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Cambridge Cardiovascular

 

Research

I focus on the aetiological determinants of diabetes, obesity and related metabolic disorders, and the translation of that epidemiological understanding into preventive action. I lead the EPIC-Norfolk study and the working group for diabetes, obesity and physical activity in EPIC-Europe study. I also coordinate the InterAct EU FP6 funded project that aims to investigate how genes and lifestyle factors interact to lead to type 2 diabetes, and have a programme of research into the genetic basis of obesity and type 2 diabetes as part of the Genetics of Energy Metabolism (GEM) consortium.

My work on gene-environment interaction is based on quantitative trait studies and large scale population-based cohort studies. A key element of this work is the accurate measurement of lifestyle exposures including physical activity and I have developed and evaluated novel methods for measuring energy expenditure in free-living individuals in population-based studies. Finally, I am the co-lead of the ADDITION study, a trial of screening for diabetes and intensive cardiovascular risk reduction undertaken in three European countries.

Publications

Key publications: 

Association between intake of less-healthy foods defined by the United Kingdom's nutrient profile model and cardiovascular disease: A population-based cohort study. Mytton OT, Forouhi NG, Scarborough P, Lentjes M, Luben R, Rayner M, Khaw KT, Wareham NJ, Monsivais P. PLoS Med. 2018 Jan 4;15(1):e1002484.

Protein-altering variants associated with body mass index implicate pathways that control energy intake and expenditure in obesity. Turcot V, Lu Y, Highland HM, Schurmann C, Justice AE, ..., Wareham NJ, Warren HR, Waterworth DM, Wessel J, White HD, Willer CJ, Wilson JG, Witte DR, Wood AR, Wu Y, Yaghootkar H, Yao J, Yao P, Yerges-Armstrong LM, Young R, Zeggini E, Zhan X, Zhang W, Zhao JH, Zhao W, Zhou W, Zondervan KT; CHD Exome+ Consortium; EPIC-CVD Consortium; ExomeBP Consortium; Global Lipids Genetic Consortium; GoT2D Genes Consortium; EPIC InterAct Consortium; INTERVAL Study; ReproGen Consortium; T2D-Genes Consortium; MAGIC Investigators; Understanding Society Scientific Group, Rotter JI, Pospisilik JA, Rivadeneira F, Borecki IB, Deloukas P, Frayling TM, Lettre G, North KE, Lindgren CM, Hirschhorn JN, Loos RJF. Nat Genet. 2018 Jan;50(1):26-41.

Weight change and 15 year mortality: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) cohort study. Mulligan AA, Lentjes MAH, Luben RN, Wareham NJ, Khaw KT. Eur J Epidemiol. 2017 Dec 20.

Sequence data and association statistics from 12,940 type 2 diabetes cases and controls. Jason F, Fuchsberger C, Mahajan A, Teslovich TM, Agarwala V, Gaulton KJ, ..., Wareham NJ, Walker M, Banks E, Gieger C, Ingelsson E, Im HK, Illig T, Franks PW, Buck G, Trakalo J, Buck D, Prokopenko I, Mägi R, Lind L, Farjoun Y, Owen KR, Gloyn AL, Strauch K, Tuomi T, Kooner JS, Lee JY, Park T, Donnelly P, Morris AD, Hattersley AT, Bowden DW, Collins FS, Atzmon G, Chambers JC, Spector TD, Laakso M, Strom TM, Bell GI, Blangero J, Duggirala R, Tai ES, McVean G, Hanis CL, Wilson JG, Seielstad M, Frayling TM, Meigs JB, Cox NJ, Sladek R, Lander ES, Gabriel S, Mohlke KL, Meitinger T, Groop L, Abecasis G, Scott LJ, Morris AP, Kang HM, Altshuler D, Burtt NP, Florez JC, Boehnke M, McCarthy MI. Sci Data. 2017 Dec 19;4:170179.

