Personal information

Mendelian randomization, Gut microbiome/bacteria, Genetic epidemiology, Epidemiology, Body mass index, body composition, adiposity, Cardiometabolic health, Colorectal cancer, Inflammatory bowel diseases, Type 2 diabetes
United Kingdom

Biography

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, and was recently promoted to Senior Lecturer of Epidemiology in February 2023. Therefore, my career is a balance between my teaching and research responsibilities.

Activities

Employment (5)

University of Bristol: Bristol, GB

2023-01-02 to present | Senior Lecturer of Epidemiology (Bristol Medical School)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

University of Bristol: Bristol, GB

2020-04-01 to present | Lecturer of Epidemiology (Bristol Medical School)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

University of Bristol: Bristol, Bristol, GB

2018-12 to 2020-04-01 | Research Fellow (Elizabeth Blackwell Institute)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

University of Bristol: Bristol, GB

2016-10 to 2018-12 | Senior Research Associate (BMI-to-Health Group)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

University of Bristol: Bristol, GB

2015-10 to 2016-10 | Research associate (Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

Education and qualifications (2)

University of Bristol: Bristol, GB

2011-10-01 to 2015-10-01 | PhD, Genetic, Molecular and Lifecourse Epidemiology (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

University of Bristol: Bristol, GB

2008-09-01 to 2011-07-01 | BSc, Biology and Mathematics
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

Funding (4)

Exploring the role of the human microbiome in diabetic kidney disease

2022-10 to 2026-03 | Grant
Kidney Research UK (Bristol, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

Applying human genetics to interrogate the role of the human gut microbiome in cancer aetiology

2021-07 to 2024-06 | Salary award
Cancer Research UK (Bristol, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

The human gut microbiome as a modifier of diet-related health

2018-12 to 2020-04 | Salary award
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute (Bristol, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

To support or challenge the role of the human gut microbiome in the development of colorectal cancer using applied epidemiology and Mendelian randomization methodology

2018-08 to 2019-08 | Grant
UCRF (Bristol, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade

Works (50 of 89)

Items per page:
Page 1 of 2

Author Correction: Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes.

Genome biology
2024-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Bradfeld JP; Kember RL; Ulrich A; Balkhiyarova Z; Alyass A; Aris IM; Bell JA; Broadaway KA; Chen Z; Chai JF et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Response to "Importance of method assumptions".

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
2024-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Wade KH; Timpson NJ; Hamilton FW; Sattar N; Carslake D; Davey Smith G
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Adiposity, metabolites and endometrial cancer risk: Mendelian randomization and Observational analyses

2024-04 | Preprint
Contributors: Lee MA; Tan VY; Pournaras DJ; Wang S; Dossus L; Gunter MJ; Wade KH; Corbin LJ; Timpson NJ
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Polygenic risk scores associate with blood pressure traits across the lifespan.

European journal of preventive cardiology
2024-04 | Journal article
Contributors: Øvretveit K; Ingeström EML; Spitieris M; Tragante V; Wade KH; Thomas LF; Wolford BN; Wisløff U; Gudbjartsson DF; Holm H et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Exploring the causal role of the human gut microbiome in endometrial cancer: a Mendelian randomization approach

2024-03 | Preprint
Contributors: Fryer E; Hatcher C; Knight R; Wade K
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes.

Genome biology
2024-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Bradfield JP; Kember RL; Ulrich A; Balkhiyarova Z; Alyass A; Aris IM; Bell JA; Broadaway KA; Chen Z; Chai JF et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Trial arm outcome variance difference after dropout as an indicator of missing-not-at-random bias in randomized controlled trials.

Biometrical journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift
2023-09 | Journal article
Contributors: Hazewinkel AD; Tilling K; Wade KH; Palmer T
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

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]

2023-09-13 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2398-502X
Funded by GRANT_NUMBER:

202802

Funded by GRANT_NUMBER: MC\_UU\_00011/1-7
Funded by GRANT_NUMBER: MR/R502340/1
Contributors: Matthew A Lee; Charlie Hatcher; Luke A McGuinness; Nancy McBride; Thomas Battram; Wenxin Wan; Si Fang; Kaitlin H Wade; Laura J Corbin; Nicholas J Timpson et al.
Source: check_circle
Wellcome Open Research

Author Correction: Application of Mendelian randomization to explore the causal role of the human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer.

