News from the Institute of Metabolic Science (IMS) Epidemiology, University of Cambridge. 2026, Issue 3
Welcome to the latest epigram, with all the latest news from IMS Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge.
Our researchers study changes in health and society in the UK and around the world, and work with communities to better understand the interacting factors that influence our health.
Researchers in the news
Our researchers are sought out for their evidence, expertise, and analysis
COVID-19 and the rise of childhood obesity
Junk food was once considered the main culprit for the rise in childhood obesity but now according to a recent BBC article The overlooked factor driving the childhood obesity crisis is the COVID-19 pandemic.
IMS Epidemiology’s Professor Ken Ong – also the lead clinician at Cambridge University Hospital’s Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) clinic – says “We do know that diets got worse. We do know that children did a lot less physical activity. We know that for many children, they became quite isolated being taken out of schools.”
The overlooked factor driving the childhood obesity crisis – BBC News, 3 September 2026
The air we breathe
Getting outside to exercise is great but what about the impact of air pollution on your health? A review, which analysed data from over 29 million people, features in a BBC article which discusses both the impact of air pollution on health and “the steps we can take to minimise our exposure”.
IMS Epidemiology’s Dr Haneen Khreis, co-author of the review, says “When the particles are this small, they can cross the blood brain barrier, cause damage to the vessels and the barrier, but also end up in your brain”.
How to minimise the amount of polluted air you inhale while exercising – BBC Online, September 2026
The genetics of blood proteins and drug repurposing opportunities
The world’s largest study on the genetic regulation of blood proteins holds the potential to transform our understanding of different diseases and their treatment opportunities. Published in Cell this year, the study was a collaboration with 118 investigators contributing from 89 institutions including lead scientists from the Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (Queen Mary University of London), Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité and IMS Epidemiology.
Through studying the genetic regulation of blood proteins and subsequently linking this knowledge to genetic disease causes, the researchers were able to identify new insights into the workings of human physiology and how such knowledge can inform drug development.
IMS Epidemiology in partnership
The delivery of research and impact through partnership is a large part of the work at IMS Epidemiology.
Population Health Improvement UK – from foundations to the future
Population Health Improvement UK (PHI UK) is a major UK research initiative and network focused on finding innovative ways to improve health outcomes across people, places, and communities. Its coordinating Directorate is based in IMS Epidemiology
PHI UK recently published their Annual Review 2025-26. The new review gives updates on another year of work bringing together expertise and insight to find innovative and inclusive ways to improve the health of people, places and communities.
Read about the work of the research consortia – Healthy Urban Places, Local Health and Global Profits (LHGP), Policy Modelling for Health, Population Mental Health – and about the achievements that have been possible because of the collective identity and purpose as PHI UK.
You can access the Annual Review in two versions:
- Download the pdf (15MB) – https://www.phiuk.org/about/whatwedo/annual-review
- Read a web and mobile-friendly version – https://sway.cloud.microsoft/pcceaNVfr52ukxIP
Scaling Hope Infrastructure for Healthier Cities
UrbanBetter is an Africa-led global institute working at the intersection of climate, health and civic action. In partnership with IMS Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, it is helping build healthier, more climate-resilient cities across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
And, we’re delighted to share that UrbanBetter recently announced a new three-year Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative 2026 Annual Meeting. Through Scaling Hope Infrastructure for Healthier Cities, UrbanBetter will strengthen the civic, scientific and data systems that enable young people and communities to influence city policy, planning and investment. By 2029, UrbanBetter aims to: Expand its network to 30 cities Equip 30,000 youth leaders Generate 10 million citizen-generated climate and health data points Influence 30 city decisions, policies, plans or investments The commitment builds on demonstrated impact across UrbanBetter’s 13-city network, including contributions to Nairobi’s Clean Air Action Plan and support for activating non-motorised transport policy in Lagos.
Learn more about UrbanBetter, the Institute for Healthy Hopeful Urban Futures
Bradford Hill Seminars
The Bradford Hill Seminar series features internationally recognised speakers covering topics of broad interest to our public health research community.
It is brought to you by the Cambridge Population Health Sciences Partnership, in collaboration with the PHG Foundation.
Upcoming talks are listed here
The global syphilis epidemic: Why is this happening and what should we do about it?
28 October 2026 – 13:00 to 14:00
Hybrid seminar
Click here to register in advance to attend remotely via Zoom
Professor Michael Marks
Michael Marks is Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Professor of Medicine at LSHTM. His work is focused on the control of syphilis in the UK and worldwide. The seminar will cover current challenges facing the syphilis epidemic globally and the potential for new tools to help improve our understanding of syphilis and our public health response
Blogging, vlogging and podding
Through blogs, videos, and The Confidence Interval podcast, explore our research and meet our researchers. Talking science, people and population health.
Sugar-powered e-bikes
Returning to Quebec for a holiday, IMS Epidemiology’s PhD student Élisabeth Demers-Potvin was surprised to find that her home city’s electric bike-sharing service, is now partially sponsored by a sugary drink company.
In her blog written for the French-language digital magazine and nutritional platform, Science et Fourchette, Élisabeth explains why e-bike companies should not accept sponsorship from companies whose products contribute to the high rates of chronic diseases.
The blog is in French but a translation is available.
The Confidence Interval
Around 15% of UK households have recently experienced food insecurity. Health inequalities linked to diet are influenced by food costs, availability of healthy options, and wider food system factors.
The ‘Group Model Building to Assess Dietary Health Inequalities in English Local Authorities’ (GLADIOLI) study will test whether a structured workshop approach called Group Model Building can help local authorities better understand dietary health inequalities to develop stronger, more effective local policies to reduce them.
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