MRC Epidemiology Unit
banner
mrcepid.bsky.social
MRC Epidemiology Unit
@mrcepid.bsky.social
Studying the genetic, developmental & environmental determinants of obesity, type 2 diabetes & related metabolic disorders. Contributing to their prevention.
Pinned
Issue 4 of the 2025 epigram newsletter is out now.

Find out about …

Which cooked potatoes are better for you
A research collaboration discovering how urban environments can support health
And the work of the Global Diet and Activity Research Network

... and more!

Read - buff.ly/3ts21tH
By 2050 approx. 1.27 billion people will have type 2 diabetes.

This week researchers from @mrcepid.bsky.social & @ims-mrl.bsky.social (@cam.ac.uk) discuss their research.

Dr Ana Luiza Arruda, a Research Associate, talks about the multiple morbidities of diabetes in this podcast - buff.ly/ZGB46Go
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
On 10 November Unit researchers Unit took part in the Postdocs of Cambridge Society (PdOC) Research Showcase 2025.

Dr Cara Ruggiero gave a flash talk 'The cost-of-living crisis and infant feeding during the first 1000 days: Qualitative insights from parents and healthcare professionals'

🧵 (1/3)
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The Mandala Consortium is evaluating the environmental & social impact of Active Wellbeing Society, which set up a Surplus Food Hub in Birmingham ensuring the redistribution of food to community orgs that support people experiencing food insecurity

Read our blog & watch the video - buff.ly/kNyyYej
November 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Mendelian Randomization using UK Biobank data indicates that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may causally affect lipid metabolism.

Raina Jia et al. propose understanding tissue-specific pathways of BCAA induced lipid dysregulation could inform their use as clinical targets.

buff.ly/4CaaJWq
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Join our rescheduled online Bradford Hill Seminar with @alucassen.bsky.social, discussing:

Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine

📅 Wed 26 November, 1 PM (UK)

Register buff.ly/U06QZ9N

@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The Mandala Consortium is evaluating the environmental and social impact of the Active Wellbeing Society that set up a Surplus Food Hub in Birmingham to ensure the food is redistributed to community organisations supporting people experiencing food insecurity

Full video out next week!
November 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
(1/2)

This webinar focuses on the Intake24 automated dietary recall tool, and highlighted the programme of updates to enable easier customisation for research projects and surveys.

The tool is currently used in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Watch - buff.ly/sml783P
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
(1/3)

The expansion of free school meals to all children would bring significant economic and social benefits, as well as tackling food insecurity, according to researchers from the University of Birmingham.

Watch the full video - buff.ly/SGakepq
November 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The FRESH study finds that for both parents and children, parent–child coparticipation in physical activity coparticipation was positively associated with daily total physical activity, accounting for more than 10% of the total.

Read the Human Kinetics Journal paper: buff.ly/TorVtwe

🧵 (1/3)
October 31, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Looking for reliable, high-quality biological sample processing and storage services?

The MRC Epidemiology Unit BioRepository has a dedicated team & state-of-the-art facilities at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Research Park.

📨 For a quote: BioRepManager@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk

buff.ly/59J0cNp
October 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
In context of climate crisis & environmental limits, a new review by James Woodcock et al. identifies key gaps and proposes a forward-looking research agenda in quantitative health impact assessment (HIA) of environmental exposures linked to urban transport and land use in Europe.

buff.ly/s7IDjYC
October 30, 2025 at 9:43 AM
(1/2)

The Mandala Consortium is conducting a range of research projects across Birmingham to investigate how the food system is changing

Research has found that the expansion of free school meals to all children would bring significant economic & social benefits as well as tackling food insecurity
October 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Unfortunately the seminar has been postponed.

We'll let you know as soon as the event is rescheduled.
Join our next online Bradford Hill Seminar with @alucassen.bsky.social, who will discuss:

Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine

📅 Wed 29 October, 1 PM (UK)

Register - buff.ly/R9EBFCr

@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Join our next online Bradford Hill Seminar with @alucassen.bsky.social, who will discuss:

Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine

📅 Wed 29 October, 1 PM (UK)

Register - buff.ly/R9EBFCr

@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
(1/2)

This webinar focuses on the Intake24 automated dietary recall tool, and highlighted the programme of updates to enable easier customisation for research projects and surveys.

The tool is currently used in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Watch - buff.ly/sml783P
October 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
"We call on the international research community to embrace the opportunities that the ubiquity of device-based physical activity assessments brings and to play their role in preparing our children and young people for their digital future".

🧵 (1/2)
October 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Join our next online Bradford Hill Seminar with @alucassen.bsky.social, who will discuss:

Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine

📅 Wed 29 October, 1 PM (UK)

Register - buff.ly/R9EBFCr

@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
@GDARnetwork researchers have contributed to a new book on Urban Health in Africa.

The book assembles a diverse group of scholars to explore the critical impacts of rapid urbanisation on the health & prosperity of Africans.

Find out more about the book - buff.ly/LiGwO6N
October 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Watch Professor Danny Dorling discussing the politics of epidemiology and public health in the UK

The lecture is part of the Bradford Hill seminar series is the principal series of The Cambridge Population Health Sciences Partnership, in collaboration with the PHG Foundation

Watch buff.ly/ptJIaF2
October 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
1/4

Marginalised populations in Global South cities face greater climate challenges & extreme weather

The study highlights risks from urbanisation, heavy rain, & non-communicable diseases, emphasising the importance of resources, education & training as intervention points

Read - buff.ly/wZz71w1
October 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Looking for reliable, high-quality biological sample processing and storage services?

The MRC Epidemiology Unit BioRepository has a dedicated team & state-of-the-art facilities at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Research Park.

📨 For a quote: BioRepManager@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk

buff.ly/59J0cNp
October 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Sign up for tomorrow's hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar with Professor Danny Dorling of @ox.ac.uk. He'll be discussing the politics of epidemiology & public health in the UK

📅 Wed 15 October, 1 PM (UK)

Register - buff.ly/wblZfOx

@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
On Saturday we were at the #BigBiologyDay at Hills Road Sixth Form College

It was a busy day for our teams from our Unit and @ims-mrl.bsky.social, who encouraged the young visitors to spin the Wheel of Fortune Telling Molecules, play “guess how much sugar”, and learn how much fibre gets you going!
October 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Join our teams from the @mrcepid.bsky.social and the @ims-mrl.bsky.social at the 12th annual #BigBiologyDay at Hills Road Sixth Form College on Saturday 11 October.

Opening the doors to the world of science!

Find out more - buff.ly/mzBCOMw
October 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission report warns that global food systems breach planetary limits.

@mrcepid.bsky.social 's Prof. Nita Forouhi was a Commissioner for the report.

Read our blog - buff.ly/VGBZEsN

Watch Nita discuss the report's findings - buff.ly/ZZsxA0J
October 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM