Smoking cessation
What are the causal effects of nicotine (including in e-cigarettes) on cancer risk and outcomes? The Smoking cessation theme explores the causal effect of tobacco constituents on cancer progression, the role of DNA methylation in mediating cancer risk, and develops new approaches to smoking cessation.
Highlights include:
Identifying links between smoking and DNA
We identified novel DNA methylation markers of smoking exposure. More information: doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab044
Exploring the health effects of nicotine use
We have found that nicotine exposure (without exposure to everything else that is found in tobacco smoke) does not appear to cause lung cancer, poor lung function, heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but it does increase heart rate. More information: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011157
Smartwatch-based smoking relapse intervention
We have developed a just-in-time intervention which aims to prevent a lapse in the smoker's quit attempt becoming a full relapse to smoking. Smoking-specific movements are detected by a smartwatch which then delivers intervention messaging at the point of lapse. More information: https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.56999
Link between smoking, alcohol and head and neck cancer
This summary-level multivariable MR analysis found smoking and alcohol independently increase the risk of both HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancer. These findings have important implications for understanding the modifying risk factors between subtypes but lacked power to detect interactions and further individual-level MR analysis is indicated. More information: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51679-x
Epigenetic modelling of former, current and never smokers
We used blood-derived DNA methylation to model cigarette smoking history. Our models achieve reasonably high accuracy indicating that DNA methylation can reliably be used as an objective measure of smoking exposure. More information: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-021-01191-6
Contributing to policy decisions about vaping
We have contributed to consultations regarding the regulation of e-cigarettes, highlighting the potential impact on smoking cessation. More information: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/youth-vaping-call-for-evidence/outcome/youth-vaping-call-for-evidence-analysis

The health effects of tobacco are well known, but the specific role of nicotine is less well understood. This is particularly important given the recent growth in e-cigarette use. In addition, little is known about the role of smoking in cancer progression.
We use Mendelian randomization to explore the causal effects of nicotine on cancer outcomes. Our work also explores the effects of smoking - and the benefits of smoking cessation - on cancer progression.
We are developing interventions to support smoking cessation and prevent relapse.
