EPIC-Norfolk Study
The EPIC-Norfolk Study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer) is a cornerstone of public health research, part of a major international collaboration aiming to uncover the determinants of health in middle and later life, with significant contributions to understanding the impact of diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors on chronic diseases.
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC Norfolk study) is part of a 10-country half a million participant research collaboration, ongoing over three decades, to better understand the major determinants of health in middle and later life. The study ultimately aimed to answer the question – how do we improve health and reduce disease disability as we get older?
The study was set up by Professor Nick Day, Professor Sheila Rodwell (Bingham) and Professor Kay-Tee Khaw in 1993, and celebrated its 30th anniversary in September 2023.
Key achievements of the study:
- Data collected from 25,000 men and women aged 40-79 years.
- The first study to collect substantial data on middle-aged men and women in Britain.
- More than 1500 research publications on a wide range of topics including: cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, eye health, depression, Parkinson’s, functional health, and the role of diet, physical activity, stress, genetics, socioeconomic factors and environmental influences.
- More than 50 PhDs
- Safely released 300 datasets to approved researchers around the world.
- Contributed to UK and international health guidelines, policy, and public health programmes including: NICE guidelines on Type 2 Diabetes Prevention; NICE guidelines on Dementia, disability and frailty in later life – mid-life approaches to delay or prevent onset (2015); WHO Global Report on Diabetes (2016); HM Treasury Soft Drinks industry levy (Implemented 2018).
Further information:
- EPIC-Norfolk Study website
- EPIC-Norfolk Study publications
- EPIC-Europe Study website
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