Lifecourse Epidemiology

About

The lifecourse epidemiology group develop and apply methodologies that illuminate the complexity of developmental change and continuity, especially in childhood and adolescence. We collaborate with a wide range of groups and use data from multiple longitudinal cohorts, all of which provide unique insights into different aspects of development. We study complex interventions and use longitudinal structural equation models (SEMs) to answer explanatory questions leading to richer information about the effects of interventions.

Research themes

Causal inference in life course epidemiology including mediation analysis with SEM, g-computation in longitudinal cohorts and randomised trials, and Mendelian Randomisation.

Prognostic modelling and modelling uncertainty in predictions of individual outcomes or trajectories.

Characterising developmental mechanisms in typical and atypical populations by applying SEM to longitudinal cohorts with deep phenotyping (e.g., neurobiological and cognitive data) and therapeutic mechanisms in trials of complex interventions.

SEMantics

The lifecourse epidemiology group hosts the SEMantics seminar series which features applications, methodological advances, best practice, and cautionary tales about SEM. Click here to find out more and view our upcoming seminars.

Members

Ewan Carr

Statistician Research Fellow

Virginia Carter Leno

Postdoctoral Fellow

Gordon Forbes

NIHR Doctoral Rearch Fellow

Kimberley Goldsmith

Reader in Medical Statistics

Moritz Herle

Research Fellow

Ruijie Li

PhD Student

Andrew Pickles

Professor of Biostatistics and Psychological Methods

George Vamvakas

BRC Statistician

Wirral Child Health and Development Study (WCHADS)

The Wirral Child Health and Development Study started in 2006 and is funded by the Medical Research Council. The study was established to identify early social, emotional and biological risks and processes involved in the development of childhood conduct problems.

Find out more about WCHADS

British Autism Sibling Infant Study (BASIS and i-BASIS)

The British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS) is a collaborative research network for the study of infants at-risk for autism in the UK. The primary aim of BASIS is to provide a platform for the study of infants at-risk for autism in the UK and to facilitate collaborative links between scientists working in the area.

Visit the BASIS Network website

Brain, Immunity and Psychopathology following very Preterm birth

BIPP's key research goal is to generate new information about brain development and immune system activation in relation to mental health problems in premature children.

BIPP Study Website

Early diagnosis cohort

The Early Diagnosis Cohort is a study of young autistic adults who were recruited at the time of first diagnosis between the age of 2 and 3 years of age. The study is led by Professor Catherine Lord, UCLA. It has been a hugely influential study with numerous publications that have presented findings that have been novel to the field.

SCALES: The Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study

SCALES is a longitudinal population study of language development in 590 children, followed from age 5-13yrs.

The Scales study page

Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP)

The SNAP cohort is a population representative sample of young autistic adults, followed up since childhood to answer questions about the range outcomes for children with ASD, what are the factors that may predict good or poor outcomes, and can we use cognitive markers for associated psychiatric problems to aid early diagnosis and treatment.

South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH)

The SELCoH study is an epidemiological cohort study of randomly selected households within Southwark and Lambeth. The data collected by in the study will give us a better understanding of the health needs of the community and enables service providers to plan and improve services more effectively.

South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH)

Pathways in ASD

The pathways in ASD study examines how autistic children grow and develop. The study follow up children diagnosed with autism between the age of 2 and 4, into middle childhood and onwards to adolescence.

Pathways in ASD study page

Gemini Twin Research Study

Gemini is a large population-based study of 2402 families with twins born in England and Wales between March and December 2007. Gemini families have been followed for over a decade, providing information about the twins’ growth, eating behaviours, appetite, and the environment at home.

Gemini study page

We collaborate with groups from KCL and around the world. Here are links to some of our collaborators: