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Dr Emily Webb

Prof of Medical Statistics & Epid

United Kingdom

Tel.
02079272012

I am Director of the MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group (ISEG), and am co-theme leader for ISEG's work on emerging and neglected diseases. My current research focuses on the design and analysis of intervention and observational studies in the fields of helminths, vaccines and child health, with a particular interest in cluster randomised trials. I lead capacity strengthening programmes in epidemiology and medical statistics for scientists from sub-Saharan Africa.

Affiliations

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health

Centres

Malaria Centre
TB Centre
Antimicrobial Resistance Centre

Teaching

I co-organise the distance-learning module EPM202 (Statistical Methods in Epidemiology). I also teach on the in-house courses Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health (STEPH) and Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (SME). I am a tutor for both the Epidemiology and Medical Statistics MSc courses.

Research

I work with the Immunomodulation and Vaccines (I-VAC) Programme at the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. I am the trial statistician on the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study (EMaBS). This birth cohort, located in Entebbe, Uganda, investigates the impact of helminth infections and their treatment during pregnancy on birth outcomes, illness and allergy events during infancy, and on immunological responses to childhood vaccinations. I also co-lead the Co-Host study which is investigating the imapct of early-life and current exposures on responses to SARS-CoV-2 among EMaBS participants. I am a co-investigator on the POPVAC programme, which aims to understand population differences in vaccine response and to determine how vaccine effectiveness can be optimised for tropical low-income countries (LICs), based on trials in urban and rural populations in Uganda. I am co-investigator on the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Vaccines for Vulnerable people in Africa (VAnguard) which aims to identify structural, modifiable determinants of impaired vaccine impact in vulnerable communities and develop integrated strategies to address them.

I am trial statistician on the Praziquantel for Preschoolers (PIP) trial which aims to determine the optimal praziquantel dose for treatment of schistosomiasis among pre-school aged children in Uganda, and co-investigator on the MOBILE MEN study which is investigating implementation of CAB-LA and oral PrEP for prevention of HIV among mobile populations in Uganda and South Africa. I was trial statistician on the HomeACF Study, a household cluster randomised trial of active case finding for HIV and TB, preventive treatment against TB, and ART initiation to prevent TB disease and transmission, in South Africa. I am also the trial statistician for the ABAaNA early intervention trial, which investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of early intervention for young infants at high risk of neurodevelopmental delay and disability in Uganda.

I lead the EDCTP-funded ENTRANT fellowship scheme which is providing epidemiology and outbreak preparedness training to 15 public health practitioners from Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. I currently have doctoral students working on statistical modelling of vaccine responses among Uganda adolescents, the impact of malaria on SARS-CoV-2, the impact of fatty meal co-administration and double-dosing on albendazole effectivenesss, modeling integrated strategies to optimize vaccine impact among vulnerable populations in Uganda and Kenya, and the use of advanced statistical methods to assess survival and disease progression among participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in low and middle income countries.

Research Area
Applied statistics (medical)
Epidemiology
Disease and Health Conditions
Infectious diseases
Soil transmitted helminths
Schistosomiasis
HIV/AIDS
Children with disabilities
Country
Uganda
Kenya
South Africa
Malawi
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa (all income levels)

Selected Publications

Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant-specific IgE obscures true atopy and exhibits ⍺-1,3-fucose epitope-specific inverse associations with asthma.
NKURUNUNGI, G; MPAIRWE, H; Versteeg, SA; Van Diepen, A; Nassuuna, J; Kabagenyi, J; Nambuya, I; Sanya, RE; Nampijja, M; Serna, S; Reichardt, N-C; Hokke, CH; WEBB, EL; Van Ree, R; Yazdanbakhsh, M; ELLIOTT, AM;
2020
ALLERGY
Vitamin D Status Is Not Associated with Cognitive or Motor Function in Pre-School Ugandan Children.
Mutua, AM; Nampijja, M; ELLIOTT, AM; Pettifor, JM; Williams, TN; Abubakar, A; WEBB, EL; Atkinson, SH;
2020
Nutrients
Maternal Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Does Not Affect the Infant Immune Response Following BCG at Birth: An Observational Longitudinal Study in Uganda.
Lubyayi, L; Mawa, PA; Nabakooza, G; Nakibuule, M; Tushabe, JV; Serubanja, J; Aibo, D; Akurut, H; Tumusiime, J; Hasso-Agopsowicz, M; KALEEBU, P; Levin, J; DOCKRELL, HM; Smith, S; WEBB, EL; ELLIOTT, AM; COSE, S;
2020
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
Genital self-sampling compared with cervicovaginal lavage for the diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women: The BILHIV study.
STURT, AS; WEBB, EL; Phiri, CR; Mweene, T; Chola, N; Van Dam, GJ; Corstjens, PL A M; Wessels, E; Stothard, JR; HAYES, R; AYLES, H; Hansingo, I; Van Lieshout, L; BUSTINDUY, AL;
2020
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Epidemiology of Alcohol Misuse and Illicit Drug Use Among Young People Aged 15-24 Years in Fishing Communities in Uganda.
Kuteesa, MO; WEISS, HA; COOK, S; SEELEY, J; Ssentongo, JN; Kizindo, R; Ngonzi, P; Sewankambo, M; WEBB, EL;
2020
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Does Intensive Treatment Select for Praziquantel Resistance in High-Transmission Settings? Parasitological Trends and Treatment Efficacy Within a Cluster-Randomized Trial.
Tushabe, JV; Lubyayi, L; Sserubanja, J; Kabuubi, P; Abayo, E; Kiwanuka, S; Nassuuna, J; Kaweesa, J; Corstjens, P; Van Dam, G; Sanya, RE; Ssenyonga, W; Tukahebwa, EM; Kabatereine, NB; ELLIOTT, AM; WEBB, EL; LaVIISWA trial team,;
2020
Open forum infectious diseases
Randomised controlled pilot feasibility trial of an early intervention programme for young infants with neurodevelopmental impairment in Uganda: a study protocol.
Nampijja, M; WEBB, E; NANYUNJA, C; SADOO, S; Nalugya, R; Nyonyintono, J; Muhumuza, A; Ssekidde, M; KATUMBA, K; Magnusson, B; Kabugo, D; Cowan, FM; Martinez-Biarge, M; ZUURMOND, M; Morgan, C; Lester, D; SEELEY, J; TANN, CJ;
2019
BMJ open
The Effect of Helminth Infections and Their Treatment on Metabolic Outcomes: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Trial.
Sanya, RE; WEBB, EL; Zziwa, C; Kizindo, R; Sewankambo, M; Tumusiime, J; Nakazibwe, E; Oduru, G; Niwagaba, E; Nakawungu, PK; Kabagenyi, J; Nassuuna, J; Walusimbi, B; Andia-Biraro, I; ELLIOTT, AM;
2019
Clinical infectious diseases
Alcohol Misuse and Illicit Drug Use Among Occupational Groups at High Risk of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.
KUTEESA, MO; SEELEY, J; WEISS, HA; COOK, S; Kamali, A; WEBB, EL;
2019
AIDS and behavior
Do helminth infections underpin urban-rural differences in risk factors for allergy-related outcomes?
NKURUNUNGI, G; Lubyayi, L; Versteeg, SA; Sanya, RE; Nassuuna, J; Kabagenyi, J; Kabuubi, PN; Tumusiime, J; Zziwa, C; Kizindo, R; Niwagaba, E; NANYUNJA, C; Nampijja, M; MPAIRWE, H; Yazdanbakhsh, M; Van Ree, R; WEBB, EL; ELLIOTT, AM;
2019
Clinical and experimental allergy
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