Interaction of Dietary and Genetic Factors Influencing Body Iron Status and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Within the EPIC-InterAct Study. Meidtner K, Podmore C, Kröger J, van der Schouw YT, Bendinelli B, Agnoli C, Arriola L, Barricarte A, Boeing H, Cross AJ, Dow C, Ekblom K, Fagherazzi G, Franks PW, Gunter MJ, Huerta JM, Jakszyn P, Jenab M, Katzke VA, Key TJ, Khaw KT, Kühn T, Kyrø C, Mancini FR, Melander O, Nilsson PM, Overvad K, Palli D, Panico S, Quirós JR, Rodriguez-Barranco M, Sacerdote C, Sluijs I, Stepien M, Tjonneland A, Tumino R, Forouhi NG, Sharp SJ, Langenberg C, Schulze MB, Riboli E, Wareham NJ. Diabetes Care. 2017 Nov 22.

Impact of physical activity on the risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults: EPIC Norfolk prospective population study. Lachman S, Boekholdt SM, Luben RN, Sharp SJ, Brage S, Khaw KT, Peters RJ, Wareham NJ. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2018 Jan;25(2):200-208.

Association between plasma phospholipid saturated fatty acids and metabolic markers of lipid, hepatic, inflammation and glycaemic pathways in eight European countries: a cross-sectional analysis in the EPIC-InterAct study. Zheng JS, Sharp SJ, Imamura F, Koulman A, Schulze MB, Ye Z, Griffin J, Guevara M, Huerta JM, Kröger J, Sluijs I, Agudo A, Barricarte A, Boeing H, Colorado-Yohar S, Dow C, Dorronsoro M, Dinesen PT, Fagherazzi G, Franks PW, Feskens EJM, Kühn T, Katzke VA, Key TJ, Khaw KT, de Magistris MS, Mancini FR, Molina-Portillo E, Nilsson PM, Olsen A, Overvad K, Palli D, Quirós JR, Rolandsson O, Ricceri F, Spijkerman AMW, Slimani N, Tagliabue G, Tjonneland A, Tumino R, van der Schouw YT, Langenberg C, Riboli E, Forouhi NG, Wareham NJ. BMC Med. 2017 Nov 17;15(1):203.

Exome-wide association study of plasma lipids in >300,000 individuals. Liu DJ, Peloso GM, Yu H, Butterworth AS, Wang X, Mahajan A, Saleheen D, ..., Wareham NJ, Warren HR, Weeke PE, Weinstock J, Wessel J, Wilson JG, Wilson PWF, Xu M, Yaghootkar H, Young R, Zeggini E, Zhang H, Zheng NS, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Zhou W, Zhou Y, Zoledziewska M; Charge Diabetes Working Group; EPIC-InterAct Consortium; EPIC-CVD Consortium; GOLD Consortium; VA Million Veteran Program, Howson JMM, Danesh J, McCarthy MI, Cowan CA, Abecasis G, Deloukas P, Musunuru K, Willer CJ, Kathiresan S. Nat Genet. 2017 Dec;49(12):1758-1766.

Identification of a novel proinsulin-associated SNP and demonstration that proinsulin is unlikely to be a causal factor in subclinical vascular remodelling using Mendelian randomisation. Strawbridge RJ, Silveira A, Hoed MD, Gustafsson S, Luan J, Rybin D, Dupuis J, Li-Gao R, Kavousi M, Dehghan A, Haljas K, Lahti J, Gådin JR, Bäcklund A, de Faire U, Gertow K, Giral P, Goel A, Humphries SE, Kurl S, Langenberg C, Lannfelt LL, Lind L, Lindgren CCM, Mannarino E, Mook-Kanamori DO, Morris AP, de Mutsert R, Rauramaa R, Saliba-Gustafsson P, Sennblad B, Smit AJ, Syvänen AC, Tremoli E, Veglia F, Zethelius B, Björck HM, Eriksson JG, Hofman A, Franco OH, Watkins H, Jukema JW, Florez JC, Wareham NJ, Meigs JB, Ingelsson E, Baldassarre D, Hamsten A; IMPROVE study group. Atherosclerosis. 2017 Nov;266:196-204.

More publications available through PubMed.

Director of the MRC Epidemiology Unit
Co-Director of the Wellcome MRC Institute of Metabolic Science
Honorary Consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital