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Cambridge Public Health

 

Epidemiology of chronic disease, Genetic susceptibility, Environmental factors

I have worked for several years in chronic noncommunicable disease epidemiology, and I am particularly interested in understanding the impact of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors on chronic disease, as well as to examine their interplay.

I currently assess cancer health outcomes and the effect of different treatments in cancer patients with inherited cancer susceptibility genes (e.g. BRCA1, BRC2), using cancer registry data, molecular data among other routinely collected electronic health nodes. I have also examined the increased risk and possible causal associations between blood biomarkers and mortality, using data from large observational studies (e.g. UK Biobank, European multicentre studies). Earlier on, I designed a study investigating survival and disease severity in a rare disease as well as a study examining prescribed medication at primary health care, applying advanced methods to assess the variation over space and time and gaining more reliable results.

For my work, I have employed multiple analytical strategies, including several regression analyses, cox proportional hazards and Mendelian Randomisation analyses as well as constructed Genetic Risk Scores and conducted linear and logistic Genome-wide associations (GWASs). These statistical models allowed quantifying associations among health outcomes and risk factors.

I am also responsible for teaching Ecological & Geographical studies in the MPhil Epidemiology and Public Health, as well as student supervision.

es630@medschl.cam.ac.uk or @ESofianopoulou on Twitter

Publications from Elements

Journal articles

2020 (Accepted for publication)

  • Allara, E., Ripoll Gallardo, A., Fabiani, L., Barone-Adesi, F., Sofianopoulou, E., Ragazzoni, L., Wood, A., Faggiano, F. and Della Corte, F., 2020 (Accepted for publication). Initial plans for a large-scale investigation into the chronic health effects of earthquakes in Italy: building on Barbara Pacelli’s legacy Epidemiologia e prevenzione,
  • Sun, L., Pennells, L., Kaptoge, S., Nelson, C., Ritchie, S., Abraham, G., Arnold, M., Bell, S., Bolton, T., Burgess, S., Dudbridge, F., Guo, Q., Sofianopoulou, E., Stevens, D., Thompson, JR., Butterworth, A., Danesh, J., Samani, N., Inouye, M. and Di Angelantonio, E., 2020 (Accepted for publication). Polygenic risk scores in cardiovascular risk prediction: prospective cohort study and modelling analyses PLoS Medicine,
  • Zheng, J., Luan, J., Sofianopoulou, E., Imamura, F., Stewart, ID., Day, FR., Pietzner, M., Wheeler, E., Lotta, LA., Gundersen, TE., Amiano, P., Ardanaz, E., Chirlaque, M., Fagherazzi, G., Franks, PW., Kaaks, R., Laouali, N., Romana Mancini, F., Nilsson, PM., Onland-Moret, NC., Olsen, A., Overvad, K., Panico, S., Palli, D., Ricceri, F., Rolandsson, O., Spijkerman, AMW., Sanchez, M., Schulze, MB., Sala, N., Sieri, S., Tjonneland, A., Tumino, R., van der Schouw, YT., Weiderpass, E., Riboli, E., Danesh, J., Butterworth, AS., Sharp, SJ., Langenberg, C., Forouhi, NG. and Wareham, NJ., 2020 (Accepted for publication). Plasma vitamin C and type 2 diabetes: genome-wide association study and Mendelian randomization analysis in European populations Diabetes Care,
  • Zheng, J., Luan, J., Sofianopoulou, E., Sharp, SJ., Day, FR., Imamura, F., Lotta, L., Stewart, ID., Shah, RL., Wheeler, E., Khaw, K., Tong, Y., Danesh, J., Butterworth, AS., Langenberg, C., Forouhi, N. and Wareham, NJ., 2020 (Accepted for publication). The association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D metabolites and type 2 diabetes in European populations: a meta-analysis and Mendelian randomisation analysis PLoS Medicine,
  • 2020

  • Toshner, M., Morrell, N., Eleni, S., Colin, C., Gerry, C., Luke, H., Martin, J., David, K., Allan, L., James, L., Martin, W. and Stephen, W., 2020. Deprivation and prognosis in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: missing the effect of deprivation on a rare disease? The European respiratory journal : official journal of the European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology,
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02334-2019
  • 2019 (Accepted for publication)

  • Kaptoge, S., Pennells, L., De Bacquer, D., Bell, S., Chowdhury, R., Sofianopoulou, E., Wareham, N., Wood, A., Danesh, J. and Di Angelantonio, E., 2019 (Accepted for publication). World Health Organization cardiovascular disease risk charts: revised models to estimate risk in 21 global regions The Lancet Global Health,
  • 2019

