Population Health Sciences: past, present and future - plus guest lecture This event has now ended, but recordings can be viewed by expanding the accordions at the bottom of this page.If you attended this event, please take a few minutes to complete our short evaluation form. Your views help us improve future events. Evaluation form | Usher Connects | Usher Institute A special Usher Connects and Edinburgh Medical School 300 event exploring the past, present and future of population health sciences, followed by a distinguished guest lecture from Professor George Davey Smith, University of Bristol.The first session explored the evolution of population health sciences, today's research, and how we can shape the future of the field. Following lunch and poster presentations, Professor George Davey Smith delivered the distinguished lecture, examining questions of causality in non-communicable diseases.The day featured conversations, panel discussions and opportunities to get involved, with audience questions and discussion throughout. 10.30–13.00 | Population Health Sciences – past, present and future 13.00–14.30 | Lunch and poster presentations 14.30–15.45 | Causality in (so-called) non-communicable diseases | Guest lecture from Professor George Davey Smith, University of Bristol, introduced by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal of The University of Edinburgh15.45-16.15 | Refreshments and networking Whether you're interested in the history of the field, today's research, future challenges, or simply connecting with those working across the population health sciences field, we hope the recordings will be of interest to you. Both of the core sessions were primarily in person events, but were streamed online for those unable to attend in person. A coffee break within the event Population Health Sciences - past, present and future was kindly provided by the CHAI hub, with lunch and later networking refreshments provided by the School of Population Health Sciences / Edinburgh Medical School 300. CHAI hub websiteEdinburgh Medical School 300 website Full programme details and video recordings Population Health Sciences: past, present and future The recording for this part of the event is embedded below, you can also view the video directly on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu8Usep9Pws Video chaptersThe links below take you to the YouTube website. If you are on desktop, right click and select "Open link in new tab" to keep your position on this page.0:00:00 | Introduction and welcomeProfessor Sarah Cunningham-Burley (lead for the Research and Innovation workstream of the EMS300 project and a member of its steering group, Professor of Medical and Family Sociology and Co-Head of Centre: Biomedicine, Self and Society)0:06:38 | Reflections on our historyCHAIR: Professor Linda Bauld (Bruce and John Usher Professor of Public Health and Co-Head of Centre: Population Health Sciences)SPEAKERS: Emeritus Professor of Health Promotion Amanda AmosProfessor David Weller (James Mackenzie Professor of General Practice and Co-Head of Centre: Population Health Sciences) 0:28:44 | Spotlight on current researchCHAIR: Professor Julie Jacko (Professor of Health Informatics and Data Science and Chief Academic Officer, Usher Institute and CMVM Dean of Innovation and Engagement and Co-Head of Centre: Medical Informatics)SPEAKERS: Dr Annemarie Docherty (Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellow in Centre for Medical Informatics and Consultant in Critical Care at the RIE)Dr Richard Osei-Yeboah (Research Fellow in Centre for Global Health)Dr Lisa Schölin (Society for the Study of Addiction Fellow in Centre for Population Health Sciences)Dr Nayha Sethi (Senior Lecturer and Chancellor’s Fellow in Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society) 1:13:20 | Ambitions for the futureCHAIR: Professor Cathie Sudlow (Professor of Population Health Sciences, Director of Usher Institute and Head of School of Population Health Sciences)PANEL: Professor Miguel Bernabeu (Professor of Computational Medicine in Centre for Medical Informatics)Dr Stuart Dunbar (Engagement Manager, DataLoch)Professor Sotos Tsaftaris (Professor of Machine Learning and Computer Vision and Director of the CHAI Hub in the Usher Building)Professor Chris Weir (Professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials in Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit) 1:56:44 | Conclusion and thanksDr Gwenetta Curry (Reader in Centre for Global Health and a member of the EMS300 Research and Innovation Workstream working group) Causality in (so-called) non-communicable diseases | Professor George Davey Smith The recording for this lecture is embedded below, but you can also view the video directly on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGViDbOLpHk CHAIR: Professor Cathie Sudlow (Professor of Population Health Sciences, Director of Usher Institute and Head of School of Population Health Sciences)Professor George Davey Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, explores the complex relationship between infections, vaccinations and chronic non-communicable diseases, examining which associations are likely to be causal and why these matter for public health. Drawing on decades of experience in population health research, Professor Davey Smith considers how we understand causes of disease, how evidence can be interpreted, and the importance of asking the right questions when addressing major health challenges. The lecture was followed by an audience Q&A (online via SLIDO).Professor George Davey Smith was introduced by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal, The University of Edinburgh Nov 03 2026 10:30am - 3:45pm Population Health Sciences: past, present and future - plus guest lecture An Usher Connects and EMS300 event exploring the Past, Present and Future of Population Health Sciences - plus special guest lecture. Usher Building, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4UX This article was published on Thursday 30 July 2026
