The Confidence Interval Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:35:45 -0500 https://theconfidenceinterval.buzzsprout.com en-gb © 2026 The Confidence Interval yes 1d14e7a5-ea6b-5077-a052-9f0b897bd009 comms@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk MRC Epidemiology episodic false The Confidence Interval podcast talks science, people, and population health.

 

We explore the research happening at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge and meet some of our researchers to find out what makes them tick.

 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) MRC Epidemiology comms@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk https://storage.buzzsprout.com/ip1l2ze925eeb3ze1bhtxcpz0zwe?.jpg The Confidence Interval Brief Interval - meat, chicken nuggets, and a side order of type 2 diabetes Brief Interval - meat, chicken nuggets, and a side order of type 2 diabetes Chunxiao Li is a Research Associate at the Unit, and a lead author on a paper that investigated the association of meat consumption on type two diabetes.  



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]]> Chunxiao Li is a Research Associate at the Unit, and a lead author on a paper that investigated the association of meat consumption on type two diabetes.  



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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-18178698 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000 592 type 2 diabetes, health, ultra processed foods, Cambridge University, University of Cambridge full false Brief Interval - the new technologies improving the outcomes of diabetes Brief Interval - the new technologies improving the outcomes of diabetes Dr Charlotte Boughton is a Clinical Researcher at the University of Cambridge,  Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Charlotte’s research focuses on the use of automated insulin delivery systems with the aim of improving outcomes for people with diabetes. Leading randomised controlled trials, Charlotte is evaluating the efficacy and safety of the delivery system for people with type 2 diabetes.

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]]> Dr Charlotte Boughton is a Clinical Researcher at the University of Cambridge,  Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Charlotte’s research focuses on the use of automated insulin delivery systems with the aim of improving outcomes for people with diabetes. Leading randomised controlled trials, Charlotte is evaluating the efficacy and safety of the delivery system for people with type 2 diabetes.

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-18178268 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0000 821 type 2 diabetes, health, Cambridge University, University of Cambridge, Insulin pump full false Brief Interval - Understanding the origins of gestational diabetes Brief Interval - Understanding the origins of gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy for a multitude of reasons, being overweight or obese can be a factor but some may be genetically predisposed to developing the condition.  

Researchers from the IMS Metabolic Research Laboratory are investigating the interventions pregnant woman can use to mitigate the onset of gestational diabetes. 

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]]> Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy for a multitude of reasons, being overweight or obese can be a factor but some may be genetically predisposed to developing the condition.  

Researchers from the IMS Metabolic Research Laboratory are investigating the interventions pregnant woman can use to mitigate the onset of gestational diabetes. 

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-18176700 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000 809 type 2 diabetes, health, weight loss, Cambridge University, University of Cambridge, GLP-1s full false Brief Interval - the multiple morbidities of diabetes Brief Interval - the multiple morbidities of diabetes One point 27 billion people are expected to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by 2050. 

This week we’ll be hearing from researchers from the MRC Epidemiology Unit and the IMS Metabolic Research Laboratory, at the University of Cambridge.

We’ll find out more about their research and how they hope to change how diabetes is impacting our lives.

Dr Ana Luiza Arruda is a Research Associate at the MRC Epidemiology Unit. And in this podcast Ana talks about the multiple morbidities of diabetes.

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]]> One point 27 billion people are expected to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by 2050. 

This week we’ll be hearing from researchers from the MRC Epidemiology Unit and the IMS Metabolic Research Laboratory, at the University of Cambridge.

We’ll find out more about their research and how they hope to change how diabetes is impacting our lives.

Dr Ana Luiza Arruda is a Research Associate at the MRC Epidemiology Unit. And in this podcast Ana talks about the multiple morbidities of diabetes.

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-18172186 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:00:00 +0000 664 type 2 diabetes, health, Cambridge University, University of Cambridge, diversity full false The Confidence Interval - from the UN to weight loss research The Confidence Interval - from the UN to weight loss research In this episode of The Confidence Interval, Dr Marie Spreckley shares her journey from the UN to weight loss research.

She discusses diverse communities being more involved in research programmes, how drugs for type 2 diabetes are being used for weight loss, and the future of her research.

Find out more about the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Marie's work.

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]]> In this episode of The Confidence Interval, Dr Marie Spreckley shares her journey from the UN to weight loss research.

She discusses diverse communities being more involved in research programmes, how drugs for type 2 diabetes are being used for weight loss, and the future of her research.

Find out more about the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Marie's work.

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-17214213 Fri, 23 May 2025 11:00:00 +0100 1511 type 2 diabetes, health, weight loss, sustainable weight loss, UN, Cambridge University, University of Cambridge, GLP-1s, diversity full false The Confidence Interval - from Nutritionist to Early Career Researcher The Confidence Interval - from Nutritionist to Early Career Researcher In this episode of The Confidence Interval, Dr Cara Ruggiero shares her journey from Nutritionist to an Early Career Researcher.

