Luke Pilling
@lcpilling.bsky.social
PhD. Genetic epidemiologist
Researching mechanisms of chronic long-term conditions, ageing, and drugs @ University of Exeter, UK
❤Rstats. UCU rep✊. Views my own
He/him. 🏳️🌈ally. 🇬🇧🇪🇺
📷 ShowYourStripes.info
W: https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/19304-luke-pilling
Researching mechanisms of chronic long-term conditions, ageing, and drugs @ University of Exeter, UK
❤Rstats. UCU rep✊. Views my own
He/him. 🏳️🌈ally. 🇬🇧🇪🇺
📷 ShowYourStripes.info
W: https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/19304-luke-pilling
One of the biggest increases in my analysis/coding productivity in recent years is completely embracing git repos 🐧
Coupled with GitHub it is *so easy* to be open, reproducible, efficient, and accountable to myself and colleagues 👨💻
No more chaotic servers wondering which script led to what! 😵💫
Coupled with GitHub it is *so easy* to be open, reproducible, efficient, and accountable to myself and colleagues 👨💻
No more chaotic servers wondering which script led to what! 😵💫
October 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
One of the biggest increases in my analysis/coding productivity in recent years is completely embracing git repos 🐧
Coupled with GitHub it is *so easy* to be open, reproducible, efficient, and accountable to myself and colleagues 👨💻
No more chaotic servers wondering which script led to what! 😵💫
Coupled with GitHub it is *so easy* to be open, reproducible, efficient, and accountable to myself and colleagues 👨💻
No more chaotic servers wondering which script led to what! 😵💫
Post-doc opportunity in Exeter 🌟 studying genetic modifiers of haemochromatosis 🩸
Closing date 30 Oct!
Come and work with a interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, clinicians, and statistical geneticists, in a beautiful city in the South West of England ❤️
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Closing date 30 Oct!
Come and work with a interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, clinicians, and statistical geneticists, in a beautiful city in the South West of England ❤️
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
September 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Post-doc opportunity in Exeter 🌟 studying genetic modifiers of haemochromatosis 🩸
Closing date 30 Oct!
Come and work with a interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, clinicians, and statistical geneticists, in a beautiful city in the South West of England ❤️
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Closing date 30 Oct!
Come and work with a interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, clinicians, and statistical geneticists, in a beautiful city in the South West of England ❤️
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Latest preprint by PhD student Mitch Lucas on the genetic iron overload disease #haemochromatosis doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Massive study of factors affecting clinical outcomes in HFE carriers, including genetic predisposition to higher transferrin saturation
@janicelatkins.bsky.social
@exeter.ac.uk
Massive study of factors affecting clinical outcomes in HFE carriers, including genetic predisposition to higher transferrin saturation
@janicelatkins.bsky.social
@exeter.ac.uk
September 3, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Latest preprint by PhD student Mitch Lucas on the genetic iron overload disease #haemochromatosis doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Massive study of factors affecting clinical outcomes in HFE carriers, including genetic predisposition to higher transferrin saturation
@janicelatkins.bsky.social
@exeter.ac.uk
Massive study of factors affecting clinical outcomes in HFE carriers, including genetic predisposition to higher transferrin saturation
@janicelatkins.bsky.social
@exeter.ac.uk
Lots of instrumental music in my most listened artists... I cannot work if there is singing!
August 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Lots of instrumental music in my most listened artists... I cannot work if there is singing!
My latest data hobby: my Spotify listening history!
Had no idea until recently that you could download a history over ever song you've ever listened to. Cue some fun R hours!
Some surprising trends and top picks. Dominated by my work listening rather than "favourites"
lcpilling.github.io/spotify
Had no idea until recently that you could download a history over ever song you've ever listened to. Cue some fun R hours!
Some surprising trends and top picks. Dominated by my work listening rather than "favourites"
lcpilling.github.io/spotify
August 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM
My latest data hobby: my Spotify listening history!
Had no idea until recently that you could download a history over ever song you've ever listened to. Cue some fun R hours!