Scientific reports
2023-07 | Journal article
Contributors: Hatcher C; Richenberg G; Waterson S; Nguyen LH; Joshi AD; Carreras-Torres R; Moreno V; Chan AT; Gunter M; Lin Y et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Application of Mendelian randomization to explore the causal role of the human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer.

Scientific reports
2023-04 | Journal article
Contributors: Hatcher C; Richenberg G; Waterson S; Nguyen LH; Joshi AD; Carreras-Torres R; Moreno V; Chan AT; Gunter M; Lin Y et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Genetic Predictors for Fecal Propionate and Butyrate-Producing Microbiome Pathway Are Not Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
2023-02 | Journal article
Contributors: Lu Y; Zhao YC; Chang-Claude J; Gruber SB; Gsur A; Offit K; Vodickova L; Woods MO; Nguyen LH; Wade KH et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Exploring the causal role of the human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer: Application of Mendelian randomization

2022-10 | Preprint
Contributors: Hatcher C; Richenberg G; Waterson S; Nguyen LH; Joshi AD; Carreras-Torres R; Moreno V; Chan AT; Gunter M; Lin Y et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

A multivariant recall-by-genotype study of the metabolomic signature of BMI.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
2022-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Fang S; Wade KH; Hughes DA; Fitzgibbon S; Yip V; Timpson NJ; Corbin LJ
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Large-scale GWAS of food liking reveals genetic determinants and genetic correlations with distinct neurophysiological traits.

Nature communications
2022-05 | Journal article
Contributors: May-Wilson S; Matoba N; Wade KH; Hottenga JJ; Concas MP; Mangino M; Grzeszkowiak EJ; Menni C; Gasparini P; Timpson NJ et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Treatment group outcome variance difference after dropout as an indicator of missing-not-at-random bias in randomized clinical trials

2022-04 | Preprint
Contributors: Hazewinkel A; Tilling K; Wade KH; Palmer T
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Applying Mendelian randomization to appraise causality in relationships between nutrition and cancer.

Cancer causes & control : CCC
2022-03 | Journal article
Contributors: Wade KH; Yarmolinsky J; Giovannucci E; Lewis SJ; Millwood IY; Munafò MR; Meddens F; Burrows K; Bell JA; Davies NM et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Sensitivity to missing not at random dropout in clinical trials: Use and interpretation of the trimmed means estimator.

Statistics in medicine
2022-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Hazewinkel AD; Bowden J; Wade KH; Palmer T; Wiles NJ; Tilling K
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

MC3R links nutritional state to childhood growth and the timing of puberty.

Nature
2021-11 | Journal article
Contributors: Lam BYH; Williamson A; Finer S; Day FR; Tadross JA; Gonçalves Soares A; Wade K; Sweeney P; Bedenbaugh MN; Porter DT et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Mendelian randomization analysis of the causal impact of body mass index and waist-hip ratio on rates of hospital admission.

Economics and human biology
2021-11 | Journal article
Contributors: Hazewinkel AD; Richmond RC; Wade KH; Dixon P
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

A multi-variant recall-by-genotype study of the metabolomic signature of body mass index

2021-10 | Preprint
Contributors: Fang S; Wade KH; Hughes DA; Fitzgibbon S; Yip V; Timpson NJ; Corbin LJ
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Body muscle gain and markers of cardiovascular disease susceptibility in young adulthood: A cohort study.

PLoS medicine
2021-09 | Journal article
Contributors: Bell JA; Wade KH; O'Keeffe LM; Carslake D; Vincent EE; Holmes MV; Timpson NJ; Davey Smith G
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Is disrupted sleep a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease? Evidence from a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.