  • Touloumi, G., Karakatsani, A., Karakosta, A., Sofianopoulou, E., Koustenis, P., Gavana, M., Alamanos, Y., Kantzanou, M., Konstantakopoulos, G., Chryssochoou, X., Benos, A., Vantarakis, A., Hadjichristodoulou, C., Chlouverakis, G., Trypsianis, G., Voulgari, PV., Makrilakis, K., Liatis, S., Stergiou, G. and EMENO Study Group, , 2019. National Survey of Morbidity and Risk Factors (EMENO): Protocol for a Health Examination Survey Representative of the Adult Greek Population. JMIR Res Protoc, v. 8
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.2196/10997
  • Sofianopoulou, E., Kaptoge, S., Graf, S., Hadinnapola, C., Treacy, C., Di Angelantonio, E., Provencher, S. and Morrell, N., 2019. TRAFFIC EXPOSURES, AIR POLLUTION AND OUTCOMES IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION: A UNITED KINGDOM COHORT STUDY ANALYSIS European Journal of Population,
  • 2017 (Accepted for publication)

  • Danesh, J., Butterworth, A. and Wareham, N., 2017 (Accepted for publication). Genome-wide association study in 79,366 European-ancestry Individuals Informs the Genetic Architecture of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Nature,
  • 2017

  • Sofianopoulou, E., Pless-Mulloli, T., Rushton, S. and Diggle, P., 2017. Modelling seasonal and spatio-temporal variation in respiratory prescribing: the example of respiratory prescribing American Journal of Epidemiology, v. 186
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kww246
  • Sofianopoulou, E., Pless-Mulloli, T., Rushton, S. and Diggle, PJ., 2017. Modeling Seasonal and Spatiotemporal Variation: The Example of Respiratory Prescribing. Am J Epidemiol, v. 186
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kww246
  • 2016 (Accepted for publication)

  • Global BMI Mortality Collaboration, , Di Angelantonio, E., Bhupathiraju, S., Wormser, D., Gao, P., Kaptoge, S., Berrington de Gonzalez, A., Cairns, B., Huxley, R., Jackson, C., Joshy, G., Lewington, S., Manson, J., Murphy, N., Patel, A., Samet, J., Woodward, M., Zheng, W., Zhou, M., Bansal, N., Barricarte, A., Carter, B., Cerhan, J., Smith, G., Fang, X., Franco, O., Green, J., Halsey, J., Hildebrand, J., Jung, K., Korda, R., McLerran, D., Moore, S., O'Keeffe, L., Paige, E., Ramond, A., Reeves, G., Rolland, B., Sacerdote, C., Sattar, N., Sofianopoulou, E., Stevens, J., Thun, M., Ueshima, H., Yang, L., Yun, Y., Willeit, P., Banks, E., Beral, V., Chen, Z., Gapstur, S., Gunter, M., Hartge, P., Jee, S., Lam, T-H., Peto, R., Potter, J., Willett, W., Thompson, S., Danesh, J. and Hu, F., 2016 (Accepted for publication). Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents. Lancet, v. 388
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30175-1
  • 2015

  • Bevan, R., Rubin, G., Sofianopoulou, E., Patnick, J. and Rees, CJ., 2015. Implementing a national flexible sigmoidoscopy screening program: results of the English early pilot. Endoscopy, v. 47
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1378119
  • 2014

  • Sofianopoulou, E., Rushton, SP., Diggle, PJ. and Pless-Mulloli, T., 2014. Association between respiratory prescribing, air pollution and deprivation (vol 35, pg 502, 2013) JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, v. 36
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdu008
  • 2013

  • Konstantakopoulos, G., Sofianopoulou, E., Touloumi, G. and Ploumpidis, D., 2013. [Ultra-short questionnaires for the detection of depression and anxiety]. Psychiatriki, v. 24
  • Sofianopoulou, E., Rushton, SP., Diggle, PJ. and Pless-Mulloli, T., 2013. Association between respiratory prescribing, air pollution and deprivation, in primary health care. J Public Health (Oxf), v. 35
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdt107
  • 2012

  • Sofianopoulou, E., Rushton, S., Rubin, G. and Pless-Mulloli, T., 2012. Defining GP practice areas based on true service utilisation. Health Place, v. 18
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.08.006
  • Conference proceedings

    2012

  • Sofianopoulou, E., Rubin, G., Ritchie, M., Patnick, J. and Rees, C., 2012. PILOT OF FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY SCREENING TO PREVENT COLORECTAL CANCER GUT, v. 61
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302514d.77
  • 2009

  • Sofianopoulou, E., Pless-Mulloli, T. and Rushton, S., 2009. Estimating Traffic Exposure in Primary Care Service Areas EPIDEMIOLOGY, v. 20
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1097/01.ede.0000362682.96930.0e
  • Sofianopoulou, E., Rushton, S. and Pless-Mulloli, T., 2009. Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Short-Acting β<sub>2</sub> Prescribing EPIDEMIOLOGY, v. 20
    Doi: 10.1097/01.ede.0000362684.98715.d1
  • 2006

  • Sofianopoulou, E., Pless-mulloli, T. and Rushtont, S., 2006. Use of spatial autocorrelation to investigate clustering of health deprivation EPIDEMIOLOGY, v. 17
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1097/00001648-200611001-00228