Some surprising trends and top picks. Dominated by my work listening rather than "favourites"
lcpilling.github.io/spotify
Had no idea until recently that you could download a history over ever song you've ever listened to. Cue some fun R hours!
Some surprising trends and top picks. Dominated by my work listening rather than "favourites"
lcpilling.github.io/spotify
Exciting session on using the (appropriately named) "Epic" secondary care electronic healthcare records data for research by Prof Jane Masoli (pictured), Dr Nick kennedy and Michelle Ledbetter at the @swaih.bsky.social 2025 meeting
@janemasoli.bsky.social
@drnickkennedy.bsky.social
@janemasoli.bsky.social
@drnickkennedy.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Exciting session on using the (appropriately named) "Epic" secondary care electronic healthcare records data for research by Prof Jane Masoli (pictured), Dr Nick kennedy and Michelle Ledbetter at the @swaih.bsky.social 2025 meeting
@janemasoli.bsky.social
@drnickkennedy.bsky.social
@janemasoli.bsky.social
@drnickkennedy.bsky.social
At the UK Human Functional Genomics Initiative @uk-fgx.bsky.social symposium @exeter.ac.uk, currently listening to intro from @jonathanmill.bsky.social
Picked up my first fidget spinner from BioFAIR @biofair.bsky.social which sounds a really cool initiative for open data and methods 🌟
Picked up my first fidget spinner from BioFAIR @biofair.bsky.social which sounds a really cool initiative for open data and methods 🌟
June 16, 2025 at 9:55 AM
At the UK Human Functional Genomics Initiative @uk-fgx.bsky.social symposium @exeter.ac.uk, currently listening to intro from @jonathanmill.bsky.social
Picked up my first fidget spinner from BioFAIR @biofair.bsky.social which sounds a really cool initiative for open data and methods 🌟
Picked up my first fidget spinner from BioFAIR @biofair.bsky.social which sounds a really cool initiative for open data and methods 🌟
First time my donated blood has made it to Swindon! 🤩
Love getting these e-mails of where my blood was used 🩸
Easiest way to save a life. Give blood! 🌟
www.blood.co.uk
Love getting these e-mails of where my blood was used 🩸
Easiest way to save a life. Give blood! 🌟
www.blood.co.uk
May 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
First time my donated blood has made it to Swindon! 🤩
Love getting these e-mails of where my blood was used 🩸
Easiest way to save a life. Give blood! 🌟
www.blood.co.uk
Love getting these e-mails of where my blood was used 🩸
Easiest way to save a life. Give blood! 🌟
www.blood.co.uk
Last session but certainly not least at multimorbidity MLTC symposium has reflections from stakeholders including one of our amazing public collaborators @marymanc.bsky.social
This is my first project with such integrated patient perspectives and it has transformed the work. I'm really enjoying it!
This is my first project with such integrated patient perspectives and it has transformed the work. I'm really enjoying it!
May 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Last session but certainly not least at multimorbidity MLTC symposium has reflections from stakeholders including one of our amazing public collaborators @marymanc.bsky.social
This is my first project with such integrated patient perspectives and it has transformed the work. I'm really enjoying it!
This is my first project with such integrated patient perspectives and it has transformed the work. I'm really enjoying it!
Next from GEMINI is Dr Olivia Murrin giving a deep dive on observational (from primary care) and genetic relationships between lung and musculoskeletal conditions
@exeterage.bsky.social
Follow us here and see our GitHub for resources and updates bsky.app/profile/lcpi...
@exeterage.bsky.social
Follow us here and see our GitHub for resources and updates bsky.app/profile/lcpi...
May 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Next from GEMINI is Dr Olivia Murrin giving a deep dive on observational (from primary care) and genetic relationships between lung and musculoskeletal conditions
@exeterage.bsky.social
Follow us here and see our GitHub for resources and updates bsky.app/profile/lcpi...
@exeterage.bsky.social
Follow us here and see our GitHub for resources and updates bsky.app/profile/lcpi...