International journal of epidemiology
2021-07 | Journal article
Contributors: Anderson EL; Richmond RC; Jones SE; Hemani G; Wade KH; Dashti HS; Lane JM; Wang H; Saxena R; Brumpton B et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Large-scale genome-wide association study of food liking reveals genetic determinants and genetic correlations with distinct neurophysiological traits

2021-07 | Preprint
Contributors: May-Wilson S; Matoba N; Wade K; Hottenga J; Concas MP; Mangino M; Grzeszkowiak EJ; Menni C; Gasparini P; Timpson NJ et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Piloting the objective measurement of eating weight and speed at a population scale: a nested study within the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]

2021-06-16 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2398-502X
Contributors: Kaitlin H. Wade; Laura Clifford; Andrew J. Simpkin; Rhona Beynon; Laura Birch; Kate Northstone; Sarah Matthews; George Davey Smith; Julian Hamilton-Shield; Nicholas J. Timpson
Source: check_circle
Wellcome Open Research

Loss-of-function mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor in a UK birth cohort.

Nature medicine
2021-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Wade KH; Lam BYH; Melvin A; Pan W; Corbin LJ; Hughes DA; Rainbow K; Chen JH; Duckett K; Liu X et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Investigating the relationships between unfavourable habitual sleep and metabolomic traits: evidence from multi-cohort multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization analyses.

BMC medicine
2021-03 | Journal article
Contributors: Bos MM; Goulding NJ; Lee MA; Hofman A; Bot M; Pool R; Vijfhuizen LS; Zhang X; Li C; Mustafa R et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Sensitivity to missing not at random dropout in clinical trials: use and interpretation of the Trimmed Means Estimator

2021-03 | Preprint
Contributors: Hazewinkel A; Bowden J; Wade KH; Palmer T; Wiles N; Tilling K
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Estimating the causal effect of BMI on mortality risk in people with heart disease, diabetes and cancer using Mendelian randomization.

International journal of cardiology
2021-02 | Journal article
Contributors: Jenkins DA; Wade KH; Carslake D; Bowden J; Sattar N; Loos RJF; Timpson NJ; Sperrin M; Rutter MK
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Common health conditions in childhood and adolescence, school absence, and educational attainment: Mendelian randomization study.

NPJ science of learning
2021-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Hughes A; Wade KH; Dickson M; Rice F; Davies A; Davies NM; Howe LD
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Large-scale association analyses identify host factors influencing human gut microbiome composition.

Nature genetics
2021-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Kurilshikov A; Medina-Gomez C; Bacigalupe R; Radjabzadeh D; Wang J; Demirkan A; Le Roy CI; Raygoza Garay JA; Finnicum CT; Liu X et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Prevalence and expressivity of loss of function mutations in the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (<i>MC4R</i>) in a UK birth cohort

2020-11 | Preprint
Contributors: Wade K; Lam B; Melvin A; Pan W; Corbin L; Hughes D; Rainbow K; Chen J; Duckett K; Liu X et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Investigating the relationships between unfavorable sleep and metabolomic traits: evidence from multi-cohort multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization analyses

2020-09 | Preprint
Contributors: Bos MM; Goulding NJ; Lee MA; Hofman A; Bot M; Pool R; Vijfhuizen LS; Zhang X; Li C; Mustafa R et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Education, intelligence and Alzheimer's disease: evidence from a multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

International journal of epidemiology
2020-08 | Journal article
Contributors: Anderson EL; Howe LD; Wade KH; Ben-Shlomo Y; Hill WD; Deary IJ; Sanderson EC; Zheng J; Korologou-Linden R; Stergiakouli E et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Body muscle gain and markers of cardiovascular disease susceptibility in young adulthood: prospective cohort study

2020-07 | Preprint
Contributors: Bell JA; Wade KH; O’Keeffe LM; Carslake D; Vincent EE; Holmes MV; Timpson NJ; Smith GD
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Common variation at 16p11.2 is associated with glycosuria in pregnancy: findings from a genome-wide association study in European women.

Human molecular genetics
2020-07 | Journal article
Contributors: Lee MA; McMahon G; Karhunen V; Wade KH; Corbin LJ; Hughes DA; Smith GD; Lawlor DA; Jarvelin MR; Timpson NJ
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Mendelian Randomization analysis of the causal impact of body mass index and waist-hip ratio on rates of hospital admission

2020-07 | Preprint
Contributors: Hazewinkel A; Richmond RC; Wade KH; Dixon P
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Genome-wide associations of human gut microbiome variation and implications for causal inference analyses.

