I am an epigenetic epidemiologist whose research uses large-scale population data and builds equitable international collaborations spanning diverse cohorts to understand how genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors shape health and disease across the life course. My work focuses on developing and applying analytical approaches to uncover molecular biomarkers of health related exposures and outcomes, identify biological mechanisms and improve causal understanding of disease risk.

Current and recently funded projects

·       Diverse Epigenetic Epidemiology Partnership (DEEP) study

Aiming to improve global population health by exploring the effects of genomic and environmental diversity on disease risk in a multi centre equitable partnership.

Funded by MRC; 2023-2028; co-PI

www.deep-epigenetics.org

·       ARTful Ageing: Ageing mechanisms in children growing up with HIV in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era.

Funded by Wellcome; 2026-2033; co-I and work package lead (Primary Hallmarks of Aging)

·       Methylation and early pre-term birth

Assessing the environmental and epigenetic determinants of early PTB and related postnatal outcomes in a high-risk population.

Funded by NIH; 2024-2026; co-I

·       Blood- and saliva- based DNA methylation biomarkers of disease

Using accessible biosample EpiScores as predictors of diverse incident disease outcomes

Funded by MRC; 2026-2031; co-I

·       Measuring Micronuclei (pilot funding)

Developing a buccal micronucleus assay SOP for large scale population studies.

Funded by UKEMS; 2025-2026; PI

·       Summer Studentship

Investigating the link between childhood infection and methylation-derived blood cell counts

Funded by UKEMS; 2025; PI

Team

Sarah Watkins

Senior Research Associate (DEEP study)

Prachand Issarapu

Senior Research Associate (IEU research fellowship developing DataSHIELD methods for prediction and DEEP study)

Lillian Linda

Post Graduate Research student (PhD programme) at LSHTM

Nojus Jampolskis

Post Graduate Taught student (ePTB project)

Harriet Willis

UKEMS funded summer studentship

MSc dissertation project students (2025/6): I am co-supervising two MSc dissertation projects, analysing omics data.

Mentoring

I have mentored Council for At Risk Academics (CARA) fellows since 2022. I currently mentor with the University’s Bristol Mentorship Scheme (and formally the Bristol Womens Mentoring Network). I actively participate in widening participation schemes, including the Social Mobility Foundation, giving feedback on personal statements and helping prospective University students prepare for interviews.

My tutoring was recognized with nominations for Outstanding Personal Tutoring 2023, 2024 and 2025 Bristol Teaching Awards

Academic Roles

PGR co-Director (Bristol Medical School)

Unit lead, Molecular Epidemiology (20 credit Masters unit)

Short Course Lead, Molecular Epidemiology (3 day training course)