Kaitlin H. Wade (she/her)
University of Bristol
Research areas: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Genetics · Genetic Associations and Epidemiology · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Gut microbiota and health
0000-0003-3362-6280
About
After obtaining a joint-honours BSc in Biology and Mathematics at the University of Bristol, I was able to combine and apply these two fields to epidemiological study designs within the Wellcome Trust Genetic, Molecular and Lifecourse Epidemiology 4-year PhD. Specifically, the topic of my PhD was aimed at assessing various causes and consequences of cardiovascular health variation across the lifecourse, with focus on risk factors including early life behaviours, aspects of diet and eating behaviour, and adiposity. Throughout my PhD I was particularly interested in using methods to improve causal inference within observational epidemiological context, including the use of comprehensive longitudinal cohorts, randomized controlled trials and Mendelian randomization.
In my first postdoctoral role, I helped develop MR-Base, a continuously updated online platform that collates and harmonises summary-level data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and automates two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses, including a range of new sensitivity analyses. My research has since focused on the application of several causal inference methods (mainly Mendelian randomization and Recall-by-Genotype analyses) within large population-based cohorts to understand adiposity and dietary intake/eating behaviour as causal risk factors for disease and mortality within the BMI-to-Health group (PI: Professor Nicholas Timpson).
My independent academic career started with an awarded Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Early Career Fellow based within the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit in the Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), focusing on the application of causal inference methods and genetic epidemiology to understand the causal role played by the human gut microbiome within health and disease. Specifically, within this Fellowship, my aims were to understand the link between dietary intake and the gut microbiome and, in turn, its impact on colorectal cancer, type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases. I have continued this throughout my research career, most recently having obtained a Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Population Research Postdoctoral Fellowship where I focus specifically on the role of the gut microbiome in cancer aetiology and the appropriate use of Mendelian randomization within this context.
Alongside this, I was appointed as a Lecturer of Epidemiology in April 2020, taking up the role of Co-Director of the MSc Epidemiology at the University of Bristol. I am now an Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the Bristol Medical School. Therefore, my career is a balance between my teaching and research responsibilities.
Employment
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University of Bristol Associate Professor in Epidemiology2025 - Present
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University of Bristol Senior Lecturer of Epidemiology2023 - 2025
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University of Bristol Lecturer of Epidemiology2020 - 2023
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University of Bristol Research Fellow2018 - 2020
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University of Bristol Senior Research Associate2016 - 2018
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University of Bristol Research associate2015 - 2016
Education
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University of Bristol PhD, Genetic, Molecular and Lifecourse Epidemiology2011 - 2015
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University of Bristol BSc, Biology and Mathematics2008 - 2011
Projects & Funding
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Exploring the role of the human microbiome in diabetic kidney disease Kidney Research UK2022 - 2026
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Applying human genetics to interrogate the role of the human gut microbiome in cancer aetiology Cancer Research UK2021 - 2024
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To support or challenge the role of the human gut microbiome in the development of colorectal cancer using applied epidemiology and Mendelian randomization methodology UCRF2018 - 2019
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The human gut microbiome as a modifier of diet-related health Elizabeth Blackwell Institute2018 - 2020
Publications (90)
- Exploring the causal role of the human gut microbiome in breast cancer risk [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] Save
- Author Correction: Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes. Save
- Response to "Importance of method assumptions". Save
- Adiposity, metabolites and endometrial cancer risk: Mendelian randomization and Observational analyses Save
- Polygenic risk scores associate with blood pressure traits across the lifespan. Save
- Exploring the causal role of the human gut microbiome in endometrial cancer: a Mendelian randomization approach Save
- Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes. Save
- Systematic review and meta-analyses: What has the application of Mendelian randomization told us about the causal effect of adiposity on health outcomes? [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] Save
- Trial arm outcome variance difference after dropout as an indicator of missing-not-at-random bias in randomized controlled trials. Save
- Author Correction: Application of Mendelian randomization to explore the causal role of the human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer. Save
- Application of Mendelian randomization to explore the causal role of the human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer. Save
- Genetic Predictors for Fecal Propionate and Butyrate-Producing Microbiome Pathway Are Not Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis. Save
- Exploring the causal role of the human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer: Application of Mendelian randomization Save
- A multivariant recall-by-genotype study of the metabolomic signature of BMI. Save
- Large-scale GWAS of food liking reveals genetic determinants and genetic correlations with distinct neurophysiological traits. Save
- Treatment group outcome variance difference after dropout as an indicator of missing-not-at-random bias in randomized clinical trials Save
- Applying Mendelian randomization to appraise causality in relationships between nutrition and cancer. Save
- Sensitivity to missing not at random dropout in clinical trials: Use and interpretation of the trimmed means estimator. Save
- MC3R links nutritional state to childhood growth and the timing of puberty. Save
- Mendelian randomization analysis of the causal impact of body mass index and waist-hip ratio on rates of hospital admission. Save