Approved Research

The epidemiology of autoimmune diseases in the UK and China

Lay summary

Autoimmune diseases are a cause of considerable ill health and disability worldwide, particularly in developed countries. To date, over 80 different diseases have been identified, with more affecting women and younger populations. Individually each autoimmune disease is rare or uncommon, but as a group they are common. As such, they are particularly well suited to be studied using large biobanks.

This study proposes to investigate the trends in autoimmune diseases, comparing how common they are in both the UK and China, and the change over time. The role of lifestyle, dietary, environmental and genetic risk factors, and the association with other autoimmune diseases will also be investigated. The datasets will be investigated as part of a doctoral degree on the epidemiology of autoimmune diseases, over a period of 48 months.

By identifying the commonalities and differences between regions, and the risk factors involved, this study aims to identify targets for clinical and public health interventions, that will ultimately help reduce the impact of this group of diseases as a whole.