UniMan Interests

Our group focuses on transforming midlife and later-life health by shifting prevention from a deficit- and risk-based paradigm to a gain-based, biology-first approach. We integrate large population cohorts (notably UK Biobank and international partners), multi-omics (epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics, genetics), digital health data, and advanced epidemiology to identify shared biological endotypes that cut across cancer, dementia, cardiometabolic disease, and frailty.

As well as large scale data analyses we also undertake community-based intervention trials to evaluate approaches to multi-disease prevention and early detection approaches.

Our work also seeks to use AI and small/large language models to translate complex biological and risk information into meaningful, motivating, and equitable feedback for individuals and communities.

Central scientific themes include biological ageing, immune–metabolic function, resilience, and sex- and midlife-specific transitions, alongside growing work on immune health as a core determinant of healthspan and adaptive capacity across the life course.

In forthcoming EU opportunities, we see strong collaboration potential with groups also interested in omics platforms and biomarker development, immune and inflammatory biology, environmental and climate health, neuroscience and brain ageing, behavioural and implementation science, and ethical, trustworthy AI.

We also have an increasing interest in understanding how climate change and environmental stressors—including air pollution, heat, and ecosystem disruption—interact with immune function and biological ageing to shape long-term disease risk and resilience.

Priority collaboration areas include exposome-informed prevention, biomarkers of immune resilience and recovery, embedded intervention trials, and scalable digital tools that support adaptive health behaviours under environmental stress.

We welcome partnerships that enhance cross-country comparison, policy relevance, and real-world impact, closely aligned with EU priorities on prevention, sustainability, equity, and healthy ageing.