Overview of our genetics of multimorbidity (GEMINI) project by @timfrayling.bsky.social at the MLTC symposium
We are studying 72 common long-term chronic conditions with a heritable (genetic) component. Our seminal paper is now published (doi.org/10.1016/j.eb...) and our public resources are below:
We are studying 72 common long-term chronic conditions with a heritable (genetic) component. Our seminal paper is now published (doi.org/10.1016/j.eb...) and our public resources are below:
May 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Overview of our genetics of multimorbidity (GEMINI) project by @timfrayling.bsky.social at the MLTC symposium
We are studying 72 common long-term chronic conditions with a heritable (genetic) component. Our seminal paper is now published (doi.org/10.1016/j.eb...) and our public resources are below:
We are studying 72 common long-term chronic conditions with a heritable (genetic) component. Our seminal paper is now published (doi.org/10.1016/j.eb...) and our public resources are below:
Having a great time at a multimorbidity symposium in Birmingham this week. Many interesting talks on care pathways, drug targets, etc
Pictured is the amazing @janemasoli.bsky.social talking about the important work in the clinical community of practice
@exeterage.bsky.social @exeter.ac.uk
Pictured is the amazing @janemasoli.bsky.social talking about the important work in the clinical community of practice
@exeterage.bsky.social @exeter.ac.uk
May 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Having a great time at a multimorbidity symposium in Birmingham this week. Many interesting talks on care pathways, drug targets, etc
Pictured is the amazing @janemasoli.bsky.social talking about the important work in the clinical community of practice
@exeterage.bsky.social @exeter.ac.uk
Pictured is the amazing @janemasoli.bsky.social talking about the important work in the clinical community of practice
@exeterage.bsky.social @exeter.ac.uk
Quick way to get extreme p-values in R is to return them as strings!
log_pvalue = log(2) + pnorm(abs(z),lower.tail=FALSE,log.p=TRUE)
log10_pvalue = log_pvalue/log(10) ## from LN to log10
mantissa = 10^(log10_pvalue %% 1)
exponent = log10_pvalue %/% 1
sprintf("%1.2fe%d",mantissa,exponent)
log_pvalue = log(2) + pnorm(abs(z),lower.tail=FALSE,log.p=TRUE)
log10_pvalue = log_pvalue/log(10) ## from LN to log10
mantissa = 10^(log10_pvalue %% 1)
exponent = log10_pvalue %/% 1
sprintf("%1.2fe%d",mantissa,exponent)
January 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Quick way to get extreme p-values in R is to return them as strings!
log_pvalue = log(2) + pnorm(abs(z),lower.tail=FALSE,log.p=TRUE)
log10_pvalue = log_pvalue/log(10) ## from LN to log10
mantissa = 10^(log10_pvalue %% 1)
exponent = log10_pvalue %/% 1
sprintf("%1.2fe%d",mantissa,exponent)
log_pvalue = log(2) + pnorm(abs(z),lower.tail=FALSE,log.p=TRUE)
log10_pvalue = log_pvalue/log(10) ## from LN to log10
mantissa = 10^(log10_pvalue %% 1)
exponent = log10_pvalue %/% 1
sprintf("%1.2fe%d",mantissa,exponent)
My blood 🩸 made it all the way to University Hospital, Birmingham where it helped to save or improve someone's life
Love getting these e-mails. Consider signing up to donate blood, if you don't already www.blood.co.uk @givebloodnhs.bsky.social
Love getting these e-mails. Consider signing up to donate blood, if you don't already www.blood.co.uk @givebloodnhs.bsky.social
January 9, 2025 at 10:42 AM
My blood 🩸 made it all the way to University Hospital, Birmingham where it helped to save or improve someone's life
Love getting these e-mails. Consider signing up to donate blood, if you don't already www.blood.co.uk @givebloodnhs.bsky.social
Love getting these e-mails. Consider signing up to donate blood, if you don't already www.blood.co.uk @givebloodnhs.bsky.social
Daniel Williamson at the UK Biobank scientific conference explaining his study of MRI-estimed cortical brain iron and incident dementia risk
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#UKBSC24
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#UKBSC24
December 10, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Daniel Williamson at the UK Biobank scientific conference explaining his study of MRI-estimed cortical brain iron and incident dementia risk
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#UKBSC24
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#UKBSC24
So much anticipation for this session at the UK Biobank scientific conference tomorrow #UKBSC24
If any of you are going, reach out: let's meet and chat!