Population Health Sciences: past, present and future - plus guest lecture This event has now ended, but recordings can be viewed by expanding the accordions at the bottom of this page.If you attended this event, please take a few minutes to complete our short evaluation form. Your views help us improve future events. Evaluation form | Usher Connects | Usher Institute A special Usher Connects and Edinburgh Medical School 300 event exploring the past, present and future of population health sciences, followed by a distinguished guest lecture from Professor George Davey Smith, University of Bristol.The first session explored the evolution of population health sciences, today's research, and how we can shape the future of the field. Following lunch and poster presentations, Professor George Davey Smith delivered the distinguished lecture, examining questions of causality in non-communicable diseases.The day featured conversations, panel discussions and opportunities to get involved, with audience questions and discussion throughout. 10.30–13.00 | Population Health Sciences – past, present and future 13.00–14.30 | Lunch and poster presentations 14.30–15.45 | Causality in (so-called) non-communicable diseases | Guest lecture from Professor George Davey Smith, University of Bristol, introduced by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal of The University of Edinburgh15.45-16.15 | Refreshments and networking Whether you're interested in the history of the field, today's research, future challenges, or simply connecting with those working across the population health sciences field, we hope the recordings will be of interest to you. Both of the core sessions were primarily in person events, but were streamed online for those unable to attend in person. A coffee break within the event Population Health Sciences - past, present and future was kindly provided by the CHAI hub, with lunch and later networking refreshments provided by the School of Population Health Sciences / Edinburgh Medical School 300. CHAI hub websiteEdinburgh Medical School 300 website Full programme details and video recordings Population Health Sciences: past, present and future The recording for this part of the event is embedded below, you can also view the video directly on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu8Usep9Pws Video chaptersThe links below take you to the YouTube website. If you are on desktop, right click and select "Open link in new tab" to keep your position on this page.0:00:00 | Introduction and welcomeProfessor Sarah Cunningham-Burley (lead for the Research and Innovation workstream of the EMS300 project and a member of its steering group, Professor of Medical and Family Sociology and Co-Head of Centre: Biomedicine, Self and Society)0:06:38 | Reflections on our historyCHAIR: Professor Linda Bauld (Bruce and John Usher Professor of Public Health and Co-Head of Centre: Population Health Sciences)SPEAKERS: Emeritus Professor of Health Promotion Amanda AmosProfessor David Weller (James Mackenzie Professor of General Practice and Co-Head of Centre: Population Health Sciences) 0:28:44 | Spotlight on current researchCHAIR: Professor Julie Jacko (Professor of Health Informatics and Data Science and Chief Academic Officer, Usher Institute and CMVM Dean of Innovation and Engagement and Co-Head of Centre: Medical Informatics)SPEAKERS: Dr Annemarie Docherty (Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellow in Centre for Medical Informatics and Consultant in Critical Care at the RIE)Dr Richard Osei-Yeboah (Research Fellow in Centre for Global Health)Dr Lisa Schölin (Society for the Study of Addiction Fellow in Centre for Population Health Sciences)Dr Nayha Sethi (Senior Lecturer and Chancellor’s Fellow in Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society) 1:13:20 | Ambitions for the futureCHAIR: Professor Cathie Sudlow (Professor of Population Health Sciences, Director of Usher Institute and Head of School of Population Health Sciences)PANEL: Professor Miguel Bernabeu (Professor of Computational Medicine in Centre for Medical Informatics)Dr Stuart Dunbar (Engagement Manager, DataLoch)Professor Sotos Tsaftaris (Professor of Machine Learning and Computer Vision and Director of the CHAI Hub in the Usher Building)Professor Chris Weir (Professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials in Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit) 1:56:44 | Conclusion and thanksDr Gwenetta Curry (Reader in Centre for Global Health and a member of the EMS300 Research and Innovation Workstream working group) Causality in (so-called) non-communicable diseases | Professor George Davey Smith The recording for this lecture is embedded below, but you can also view the video directly on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGViDbOLpHk CHAIR: Professor Cathie Sudlow (Professor of Population Health Sciences, Director of Usher Institute and Head of School of Population Health Sciences)Professor George Davey Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, explores the complex relationship between infections, vaccinations and chronic non-communicable diseases, examining which associations are likely to be causal and why these matter for public health. Drawing on decades of experience in population health research, Professor Davey Smith considers how we understand causes of disease, how evidence can be interpreted, and the importance of asking the right questions when addressing major health challenges. The lecture was followed by an audience Q&A (online via SLIDO).Professor George Davey Smith was introduced by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal, The University of Edinburgh Nov 03 2026 10:30am - 3:45pm Population Health Sciences: past, present and future - plus guest lecture An Usher Connects and EMS300 event exploring the Past, Present and Future of Population Health Sciences - plus special guest lecture. Usher Building, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4UX This article was published on Thursday 30 July 2026
Nov 03 2026 10:30am - 3:45pm Population Health Sciences: past, present and future - plus guest lecture An Usher Connects and EMS300 event exploring the Past, Present and Future of Population Health Sciences - plus special guest lecture.
