org
October 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Full recording of the PSI webinar by myself and @jack_bowdenjack on instrumental variable methods is available online: psiweb.org/vod/item/efs...
There are 2 weeks left to register for our annual flagship event - 22nd Armitage Workshop and Lecture.
The theme this year is integration of data from multiple domains, with a brilliant programme of talks.
23 Oct, Cambridge and online
onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...
The theme this year is integration of data from multiple domains, with a brilliant programme of talks.
23 Oct, Cambridge and online
onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...
October 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
There are 2 weeks left to register for our annual flagship event - 22nd Armitage Workshop and Lecture.
The theme this year is integration of data from multiple domains, with a brilliant programme of talks.
23 Oct, Cambridge and online
onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...
The theme this year is integration of data from multiple domains, with a brilliant programme of talks.
23 Oct, Cambridge and online
onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
π§ Any level of alcohol consumption increases risk of dementia
This study, led by Oxford Population Health, @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social, @mrc-bsu.bsky.social and @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social shows even low levels of drinking may increase risk of dementia.
Learn more β‘οΈ
This study, led by Oxford Population Health, @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social, @mrc-bsu.bsky.social and @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social shows even low levels of drinking may increase risk of dementia.
Learn more β‘οΈ
Any level of alcohol consumption increases risk of dementia
Study finds any alcohol intake may increase dementia risk, challenging assumptions about moderate drinking and highlighting no safe level for brain health.
buff.ly
September 24, 2025 at 8:32 AM
π§ Any level of alcohol consumption increases risk of dementia
This study, led by Oxford Population Health, @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social, @mrc-bsu.bsky.social and @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social shows even low levels of drinking may increase risk of dementia.
Learn more β‘οΈ
This study, led by Oxford Population Health, @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social, @mrc-bsu.bsky.social and @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social shows even low levels of drinking may increase risk of dementia.
Learn more β‘οΈ
Happy #PostdocAppreciationWeek πππ€©
Programme Leaders, Sofia Villar and Paul Kirk, endorse just how brilliant our BSU postdocs are and how they add significant value to our research portfolio and working environment.
Thank you to each and every one of you π
Programme Leaders, Sofia Villar and Paul Kirk, endorse just how brilliant our BSU postdocs are and how they add significant value to our research portfolio and working environment.
Thank you to each and every one of you π
September 19, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Happy #PostdocAppreciationWeek πππ€©
Programme Leaders, Sofia Villar and Paul Kirk, endorse just how brilliant our BSU postdocs are and how they add significant value to our research portfolio and working environment.
Thank you to each and every one of you π
Programme Leaders, Sofia Villar and Paul Kirk, endorse just how brilliant our BSU postdocs are and how they add significant value to our research portfolio and working environment.
Thank you to each and every one of you π
Reposted by MRC Biostatistics Unit
At our next hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar, @dannydorling.bsky.social of the University of Oxford will discuss:
The politics of epidemiology and public health in the UK
π Wed 15 October, 1 PM (UK)
Register at buff.ly/wblZfOx
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
The politics of epidemiology and public health in the UK
π Wed 15 October, 1 PM (UK)
Register at buff.ly/wblZfOx
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
At our next hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar, @dannydorling.bsky.social of the University of Oxford will discuss:
The politics of epidemiology and public health in the UK
π Wed 15 October, 1 PM (UK)
Register at buff.ly/wblZfOx
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
The politics of epidemiology and public health in the UK
π Wed 15 October, 1 PM (UK)
Register at buff.ly/wblZfOx
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
A few weeks ago, we filmed a lovely short interview with Research Associate, Rajenki Das π€©
Rajenki gives a summary of her current research and discusses what she enjoys about working at the BSU, as well as what she likes to do outside of work.
Watch the video at π
youtu.be/NzQl4KXkgwo
Rajenki gives a summary of her current research and discusses what she enjoys about working at the BSU, as well as what she likes to do outside of work.
Watch the video at π
youtu.be/NzQl4KXkgwo
Meet our researchers: Interview with Rajenki Das
YouTube video by MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge
youtu.be
September 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
A few weeks ago, we filmed a lovely short interview with Research Associate, Rajenki Das π€©
Rajenki gives a summary of her current research and discusses what she enjoys about working at the BSU, as well as what she likes to do outside of work.
Watch the video at π
youtu.be/NzQl4KXkgwo
Rajenki gives a summary of her current research and discusses what she enjoys about working at the BSU, as well as what she likes to do outside of work.
Watch the video at π
youtu.be/NzQl4KXkgwo