MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre

The mission of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre is to use lifecourse epidemiological methods to reduce the population burden of chronic musculoskeletal disease and disability.

We will achieve this mission by optimising musculoskeletal health (bone, muscle and joint) through the development and testing of lifestyle, behavioural and pharmacological interventions informed by our observational studies; and by using these findings to influence health policy.

Our specific aims are to:

  • delineate the environmental influences, throughout the lifecourse, of age-related musculoskeletal (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and sarcopenia) and metabolic disease;
  • use our findings to develop and test population-based and targeted interventions to improve musculoskeletal and metabolic health throughout the lifecourse;
  • maintain and develop the long-term cohorts/trials assembled in Southampton as national and international resources to explore the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins and later causes of musculoskeletal health and disease;
  • inform health policy and promote training, research capacity development, knowledge transfer and public engagement in lifecourse epidemiology.