Health study with 11,000 participants celebrates 10 year anniversary
Team members and participants from the EXCEED study
A major health study led by the University of Leicester has recruited a staggering 11,000 patients across the city and county since it began 10 years ago.
The EXCEED study – Extended Cohort for E-health, Environment and DNA - looks at the causes of long-term health conditions by collecting information about genes and lifestyle.
Now a celebratory 10-year anniversary event to highlight the research and successes achieved since its inception will take place on Wednesday 6 September at the University’s Bob Burgess building.
It will bring research participants from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, as well as the public together with healthcare workers and scientists and highlight the findings of nine of the 54 studies undertaken as part of EXCEED.
Research topics it will cover span respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, lipid levels and liver disease, thyroid disease, COVID-19, multiple long-term conditions, mental health, drug response, and clinical trials.
There will also be opportunities to find out more and ask questions through a panel of scientists and participants chaired by a guest broadcaster.
Scientific Director of the Study, Dr Catherine John from the University of Leicester Department of Population Health Sciences, said: “We wholeheartedly want to thank EXCEED participants for their contributions to locally-led, locally-relevant research that has already impacted our understanding of so many different health conditions for which improved treatments are needed.”
The study contributes to understanding long term health conditions and why they occur with more than one-quarter (2,750) of its participants having two or more long term health issues.
In March this year, the team leading EXCEED reported the most confident picture yet of how our genes affect our lung health.
The findings, reported in the journal Nature Genetics, showed how data from lung health measures and DNA in participants and similar studies can improve understanding as scientists seek to uncover which medicines may help improve lung health.
The study was supported by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. Leicester’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre aims to push the boundaries of science in a quest for answers and for improved care for people at risk of long-term conditions.
Principal Investigator on the study, Professor Martin Tobin from the University of Leicester Department of Population Health Sciences, added: “We look forward to sharing and discussing research findings with participants at the event and to seeking the views of participants and the public on research priorities as we plan the next years of the EXCEED Study research.”
Registration for the event, which runs from 8.45am to 3pm with buffet lunch and refreshments provided, is essential.