Helen Colhoun Research Group

Diabetes Medical Informatics and Epidemiology

Professor Helen Colhoun

AXA Chair in Medical Informatics and Life Course Epidemiology & Honorary Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Scotland

Contact details

Contact


Please email sdrn-epi@ed.ac.uk


Research in a Nutshell

The Colhoun group research programme encompasses:

  • Drug target discovery using genetic and proteomic datasets – see gategenetargets 
  • Studies of the epidemiology and genetic and non-genetic determinants of type 1 diabetes and its complications in large scale datasets 
  • Real-world pharmacoepidemiology studies of drugs used in diabetes 
  • Epidemiological studies of diabetes and its complications in the Scottish population to inform preventive policies
  • Design and coordination of large-scale clinical trials with industrial partners

The group has generated and manages large scale data resources from the Scottish population with diabetes including the Scottish Diabetes Research Network Type 1 Bioresource and the National Diabetes Research Platform.

Helen Colhoun Research Group 2026

People

NameRole
Helen ColhounLeading Professor of the Helen Colhoun Research Group
Paul McKeigueProfessor of Statistical Genetics, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh
Stuart McGurnaghanSenior Software Developer and Data Analyst
Luke BlackbournSoftware and Database Analyst
Joe MellorMachine Learning Specialist, based at the Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh
William BerthonBiostatistician / Epidemiologist / Health Data Scientist
Andrew WilsonResearch Coordinator and Personal Assistant to Professor Helen Colhoun
Andrii IakovlievMRC Cross-Disciplinary Postdoctoral Fellow (XDF)
Svitlana BraichenkoMRC Cross-Disciplinary Postdoctoral Fellow (XDF)
Xuan ZhouPostdoctoral Researcher

Affiliates

NameRole
Athina SpiliopoulouChancellor’s Fellow in Data-Driven Innovation at the Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh
Jay DyerResearch Fellow (Biostatistician/Machine Learning Scientist), Usher Institute
Rebecca KerriganPhD student

Key Publications

Research Advisory Panel- DMI&E Group

The Diabetes Medical Informatics and Epidemiology (DMI&E) research group organises 3-4 meetings of their internal Research Advisory Panel per year, lasting around 1-2 hours each. These meetings are completed either in-person or virtually, to fit in around the panel’s existing commitments/schedule.

The purpose of the meetings is to:

  • discuss our wider research strategy, upcoming opportunities, individual studies based on current patient interests/priorities
  • review proposed individual study methodology and wider dissemination strategy
  • provide feedback/letter of support for upcoming grant applications and press releases

Each member of our panel is remunerated for their time and participation in each meeting in accordance with National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) guidelines, along with reimbursement of any necessary expenses incurred through participation in our panel meetings.

No experience is necessary to join- we endeavour to provide available training to anyone interested in knowing more about their role and it's importance to the conduct of research as part of a panel such as this one.

For any informal enquires about our Research Advisory Panel, please email the Research Coordinator at awilso39@ed.ac.uk

Partners and Funders

  • AXA Research Fund
  • JDRF
  • Diabetes UK
  • EU Commission: Innovative Medicines Initiative
  • IQVIA
  • Medical Research Council
  • Novo Nordisk
  • Scottish Government

Scientific Themes

Drug target identification, Prediction modelling, Disease Stratification, Artificial Intelligence, Epidemiology, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Complications

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