Professor Mariam Molokhia is a clinical epidemiologist and GP with expertise in primary care and health inequalities research, complex traits (CVD, diabetes, metabolic health, and CKD), multimorbidity, and pharmacoepidemiology. Her current interests are in developing and evaluating translational medicine strategies for risk prediction, with tailored strategies for stratified medicine including digital health interventions.

Her work draws on routine health records (CPRD, THIN, Lambeth DataNet, OneLondon), extensive work in prescribing, adverse drug reactions and pharmacogenomics. She leads multidisciplinary research programmes on underserved and ethnically diverse communities, spanning observational studies, intervention development, and implementation science. Her studies include innovative community-based models of care. Funding includes NIHR, NHS England, MRC, Kidney Research UK, the European Commission and industry partners.

Selected research examples:

The BELONG Study https://www.belongstudyuk.com/ examines whether hairdressers in salons can promote a culturally adapted online tool to encourage clients to attend their GP Practice for a check-up to detect high blood pressure and diabetes. The study has engaged a number of ECRs, secured a personal fellowship for a former MPH student and built significant links with industry, community partners, local councils and local public health teams with a planned implementation-effectiveness trial in 2025.

Using intersectional and life course frameworks, we are examining the current identification of FH within and across ethnic groups, and impact of proactive identifications of FH in primary care on these groups in the NHS Race & Health Observatory study to improve the clinical care pathway.

The NIHR HSDR Improving kidney failure risk calculations in ethnically diverse populations national multi-site study https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR156488 aims to improve prediction of kidney failure in ethnically diverse groups, developing culturally tailored educational materials including a communication strategy, policy, and practice recommendations linked with policy makers.

Prof Molokhia is joint Primary Care Lead for the NIHR South London ARC’s Population Health stream and has led/contributed to research directly informing policy and practice, including NHS Health Check reforms, European Society for Cardiology guidelines on anticoagulation, and genomic testing implementation.

Teaching:

Prof Molokhia is involved with undergraduate (MBBS, iBSc in Primary Care) and post graduate teaching in epidemiology and clinical medicine and leads the Global Public Health module for the MPH. She has supervised over 30 postgraduate students, supported multiple NIHR In-Practice Fellowships, and leads a research group of 8 ECRs and 5 PhD students. She has mentored trainees to senior academic roles and prestigious fellowships (NIHR, NHSE, Royal Marsden) and is an accredited member of the ILT (Institute for Learning and Teaching).