B2659 - Exploiting existing biomarker data social position age and allostatic load - 18/04/2016

B number: 
B2659
Principal applicant name: 
Milagros Ruiz | ISER (Essex, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Meena Kumari, Prof Michaela Benzeval
Title of project: 
Exploiting existing biomarker data: social position, age and allostatic load
Proposal summary: 

We are tasked to create a catalogue of biomarker and bio measure data available in the Cohort & Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resource (CLOSER).
We will describe, compare and analyse bio measures and biomarker data from CLOSER with the objective of measuring Allostatic Load (AL), a quantification of cumulative stress on the body, across the studies with the appropriate data. At present, there is no agreement on methodology to measure AL and no consensus exists as to what biomarkers are essential to calculate AL. We will use past definitions and methods from the literature to calculate AL using the available biomarkers in each of the component CLOSER studies, thus comparing and assessing the usefulness of each definition/methodology. This process will help to develop a gold standard for Allostatic load measurement.
Finally we will examine the association of allostatic load with age and social position within CLOSER.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 24 March, 2016
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 5 April, 2016
Keywords: 
Health Economics, Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms, Statistical methods, Biomarkers - e.g. cotinine, fatty acids, haemoglobin, etc., Blood pressure, BMI, Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Kidney function, Liver function, Social science, Statistical methods, Allostatic Load Longitudinal Studies