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Data Science & Evidence Synthesis Hub

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About the Hub

The Data Science & Evidence Synthesis Hub brings together expertise in data science, evidence synthesis, epidemiology, and translational nutrition to generate actionable insights for research, policy, and practice.

 

We work across diverse evidence sources and datasets, including cohort studies, biobanks, electronic health records, and structured literature reviews, to understand how nutrition, lifestyle, and related determinants influence health across the life course. Our work spans methodological innovation, applied analytics, capacity building, and strategic collaboration across academic, public, private, and civil society settings. 


Within this broad remit, we focus on integrated health outcomes, including cardiometabolic disease, cognitive function, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These conditions often intersect, influenced by complex interactions among diet, lifestyle, medication use, and metabolic health. By synthesising research and real-world evidence, the Hub aims to unravel these relationships, supporting the development of interventions and policies that promote holistic health across populations.

 

Cardiovascular disease prevention, cognitive resilience, and MASLD management are explored through case studies and applied analytics, illustrating the broader potential of evidence-informed strategies to improve population health. 

Data Sources

The Hub has access to multiple high-quality UK datasets, providing rich opportunities for research and evidence synthesis across nutrition, cardiometabolic health, cognition, and MASLD: 

  • National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS): Detailed dietary intake, nutrient status, and health markers across age groups, enabling analysis of diet–health relationships. 

  • National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD): Longitudinal birth cohort data including lifestyle, clinical, and cognitive measures, ideal for life-course analyses. 

  • NHS Health Records (Modality): Real-world clinical data capturing diagnoses, treatments, laboratory results, and outcomes. 

  • UK Biobank: Extensive biomedical data, including genetics, biomarkers, imaging, and lifestyle information from half a million participants, facilitating advanced population health research. 

Projects

Nutrition and Cognition Studies 

Using data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), the UK’s longest-running birth cohort, the project examined over seven decades of dietary, lifestyle, biomarker, and cognitive data. The primary focus was to identify early-life and mid-life nutritional and behavioural determinants of cognitive decline in older adults, providing insight into modifiable factors that could help preserve cognitive function and reduce the burden of dementia. 

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Objectives: 

  • Track cognitive change longitudinally using standardised cognitive assessments (ACE-III) to understand trajectories of decline. 

  • Investigate the relative influence of demographic, genetic (APOE ε4), nutritional, vascular, and inflammatory factors on overall cognitive decline and domain-specific changes such as memory, language, and visuospatial abilities. 

  • Identify pathways linking nutrition, metabolism, and cognition to inform targeted interventions and public health strategies. 

  • Enhance predictive models of cognitive decline and generate evidence for policy, clinical decision-making, and early intervention approaches. 

MASLD and Polypharmacy Systematic Review 

The MASLD and polypharmacy project focused on understanding the prevalence and clinical consequences of polypharmacy in individuals living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). MASLD is increasingly prevalent and often accompanied by multiple comorbidities, making medication management complex and potentially risky. This systematic review synthesised evidence from published and grey literature to quantify polypharmacy prevalence, identify commonly prescribed medications, and explore associated adverse outcomes and impacts on quality of life. 

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Objectives: 

  • Determine the prevalence of polypharmacy in adults with MASLD across available studies. 

  • Examine the associations between polypharmacy and adverse clinical outcomes.  

  • Evaluate impacts on patient-reported quality of life, including physical and mental health domains. 

  • Identify opportunities for interventions such as deprescribing and medication optimisation to mitigate risk and improve patient care. 

CVD Risk Identification and Prevention 

This project aimed to harness the power of data sharing and research partnerships to support more timely and effective CVD risk identification and prevention. Aligned with NNEdPro's mission to deliver education and empower professionals and policymakers, we also aim to further develop data literacy and capacity for action among relevant stakeholders in the public and private health systems. 

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Objectives:  

  • Use traditional regression models as well as innovative tools from causal inference to interrogate research and clinical datasets to disentangle the relative importance of behavioural and clinical risk factors and markers for CVD risk and total mortality, and inform innovations in public and private health policies.  

  • Provide bespoke training and collaboration opportunities to strengthen data and research literacy and capacity amongst health professionals and decision makers to support surveillance, service innovation and research. 

Malnutrition and Weight Management 

As part of the multi-institutional Obesity Blueprint project led by Nesta, the Hub contributed to a series of evidence reviews designed to inform national policy on obesity prevention and management. These reviews synthesise findings across informational, behavioural, environmental, policy, pharmaceutical, and surgical interventions. 

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The work addressed four priority areas: 

  1. Physical Activity Interventions 

  2. Environmental & Policy Interventions 

  3. Pharmaceutical interventions 

  4. Surgical interventions 

 

The project uses systematic review methods, critical appraisal, and statistical modelling to compare impact, reach, and cost-effectiveness across intervention types. This work provides policymakers and civil servants with a consolidated, actionable evidence base to guide strategic responses to rising obesity rates.

Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Papers and Abstracts 

2026 

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  • APOE ε4 Dosage and Longitudinal Cognitive Decline in Later Life: Findings from the NSHD and Implications for Nutrition Focused Research (Pending abstract submission to American Society of Nutrition (ASN))  

  • APOE ε4 Dosage, Cognitive Decline, and Exploratory Nutrition-Related Associations in Later Life: Findings from the NSHD (Pending abstract submission to American Society of Nutrition (ASN)) 

  • Precision Nutrition for Cognitive Health: Pilot Intervention Protocol for Service Development and Implementation (Pending abstract submission to American Society of Nutrition (ASN)) 

 

2025 

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  • Armes, S., Tibaes, J., Rajaram, R., et al. (2025). Prevalence of polypharmacy and associated side effects in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. doi:10.1136/bmjnph-2025-001236 

 

2024 

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  • Agwara, E., Armes, S., Lima do Vale, M., Delon, C., Golubic, R., Tramontt, C., De Paula, M., Ray, S., et al. (2024). Predictors of cardiovascular disease risk: Findings from the National Survey of Health and Development cohort. European Heart Journal, 45. 

  • Agwara, E.O., Armes, S., Lima do Vale, M., Delon, C., Rajaram, R., De Paula, M., Golubic, R., Ray, S. (2024). Predictors of cardiovascular disease risk and total mortality: Findings from the UK Biobank. Circulation, 150(Suppl_1) 

 

2023 

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  • Lima do Vale, M.R., Buckner, L., Mitrofan, C.G., Tramontt, C.R., Kargbo, S.K., Khalid, A., Ray, S., et al. (2023). A synthesis of pathways linking diet, metabolic risk and cardiovascular disease: a framework to guide further research and evidence-based practice. Nutrition Research Reviews, 36(2), 232–258. 

  • Tramontt, C.R., Mouti, S., Do Vale, M.L., Li, X., Golubic, R. and Ray, S., 2023. Do markers of adiposity and glycaemia mediate the association between low carbohydrate diet and cardiovascular risk factors: findings from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2016. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 6(2), p.153. 

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2022

 

  • ​8th International Summit on Empowering Global Nutrition with Digital Technology

    • Pre-Summit Satellite Event: Cardiometabolic Health: From Digital Data Science to Human Interventions

    • Building a holistic view of health: a deep-dive into diabetes in Asia (webinar delivered by Dr Adam Strange)

    • Investigating cardiometabolic risk factors in the Biobank data: Preliminary baseline models on total mortality and CVD mortality (webinar delivered by Dr Christine Delon)

  • Peer-reviewed publication

    • Tramontt, C.R. et al., (2022). The mediated effects of adiposity and glycaemia on low carbohydrate diets and markers of CVD risk: findings from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2016. (Under review)

 

2021

 

  • 7th International Summit on Nutrition and Health

    • Pre-Summit Satellite Event: A holistic view on health resilience, from the environment to nutrition (webinar delivered by Dr Jeffrey Bohn and Dr Christoph Nabholz)

  • Peer-reviewed publications

    • Lima do Vale, M. R. et al., (2021). A synthesis of pathways linking diet, metabolic risk and cardiovascular disease: a framework to guide further research and approaches to evidence-based practice. Nutrition research reviews, 1–27. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422421000378

    • Buckner, L. et al., (2021). The Association between Dietary Quality and Behaviours with Novel Cardiovascular Risk Biomarkers in the NSHD cohort (in preparation).

 

2020

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  • 6th International Summit on Medical Nutrition Education and Research.

    • Pre-Summit Satellite Event: Causal Inference – Results and Next Steps (webinar delivered by Dr Jeffrey Bohn)

    • Causal Inference Workshop - When should we change our minds? (webinar delivered by Dr Jeffrey Bohn)

    • Diet and Cardiometabolic Risk (webinar delivered by Prof Sumantra Ray, Dr Marjorie Vale, Nate Jensen, Dr Xiaowu Dai, and Dr Saad Mouti)

    • Diet and cardiovascular disease risk: New insights for research and practice (Webinar delivered to SRI).

 

2019

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Scientific Presentations

Data Security

As part of the Data Science & Evidence Synthesis Hub procedures, we abide by any data protection regulations in the countries where we work. Advanced security mechanisms that authenticate users and prevent unauthorised access to sensitive data are part of our IT safety standards.

 

This includes a 2-step authentication process to access the data. Data integrity is maintained by optimising access to data and shareability, as well as the trackability of changes made. 

Project Team

  • Halima Jama 

  • Jenneffer Tibaes 

  • Luigi Palla 

  • Marjorie Lima do Vale 

  • Priyanka Kotak 

  • Rajna Golubic 

  • Ramya Rajaram 

  • Sarah Armes 

  • Sumantra Ray

Partners and Supporters

  • Jampolis Family 

  • Holland & Barrett 

  • HEIGHTS 

  • Swiss Re Institute 

  • Modality Partnership 

  • Randox Health 

  • Nesta

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