She discusses the importance of knowing "your why" and lays out her personal map for working to solve the issues of poor nutrition.

Find out more about the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Cara's work.

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]]> In this episode of The Confidence Interval, Dr Cara Ruggiero shares her journey from Nutritionist to an Early Career Researcher.

She discusses the importance of knowing "your why" and lays out her personal map for working to solve the issues of poor nutrition.

Find out more about the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Cara's work.

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-16495430 Fri, 24 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000 1153 science, public health, youth, food poverty, food, nutrition, researcher, study, university of cambridge, cambridge university full false The Confidence Interval - taking away the takeaways for healthy neighbourhoods The Confidence Interval - taking away the takeaways for healthy neighbourhoods In this episode of The Confidence Interval, Dr Thomas Burgoine shares how creating healthy neighbourhoods can help people make healthy choices.

NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) funded researchers have developed a toolkit, which helps local authorities implement takeaway management zones, particularly near schools

Dr Thomas Burgoine is one of the researchers involved developing the toolkit.

MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge
Takeaway Management Zone toolkit

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]]> In this episode of The Confidence Interval, Dr Thomas Burgoine shares how creating healthy neighbourhoods can help people make healthy choices.

NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) funded researchers have developed a toolkit, which helps local authorities implement takeaway management zones, particularly near schools

Dr Thomas Burgoine is one of the researchers involved developing the toolkit.

MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge
Takeaway Management Zone toolkit

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-16065633 Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:00:00 +0000 1838 science, public health, youth, unhealthy food, fast foods, takeaway foods, neighbourhoods 2 2 full false The Confidence Interval - David Ogilvie talks research and impact The Confidence Interval - David Ogilvie talks research and impact Dr David Ogilvie, Programme Leader and MRC Investigator in the Population Health Interventions group, talks to Unit Head of Communications Oliver Francis. 

They discuss how we evaluate complex interventions and phenomena; how we put together the findings of multiple studies in a meaningful way; and what we do with all this evidence if we want to improve public health. 

David reflects on his career studying physical activity, health and the built environment, and what we can learn from the Covid pandemic… and Sherlock Holmes

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]]> Dr David Ogilvie, Programme Leader and MRC Investigator in the Population Health Interventions group, talks to Unit Head of Communications Oliver Francis. 

They discuss how we evaluate complex interventions and phenomena; how we put together the findings of multiple studies in a meaningful way; and what we do with all this evidence if we want to improve public health. 

David reflects on his career studying physical activity, health and the built environment, and what we can learn from the Covid pandemic… and Sherlock Holmes

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-15532002 Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0100 2866 1 3 full false The Confidence Interval - Dr Jean Adams talks improving the nation's diet The Confidence Interval - Dr Jean Adams talks improving the nation's diet June 2019. 

Dr Jean Adams, Programme Leader and MRC Investigator in the Population Health Interventions group talks to Unit Head of Communications Oliver Francis about how we might improve the nation’s diet, the politics of what we eat, moving from medicine to public health and what motivates her scientific inquiry.

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]]> June 2019. 

Dr Jean Adams, Programme Leader and MRC Investigator in the Population Health Interventions group talks to Unit Head of Communications Oliver Francis about how we might improve the nation’s diet, the politics of what we eat, moving from medicine to public health and what motivates her scientific inquiry.

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-15531975 Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0100 3473 1 2 full false The Confidence Interval - Dr Felix Day talks genetics and puberty The Confidence Interval - Dr Felix Day talks genetics and puberty Dr Felix Day, Senior Research Associate in the Early Life Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders group talks to Unit Head of Communications Oliver Francis about genetics, puberty and unusual career trajectories. 

At the time of recording, the group was known as the Growth and Development programme. 

And since recording, Felix has been promoted from Career Development Fellow to Senior Research Associate.

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]]> Dr Felix Day, Senior Research Associate in the Early Life Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders group talks to Unit Head of Communications Oliver Francis about genetics, puberty and unusual career trajectories. 

At the time of recording, the group was known as the Growth and Development programme. 

And since recording, Felix has been promoted from Career Development Fellow to Senior Research Associate.

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-15531924 Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0100 2615 1 1 full false The Confidence Interval - Dr Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde talks UPFs The Confidence Interval - Dr Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde talks UPFs New research from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol has found that adolescents consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods – UPFs.

The study’s first author, Dr Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, shares why the research is important and sparking discussions about potential health issues.

MRC Epidemiology Unit
University of Cambridge

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]]> New research from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol has found that adolescents consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods – UPFs.

The study’s first author, Dr Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, shares why the research is important and sparking discussions about potential health issues.

MRC Epidemiology Unit
University of Cambridge

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]]> MRC Epidemiology Buzzsprout-15521065 Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 1751 science, public health, ultra processed foods, youth, food poverty, food traditions 2 1 full false