Robert Smith

Robert joined the Cancer Epidemiology Unit in 2016 and is studying for a DPhil in Population Health. His training is within the realm of social epidemiology and is supervised by Drs. Sarah Floud and Isobel Barnes. Robert’s research examines social isolation in relation to the onset of and death from vascular disease. This research additionally seeks to investigate neighbourhood contextual determinants of social isolation, how psychosocial factors (e.g. loneliness, relationship quality) affect associations between social isolation and vascular disease, and to what degree physiological pathways explain associations. This research will source data from the Million Women’s Study and UK Biobank cohorts.

Prior to the University of Oxford, Robert received his MSc in Health Services Research from the University of Toronto and BSc in Medical Sciences from Brock University. Stemming from these experiences, Robert’s research interests are broadly themed around understanding how social factors influence population health and health system performance.