Dr Lavinia Paternoster
BSc, MSc(Edin.), PhD
Expertise
Genetic Epidemiologist, currently working on genetics of eczema (atopic dermatitis) and genetics of disease progression (overcoming selection collider bias)
Current positions
Associate Professor in Genetic Epidemiology
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
I am an Associate Professor in Genetic Epidemiology at the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol. My research is focused on the genetic aetiology of atopic dermatitis and related traits.
I am a leading member of the EAGLE eczema consortium, which brings together studies from around the world with eczema and genetic data in order to conduct large-scale research. Our aim is to identify genetic variants associated with eczema in order to improve understanding of the disease and inform therapeutic development. We have published two large genome-wide association studies for eczema, the largest of which (Paternoster et al., 2015, Nature Genetics) studied 21,000 cases and identified 10 novel risk loci for the disease, bringing the total number of established loci to 31 (24 in Europeans). I am also interested in sub-classes of atopic dermatitis and have worked with latent class analysis to determine longitudinal patterns of the disease throughout childhood and have keen interest in determining genetic risk factors for progression of the disease and response to treatment.
I work with a number of datasets:
- ALSPAC (The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children)
- UK Biobank
- EAGLE eczema consortium
Methods:
- Genome-wide association studies
- Target identification
- Mendelian Randomization for causal inference
- Genetics of disease progression
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Identifying causal risk factors for cognitive decline
Role
Co-Principal Investigator
Description
Takeda industry partner grant to examine causal risk factors for cognitive decline in the TOMMORROW trialManaging organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/11/2020 to 30/11/2022
Biomarkers in Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/04/2019 to 31/03/2024
CLOSED 8073 MRC IEU - K.Berriman Studentship consumables - linked to Core
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/04/2018 to 30/09/2019
MRC IEU Studentship - Emily Jamieson
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
02/10/2017 to 01/10/2021
MRC - IEU studentship full - Alice Carter
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
03/10/2016 to 02/10/2020
Thesis supervisions
An Epigenome-Wide Association Study of Eczema
Supervisors
Describing the development of hip shape in adolescence, and environmental and genetic influences on this process, in ALSPAC offspring
Supervisors
Understanding the Role of Bone in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis
Supervisors
Causal implications of common infections and platelet function on cardiovascular disease
Supervisors
Publications
Selected publications
01/02/2012Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies three new risk loci for atopic dermatitis
Nature Genetics
Recent publications
18/01/2024Investigation of genetic determinants of cognitive change in later life
Translational Psychiatry
Methods and Techniques for Skin Research
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
European and multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of atopic dermatitis highlights importance of systemic immune regulation
Nature Communications
Strategies to investigate and mitigate collider bias in genetic and Mendelian randomisation studies of disease progression
PLoS Genetics
Epigenetic regulation of F2RL3 associates with myocardial infarction and platelet function
Circulation Research
Teaching
Co-director of iBSc Genomic Medicine