Overview

The Cancer Epidemiology Unit is situated in the Richard Doll Building, on the University of Oxford’s Old Road Campus, and is mainly funded by grants from Cancer Research UK and the UKRI Research Councils.

The main emphasis of research in the Cancer Epidemiology Unit is on providing large-scale reliable evidence on the relationship between common exposures (such as diet, reproductive factors, and the use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy) and common conditions of public health importance such as breast, prostate, and cervical cancers, cardiovascular disease and fractures. Researchers in the Unit also conduct research into genetic drivers of disease and underlying mechanisms. Much of this work centres on the two large-scale cohort studies run by the Cancer Epidemiology Unit (the Million Women Study and EPIC-Oxford), and on the several International Collaborative Groups based in the Unit. Current research areas also include work on statistical and epidemiological methodology, and a programme of work related to the National Health Service screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancers.

Directors: Professor Gill Reeves

Deputy Director: Professor Ruth Travis