BEMC OCT 2020 Gemma Sharp:Triangulating Causal Evidence Study Prenatal Influence on Offspring Health
Channel: Berlin Epidemiological Methods Colloquium
Date: 2020-10-08

It is widely recognised that exposures during pregnancy can influence child health, but remarkably little robust, scientific research supports this link. This limited evidence-base means that much of the current public health advice given to pregnant women is inconsistent, confusing and may potentially even be harmful. My research aims to better understand how both maternal and paternal lifestyles in the prenatal period influence offspring health outcomes. I am “triangulating” evidence from several approaches designed to infer causality: Mendelian Randomization, negative controls and sibling comparisons. I will discuss how these all have their own (different) sources of bias when used individually but can be especially insightful when used in combination (“triangulated”).