Genetic and Environmental Factors Influencing Health and Well-Being
Date: Monday 3rd April 2017
Time: 7pm
Venue: the Victorian Bar, Tron Theatre
Speaker: Donald Lyall
Summary: Genetic epidemiology research is about quantifying and understanding genetic contributions to health and well-being, and their potential interaction with environmental and lifestyle factors. Donald will explore how genetic research helps us to understand the mechanisms of diseases like dementia, how it can contribute to better treatment, and why it is currently such an exciting time to be a genetic epidemiologist. He’ll also discuss why you should take some headlines with a pinch of salt, and why you should beware of a scientist’s file drawer!
About the Speaker:
Donald is a post-doctoral researcher in the Institute for Health and Wellbeing, at the University of Glasgow. His PhD at the University of Edinburgh looked at how genetic risk for dementia associates with brain structure and mental ability into older age. His current research looks at how genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to cardiovascular and mental health in the UK Biobank cohort, a large sample of around 500,000 people from across the United Kingdom.