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#AcademicSky
If any of you are going, reach out: let's meet and chat!
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#AcademicSky
December 9, 2024 at 10:18 AM
So much anticipation for this session at the UK Biobank scientific conference tomorrow #UKBSC24
If any of you are going, reach out: let's meet and chat!
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#AcademicSky
If any of you are going, reach out: let's meet and chat!
@ukbiobank.bsky.social
#AcademicSky
Really enjoying the biological science sessions at #GSA2024 - room 4C-3 is where it is at!
Current fascinating talk is by Patricia Opresko on how oxidative damage to #telomeres promotes #senescence
Current fascinating talk is by Patricia Opresko on how oxidative damage to #telomeres promotes #senescence
November 15, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Really enjoying the biological science sessions at #GSA2024 - room 4C-3 is where it is at!
Current fascinating talk is by Patricia Opresko on how oxidative damage to #telomeres promotes #senescence
Current fascinating talk is by Patricia Opresko on how oxidative damage to #telomeres promotes #senescence
Latest version of {ukbrapR} is mostly to improve documentation (plus 2 bug fixes)
Website now includes "dark mode" and "Articles" for common uses analyzing UK Biobank on DNAnexus using #Rstats!
lcpilling.github.io/ukbrapR/
Website now includes "dark mode" and "Articles" for common uses analyzing UK Biobank on DNAnexus using #Rstats!
lcpilling.github.io/ukbrapR/
October 7, 2024 at 2:02 PM
Latest version of {ukbrapR} is mostly to improve documentation (plus 2 bug fixes)
Website now includes "dark mode" and "Articles" for common uses analyzing UK Biobank on DNAnexus using #Rstats!
lcpilling.github.io/ukbrapR/
Website now includes "dark mode" and "Articles" for common uses analyzing UK Biobank on DNAnexus using #Rstats!
lcpilling.github.io/ukbrapR/
Great start to 2024: paper published! tiny.cc/x0eyvz
Iron and risk of dementia: Mendelian Randomisation analysis in UK Biobank
Genetically predicted higher serum iron increased risk of non-AD dementia in European and African ancestry groups, supporting a causal link. This was independent of HFE
Iron and risk of dementia: Mendelian Randomisation analysis in UK Biobank
Genetically predicted higher serum iron increased risk of non-AD dementia in European and African ancestry groups, supporting a causal link. This was independent of HFE
January 9, 2024 at 9:29 AM
Great start to 2024: paper published! tiny.cc/x0eyvz
Iron and risk of dementia: Mendelian Randomisation analysis in UK Biobank
Genetically predicted higher serum iron increased risk of non-AD dementia in European and African ancestry groups, supporting a causal link. This was independent of HFE
Iron and risk of dementia: Mendelian Randomisation analysis in UK Biobank
Genetically predicted higher serum iron increased risk of non-AD dementia in European and African ancestry groups, supporting a causal link. This was independent of HFE
Been waiting 15 minutes already. Somethings tells me this is not going to be a productive morning 😓
#BlueScreenOfDeath
#BlueScreenOfDeath
November 10, 2023 at 9:17 AM
Been waiting 15 minutes already. Somethings tells me this is not going to be a productive morning 😓
#BlueScreenOfDeath
#BlueScreenOfDeath
Once in a JupyterLab environment on a Spark Cluster the following R commands pull the data straight from the database without intermediate files
Takes ~5 minutes to build all the package dependencies, and <5 minutes to get the data object
Takes ~5 minutes to build all the package dependencies, and <5 minutes to get the data object
October 26, 2023 at 1:55 PM
Once in a JupyterLab environment on a Spark Cluster the following R commands pull the data straight from the database without intermediate files
Takes ~5 minutes to build all the package dependencies, and <5 minutes to get the data object
Takes ~5 minutes to build all the package dependencies, and <5 minutes to get the data object