Professor Nicholas Wareham

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.