MRC Biostatistics Unit

Mendelian randomization in a multi-ancestry world: reflections and practical advice Many Mendelian randomization (MR) papers have been conducted only in people of European ancestry, limiting transportability of results to the global population. Expanding MR to diverse ancestry groups...

New pre-print "Mendelian randomization in a multi-ancestry world: reflections and practical advice" led by @amymariemason.bsky.social on - arxiv.org/abs/2510.17554

Photo of Matthew Stephens giving keynote lecture - standing and speaking, with projector screen behind with slide on.

Group photo of speakers - some sitting on benches, some standing behind. All smiling and looking forward, with trees and building behind.

Photo of audience sat in rows of chairs, all looking forward and clapping.

Another fantastic Armitage Workshop!

This year, it was on the theme of integration of data from multiple domains, with fantastic talks and discussions.

Thanks to all our speakers and to all those who attended.

Photo of people in rows, some standing and front row kneeling. All smiling and looking at camera, stood in front of building.

Our brilliant BSU #PhD students, joined by Matthew Stephens from University of Chicago.

Happy #WorldStatisticsDay2025! 🎉

At the BSU, you can find a fantastic group of passionate people driven to improve the way we look at scientific problems and design methods to help us understand the deluge of data we are surrounded by.

I'm very excited to be attending my first #ASHG25 this week! Come find me at poster board 1090F to talk about flexible and efficient eQTL mapping with quasar!

📣Preprint alert - a tricky one, as there are no significant results (and we all know null-results are hard to publish)
Do PCSK9 levels affect survival in breast cancer patients?
We tried to replicate findings in cell lines and mouse model using 3 Mendelian Randomization approaches, but failed.

YouTube video by MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge Meet our researchers: Interview with John Whittaker

Our Director John Whittaker took part in a short video interview discussing; what motivated him to work in biostatistics, why he enjoys being Director, and his thoughts on the future of #Biostatistics.

Watch here 👇
youtu.be/o3ArK999wgE

PSI The community dedicated to leading and promoting the use of statistics within the healthcare industry for the benefit of patients.

Full recording of the PSI webinar by myself and @jack_bowdenjack on instrumental variable methods is available online: psiweb.org/vod/item/efs...

Promotional graphic/flyer advertising the 22nd Armitage Workshop, with the text about the theme of the workshop which integration of data from multiple domains, and text about the date and location which is 23 October at the CRUK Cambridge Institute in Cambridge.

There are 2 weeks left to register for our annual flagship event - 22nd Armitage Workshop and Lecture.

The theme this year is integration of data from multiple domains, with a brilliant programme of talks.

23 Oct, Cambridge and online

onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...

Any level of alcohol consumption increases risk of dementia Study finds any alcohol intake may increase dementia risk, challenging assumptions about moderate drinking and highlighting no safe level for brain health.

🧠Any level of alcohol consumption increases risk of dementia

This study, led by Oxford Population Health, @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social, @mrc-bsu.bsky.social and @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social shows even low levels of drinking may increase risk of dementia.

Learn more ➡️

Graphic with text about Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025. Text includes two quotes - one from Sofia Villar and one from Paul Kirk. "Our postdoctoral researchers in biostatistics are brilliant not only for their expertise in cutting-edge methodologies but also for their intellectual curiosity and problem-solving skills. They are also very fun to work with, fostering a collaborative, supportive and engaging environment at our Unit." - Sofia Villar "Our postdocs bring exceptional talent and energy to the Biostatistics Unit, making significant research contributions, supporting our equally excellent PhD students, and enhancing the general research environment. Sincerest thanks to them for their hard work!" - Paul Kirk Small headshot images of both are below the quote text. 

Happy #PostdocAppreciationWeek 😀🎉🤩

Programme Leaders, Sofia Villar and Paul Kirk, endorse just how brilliant our BSU postdocs are and how they add significant value to our research portfolio and working environment.

Thank you to each and every one of you 🙏

At our next hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar, @dannydorling.bsky.social of the University of Oxford will discuss:

The politics of epidemiology and public health in the UK

📅 Wed 15 October, 1 PM (UK)

Register at buff.ly/wblZfOx

@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social

YouTube video by MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge Meet our researchers: Interview with Rajenki Das

A few weeks ago, we filmed a lovely short interview with Research Associate, Rajenki Das 🤩

Rajenki gives a summary of her current research and discusses what she enjoys about working at the BSU, as well as what she likes to do outside of work.

Watch the video at 👇
youtu.be/NzQl4KXkgwo

Group of photo of BSU interns, standing in line next to each other on grass, smiling at the camera and raising an arm in the air, standing in front of brick building.

This summer we welcomed another fantastic cohort of #Interns to work on and contribute to BSU research projects.

"The internship has not only given me technical skills and research experience, but also something deeper - a sense of direction."

Read more:
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/another...

Our short course on Adaptive Methods in Clinical Research is back!

17 - 19 Nov, Cambridge

We introduce the definition of adaptive designs and consider its several most common types.

More info & registration 👇
onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...

Group of children sat on floor facing adults who are standing in line and speaking.

BSU researcher holding bucket with plastic ducks in, speaking to small group of children sat on floor.

