Dr Amy Mason

Amy is one of our College Research Associates, and is based at the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit (CEU) at the University of Cambridge as a Research Associate.

BIOGRAPHY

Amy Mason is a Research Associate in the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit (CEU) at the University of Cambridge. 
Her research focuses on using Mendelian randomisation (MR) and genetic data to explore causal risk factors for cardiovascular disease. She tries to show what causes heart disease by mimicking a randomised controlled trial with the genetic variation in the UK population. This provides useful causal evidence for drug pathways and clinical interventions before we invest in the costs of large-scale trials. 
A key focus of her current work is investigating how Mendelian randomisation approaches can be applied to diverse populations. Most large-scale genetic research has been done on White European populations, raising concerns about how well the results generalise to other groups.  Amy is working to understand the methodological challenges of applying Mendelian randomisation in diverse populations. This will hopefully improve the inclusivity and accuracy of Mendelian randomisation research and help address gaps in evidence for cardiovascular risk factors in under-researched groups. 
Amy is also interested in the challenges of non-linear causal associations. Her work aims to improve statistical methods and develop R packages that allow for more accessible and flexible approaches. 
Beyond her research, Amy is passionate about public outreach and scientific communication, sharing insights into genetics and epidemiology with audiences across the UK. In her spare time, she enjoys making elaborate embroidery and crochet, or camping while dressed up as a fictional character at Empire LRP.