Nature microbiology
2020-06 | Journal article
Contributors: Hughes DA; Bacigalupe R; Wang J; Rühlemann MC; Tito RY; Falony G; Joossens M; Vieira-Silva S; Henckaerts L; Rymenans L et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Large-scale association analyses identify host factors influencing human gut microbiome composition

2020-06 | Preprint
Contributors: Kurilshikov A; Medina-Gomez C; Bacigalupe R; Radjabzadeh D; Wang J; Demirkan A; Roy CIL; Raygoza Garay JA; Finnicum CT; Liu X et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Genomic analysis of diet composition finds novel loci and associations with health and lifestyle.

Molecular psychiatry
2020-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Meddens SFW; de Vlaming R; Bowers P; Burik CAP; Linnér RK; Lee C; Okbay A; Turley P; Rietveld CA; Fontana MA et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Improving causality in microbiome research: can human genetic epidemiology help? [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]

2020-04-24 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2398-502X
Contributors: Kaitlin H. Wade; Lindsay J. Hall
Source: check_circle
Wellcome Open Research

Common health conditions in childhood and adolescence, school absence, and educational attainment: Mendelian randomization study

2019-11 | Preprint
Contributors: Hughes A; Wade KH; Rice F; Dickson M; Davies A; Davies NM; Howe LD
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Mendelian randomisation for nutritional psychiatry.

The lancet. Psychiatry
2019-11 | Journal article
Contributors: Carnegie R; Zheng J; Sallis HM; Jones HJ; Wade KH; Evans J; Zammit S; Munafò MR; Martin RM
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Determinants of Intima-Media Thickness in the Young: The ALSPAC Study.

JACC. Cardiovascular imaging
2019-10 | Journal article
Contributors: Chiesa ST; Charakida M; Georgiopoulos G; Dangardt F; Wade KH; Rapala A; Bhowruth DJ; Nguyen HC; Muthurangu V; Shroff R et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Variation of all-cause and cause-specific mortality with body mass index in one million Swedish parent-son pairs: An instrumental variable analysis.

PLoS medicine
2019-08 | Journal article
Contributors: Wade KH; Carslake D; Tynelius P; Davey Smith G; Martin RM
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

A Phenome-Wide Mendelian Randomization Study of Pancreatic Cancer Using Summary Genetic Data.

Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
2019-07 | Journal article
Contributors: Langdon RJ; Richmond RC; Hemani G; Zheng J; Wade KH; Carreras-Torres R; Johansson M; Brennan P; Wootton RE; Munafo MR et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Association between fat mass through adolescence and arterial stiffness: a population-based study from The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

The Lancet. Child & adolescent health
2019-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Dangardt F; Charakida M; Georgiopoulos G; Chiesa ST; Rapala A; Wade KH; Hughes AD; Timpson NJ; Pateras K; Finer N et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Is disrupted sleep a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease? Evidence from a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

2019-04 | Preprint
Contributors: Anderson EL; Richmond RC; Jones SE; Hemani G; Wade KH; Dashti HS; Lane JM; Wang H; Saxena R; Brumpton B et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Polygenic Prediction of Weight and Obesity Trajectories from Birth to Adulthood.

Cell
2019-04 | Journal article
Contributors: Khera AV; Chaffin M; Wade KH; Zahid S; Brancale J; Xia R; Distefano M; Senol-Cosar O; Haas ME; Bick A et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Apparent latent structure within the UK Biobank sample has implications for epidemiological analysis.

Nature communications
2019-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Haworth S; Mitchell R; Corbin L; Wade KH; Dudding T; Budu-Aggrey A; Carslake D; Hemani G; Paternoster L; Smith GD et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central

Associations of Body Mass and Fat Indexes With Cardiometabolic Traits.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
2018-12 | Journal article
Contributors: Bell JA; Carslake D; O'Keeffe LM; Frysz M; Howe LD; Hamer M; Wade KH; Timpson NJ; Davey Smith G
Source: Self-asserted source
Kaitlin H. Wade via Europe PubMed Central
Items per page:
Page 1 of 2

Peer review (3 reviews for 3 publications/grants)

Review activity for Communications medicine. (1)
Review activity for International journal of obesity. (1)
Review activity for The Journal of nutrition, health & aging. (1)