We were delighted to take part in the first Cambridge Biomedical Campus School Safari.

We welcomed a group of local school students to our Unit, to have fun with statistics and inspire future careers in #STEM.

Read more 👇
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/local-s...

Group photo of eight BSU interns, standing in line, smiling and raising an arm in the air, standing on grass in front of building.

This summer, we are privileged to have a fantastic group of interns with us for eight weeks.

They are each working with our researchers on projects and experiencing life at our Unit.

It's great to have you all with us 😀

Context-stratified Mendelian randomization: exploiting regional exposure variation to explore causal effect heterogeneity and non-linearity Mendelian randomization (MR) uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to make causal claims. Standard MR approaches typically report a single population-averaged estimate, limiting their abilit...

New pre-print online: "Context-stratified Mendelian randomization: exploiting regional exposure variation to explore causal effect heterogeneity and non-linearity", arxiv.org/abs/2507.11088. We propose an alternative approach to assess non-linearity in Mendelian randomization.

Flexible and efficient count-distribution and mixed-model methods for eQTL mapping with quasar Identifying genetic variants that affect gene expression, expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), is a major focus of modern genomics. Today, various methods exist for eQTL mapping, each using dif...

Very excited to share new work from my PhD on a new software package for eQTL mapping: quasar. The quasar software package is a C++ program designed to provide a flexible and efficient eQTL mapping. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

We're sharing more Natsal methods innovations at #ESRA25 today:

Tommy Nyberg @mrc-bsu.bsky.social is presenting on integrating survey data from different samples

Eileen Irvin @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social is presenting about remote biosample collection

ESRA Conference The European Survey Research Association (ESRA) is the leading professional organisation of survey researchers in Europe, with members from the academic, government, non-profit and commercial sectors

Today, Tommy Nyberg is speaking at #ESRA2025 about his work on the Natsal Study @natsal.bsky.social -
"Data Integration Using Doubly Robust and Bayesian Meta-Analysis Methods for Probability and Convenience Samples"

www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conf2025/pro...

👀Look out for three Natsal-4 talks at #ESRA25 this week:

Katharine Sadler @natcen.bsky.social with an overview of Natsal-4's methods

Eileen Irvin @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social on remote biosampling

Tommy Nyberg @mrc-bsu.bsky.social on analysis methods to combine probability and non-probability data

Bradford Hill Seminar by Victoria Hall, UK Health Security Agency Title: “The SIREN study at five years: tracking SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory infections in UK healthcare workers since 2020” Background: The SARS-CoV-2 Immunit...

On 7 May 2025, Victoria Hall of the UK Health Security Agency delivered a Bradford Hill Seminar:

The SIREN study at five years: Tracking SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory infections in UK healthcare workers since 2020

Watch a recording: buff.ly/S6Y59TP

@mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social

In May, we organised a one-day workshop on the topic of HIV and STI data and how they can be better used to inform sexual health services.

Read more:
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/using-l...

Registration now open for short course on:
Efficient Adaptive Designs for Phase I Dose-Finding and Dose-Optimisation Studies

24 - 26 Sept, Cambridge

Register:
onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-...

@pmozgunov.bsky.social @thomasjaki.bsky.social

Photo of Sylvia Richardson, smiling and looking at camera, leaning against whiteboard with writing and calculations on it.

Congratulations to our Emeritus Director, Prof Sylvia Richardson, on being named a 2024 Top Scholar by Scholar GPS 👏

scholargps.com/scholars/184...

Photo of Mia Tackney, smiling and looking at camera.

Many congratulations to Research Associate, Mia Tackney, on being awarded an NIHR Advanced Fellowship 👏🤩

Mia's fellowship will focus on digital outcome measures in clinical trials.

Read more 👇
www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news/mia-tac...

@nihr.bsky.social

Photo of people all smiling and looking at camera.

Photo of Sarah Dawson giving talk on stage, stood at podium.

Sarah Dawson and Sofia Villar from the BSU are at #CCR25.

Sarah is presenting about the Nasal High-Flow Oxygen Therapy after Cardiac Surgery, with colleagues Andrew Klein and Siddesh Shetty.

@criticalcarereviews.com

Photo of staff and students at the BSU, some standing and some sitting, all smiling at the camera.

Photo of people sat in auditorium, facing forwards.

Photo of people sat in auditorium, facing speaker on stage with screen on projector.

Photo of people stood in groups having conversations.

We had a fantastic away day yesterday, bringing together our amazing and talented staff and students for a day of sharing, learning and recognising the great people who work at the BSU.

Big thanks to the organising team for creating a brilliant day for us all 🤩

Perfect Taxon Sampling and Fixing Taxon Traceability: Introducing a Class of Phylogenetically Decisive Collections of Taxon Sets - Bulletin of Mathematical Biology Phylogenetically decisive collections of taxon sets have the property that if trees are chosen for each of their elements, as long as these trees are compatible, the resulting supertree is unique. Thi...

📣Paper alert!
(Spoiler: this is not my usual GenEpi paper 😁 #phylogenetics)
How many small trees do you need to define one supertree? Mareike Fischer and I explored this question and defined a subclass of taxon sets that guarantees decisiveness aka one supertree
link.springer.com/article/10.1...