MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health
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MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health
UCL Institute of Child Health
30 Guilford Street
London, WC1N 1EH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7905 2362
Research quick links
- Congenital disorders
- Childhood origins of adult disease
- Electronic health records
- Genetic epidemiology
- Growth & development
- Health inequalities
- Infections
- Life course research
- Obesity, nutrition & physical activity
- Research for policy & practice
- Screening & surveillance
- Statistical methods
- Vision & eyes
News
Measles Outbreak Highlights Importance of MMR Vaccine
Dr Helen Bedford was interviewed on the BBC news channel about the current measles outbreaks. More...
Published: Apr 26, 2013 2:30:00 PM
Response to 'HIV baby cure' headlines
Senior Lecturer at the Centre, Dr Pat Tookey, was interviewed on the BBC News Channel, and participated in a 3-way live radio discussion on Voice of Russia. More...
Published: Mar 21, 2013 1:02:43 PM
Researcher Starts MRC Fellowship
In January 2013 Anna Pearce commences an MRC Population Health Scientist fellowship. Her research will take a longitudinal and cross-national approach to gain a better understanding of why children from disadvantaged backgrounds experience poorer health than those from more advantaged backgrounds. Anna will spend the next three years researching this topic, including 12 months at the University of Adelaide. Findings will be used to inform UK and international policy for the reduction of child health inequalities. More...
Published: Jan 11, 2013 3:57:13 PM
Parents regaining confidence in MMR vaccine
The latest figures for uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine show that 91% of two year old children in England have received the vaccine. This is the first time since 1998 that MMR vaccine rates have been higher than 90%. In 1998 a publication in the Lancet, which was widely interpreted as suggesting MMR vaccine was linked with autism and bowel disease, led to widespread media coverage and speculation about the safety of this vaccine. Many parents who were justifiably concerned, decided not to accept the vaccine for their children. Rates fell to a low of 78% overall but in many districts, particularly in inner London, rates were as low as 50%. We are continuing to see the results of this, with large outbreaks of measles once again in England. More...
Published: Nov 28, 2012 3:24:55 PM
Centre Director presents at international paediatrics conference
Centre Director, Catherine Law, gave the opening plenary lecture at the International Society of Social Paediatrics and Child Health’s conference in St Andrews on 6th September 2012. The theme for the conference was “evidence into practice and evidence into policy”. More...
Published: Sep 11, 2012 2:15:40 PM
Life course research and intergenerational influences on health
Many of our studies use a life course approach, examining how biological, behavioural and psychosocial processes operate across an individual's life course or across generations to influence the development of disease risk.
Life course research uses studies which follow the same individuals over time, known as cohort studies. Studies which follow the same individuals from birth are called birth cohort studies.
Our life course research aims to answer inter-related questions:
- What influences how we grow and develop from infants into adults? (see Growth and development)
- How do our experiences as children influence our health as adults? (see Childhood origins of adult disease)
- How do the health, circumstances and behaviour of parents influence the health of their children? (See Health inequalities, Childhood origins of adult disease)
In our centre we have broad programmes of research based on the 1958 Birth Cohort (investigating growth in early life and exposures such as maternal smoking in pregnancy, social inequalities in health, obesity, and health behaviours - particularly physical activity, cardiovascular health, visual function, vitamin D and mental health) and on the Millennium Cohort Study (investigating obesity and physical activity, lead exposure, maternal smoking, immunisation, family structure, and the development of asthma and allergies).
We also use and combine data from other cohorts, both within the UK, and internationally in collaboration with others.
In 2011 Carol Dezateux was appointed director of a new UK birth cohort study, a major initiative funded by the Economic and Social Research and the Medical Research Council to follow 100,000 babies and their families.
Page last modified on 07 feb 12 17:49
