
Professor Pete Blair
B.Sc.(Hons), M.Sc.(Leic.), Ph.D.(Bristol)
Current positions
Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
In the last three decades the number of cot deaths, also known as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has fallen in the UK (from over 1500 deaths to around 200 a year), an 87% decrease due in no small part to the observational studies and evidence-base we have created at the UoB. We have been instrumental in not only identifying the risk factors but ensuring parents receive the best advice to make infomed choices about safe infant care practices. Getting involved with international organisations (scientific advisor to UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and chair of ISPID (International Society for the study and prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death)) has maximised this impact. My wider research interests include i) safe infant care practices ii) infant and child growth iii) childhood sleep iv) infant and childhood injuries and v) infant and childhood illness (in particular reducing antibiotic prescribing in children with respiratory tract infections). I run the one week Introduction to Epidemiology course and am dissertaion lead for the BSc Global Health course. I am also a consultant methodologist for both the Bristol Randomised Trial Collaboration (BRTC) Unit and the NIHR Research Design Services (RDS).
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Preventing Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy: an assessment and planning tool for families at increased risk
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/09/2021 to 31/12/2022
Do parents cuddling babies undergoing cooling therapy for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) affect the cooling process or intensive care? Refinement and evaluation of an intervention protocol
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/09/2019 to 28/02/2021
A clinical effectiveness investigation of a multi-faceted intervention (incorporating a prognostic algorithm) to improve management of antibiotics for CHIldren presenting to primary care with acute COugh and respiratory tract infection
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
31/03/2018 to 31/03/2022
Rework of Bristol Girls Dance Project - NIHR Public Health Board
Principal Investigator
Role
Researcher
Description
Many children do not do enough physical activity. Girls are less active than boys. Getting low-active girls to do more physical activity would improve their hearts, lungs, and mental well-being.…Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/04/2013 to 31/07/2016
Improving the quality of care for children with respiratory tract infections in primary care (TARGET)
Principal Investigator
Role
Researcher
Description
The overall aim of this NIHR funded Programme for Applied Research Grant is to improve the quality of care given to children presenting to primary care with respiratory tract infections.…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/07/2010 to 31/03/2018
Thesis supervisions
Publications
Selected publications
01/01/2012Childhood sleep duration and associated demographic characteristics in an English cohort
Sleep
Hazardous cosleeping environments and risk factors amenable to change: case-control study of SIDS in south west England
BMJ
Relationship between bed sharing and breastfeeding: longitudinal, population-based analysis
Pediatrics
Babies sleeping with parents: case-control study of factors influencing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
BMJ
Major epidemiological changes in sudden infant death syndrome: a 20-year population-based study in the UK
Lancet
Recent publications
10/01/2024Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC UK Trial)
A Risk Assessment and Planning Tool to Prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy:
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Collaborative discussions between GPs and pharmacists to optimise patient medication
British Journal of General Practice
Estimating the true effect of lifestyle risk factors for myopia
Translational Vision Science and Technology
Implementation of the CHIldren with acute COugh (CHICO) intervention to improve antibiotics management
British Journal of General Practice
Thesis
Assessing the changing risk factors associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Supervisors
Award date
01/01/1998