Professor Lesley Anderson

Biography

I am the University's Interdisciplinary Director for Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing and a Personal Chair in Health Data Science. 

I trained at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) graduating with a PhD in cancer epidemiology in 2004 and an undergraduate degree (first class Honours) in Biomedical Science in 2001. I have a Masters in Population Health-based Evidence obtained by distance learning from the University of Manchester (distinction level) in 2006. I joined QUB as an academic in 2010 after completing two highly respected fellowships: an Academic Fellowship (funded by the UK Medical Research Council) and a Cancer Prevention Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Maryland, United States of America. I joined the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) part-time in 2017 as Deputy Director overseeing the production of Official Statistics for Northern Ireland and developing the NICR Research Advisory Group.

I have over 24 years experience in research utilising healthcare data from across the globe. I have established international partnerships within the USA, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia to facilitate research in the fields of health data science and public health with a focus on cancer research. Global Health Research Partnerships with researchers in Angola, Mongolia and Vietnam are seeking to identify ways to improve public knowledge and reduce the burden of cancer. 

I was Grampian Academic Lead for the Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Digital Diagnostics (iCAIRD), a £25 million programme of research bringing together 40 academic, NHS and industrial partners. My current research is focusing on artificial intelligence evaluation and working with advanced health data science approaches to improve health care.

Prizes and Awards

• Abstract Award ‘Identifying the optimal AI workflow integration for breast screening’, EUSOBI 2024.
• Data Driven Innovation Award– iCAIRD, Digital Health and Care Awards, 2024.
• Positive Research Culture Award, Excellence Awards 2023, University of Aberdeen, 2023.
• Data Driven Innovation – iCAIRD for the implementation of our imaging research platforms (SHAIP and Pathology Living Lab). Holyrood Digital Health and Care Awards, 2023.
• iCAIRD won the Multiparty Collaboration Award at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards in 2022.
• Innovative Collaboration Award: iCAIRD, Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards 2021.
• Outstanding Research Team – iCAIRD, Excellence Awards 2022, University of Aberdeen, 2022.
• Outstanding Research Project – Covid-19 Response & Recovery Award 2021, Excellence Awards 2021, University of Aberdeen, 20 21.
• STAR (STAff Recognition Scheme) for exceptional performance and contribution in your role. QUB, 2020.
• STAR (STAff Recognition Scheme) for exceptional performance and contribution in your role. QUB, 2019.
• Best Clinical Poster Prize, Haematology Association Ireland Annual Conference, October 2016.
• Presentation award. School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences Postdoc Society Symposium, February 2010.
• Poster prize, Nursing and Allied Health Professional section, Cancer Recognised Research Group Retreat, September 2008.
• Dr J.D. Williamson Prize for best postgraduate medical research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Queen’s University Belfast, 2007.
• Poster of Distinction. Digestive Disease Week, 2007.
• Highly commended for the BUPA Foundation Epidemiology Award, October 2005.
• Awarded best presentation at the Ulster Society of Gastroenterology meeting, October 2005.
• Travel scholarship for International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology meeting, 2005.
• Digestive Disease Week Conference, May 2005. Platform presentation in the Distinguished Abstract Plenary Session.  The abstract was noted as newsworthy.
• All Ireland Cancer Conference, 2003. Best poster prize.
• Awarded best presentation at the Ulster society of Gastroenterology meeting, March 2002
• Foundation Award, Queen’s University Belfast, 2001.

Research Overview

Health Data Research

Professor Anderson has over 19 years experience of using health data to research cancer and chronic disease epidemiology. Her research interests are aligned around the following research themes:

• Rare cancers 
• Infection-related cancers
• Pre-cancerous conditions
• Chronic diseases

Current Research

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Evaluation

Projects looking to evaluate AI tools for translation into healthcare. 

Funding from Friends of ANCHOR for a large comprehensive mammography database - ‘ANCHOR breast imaging dataset’ has been secured expanding potential to undertake AI evaluations in breast screening. 

Cancer Prevention Research

Professor Anderson is leading the world's first nationwide case-control study of myeloproliferative neoplasms, the MOSAICC (MyelOproliferative neoplasmS: An In-depth Case-Control) study.  The study is recruiting patients from across the United Kingdom and Ireland collecting information on potential risk factors (causes) and assessing the quality of life of these patients. 

Past Research

MOSAICC pilot study - largest study of myeloproliferative neoplasms to date. Study designed to determine best methodological approach for a UK-wide study which is ongoing looking at the aetiology and impact of a MPN diagnosis. 

FINBAR study - large all-Ireland case-control study of oesophageal cancer and precancerous conditions. This study has led to many publications looking at the aetiology of these oesophageal conditions and is part of an international collaboration - the BEACON consortium. 

EUROCARE - I have worked with the EUROCARE consortium to undertake a range of studies looking at variations in the survival of oesophgeal, gastric, small intestine and head and neck cancer and haematological malignancies.

RARECARE - I have worked with European colleagues to look at thyroid cancers and the burden and centralised treatment in Europe of rare tumours.

HPV and Head and Neck cancer - study identified that p16 is an insufficient marker for stage classification of oropharyngeal cancer. The data from this study is being combined with wider cohorts to evaluate this further and to look at restaging of oropharyngeal cancer. 

COELIAC DISEASE - A study that I led looking at gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease and outcomes (cancer and all-cause mortality) led to the identification of adverse outcomes for those with gluten sensitivity but without a confirmed coeliac diagnosis. 

Collaborations

Professor Anderson is a member of the BEACON consortium (https://esocan.org/beacon/). 

Professor Anderson has research collaborations with researchers in the UK, Ireland, USA, across Europe, Australia, Angola, Vietnam and Mongolia. 

Funding and Grants

Current Research

• Anderson (PI), De Vries, Lip, Staff. ANCHOR Breast imaging dataset. Friends of Anchor, 2024 £69,408.96.
• Anderson (PI), De Vries, D’Ambruoso, Adamczyk, Lip, Arumapperuma, Camanda. Implementing Artificial Intelligence-enabled thermal imaging and ultrasound to detect breast cancer in low and middle income settings. International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) ODA Project Grants £19,981.78.
• Anderson (PI), McShane, McMullin, McKnight. MPN Discovery - assessing gene-environment interaction. Blood Cancer UK. 2023-2026. £277,666.11.
• Anderson (PI), Toenail trace elements for assessing risk of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Friends of Anchor, 2023-2024. £11,193.
• Anderson (PI), Abutheraa N, Iversen L, Robertson C, Tarburn E. Investigating the incidence, prevalence and outcomes of myeloproliferative neoplasms to aid service planning and delivery in NHS Grampian. NHS Endowments, 2023-2024. £18,837.
• Anderson (PI), Lip (CI), Staff, De Vries. Grampian's Evaluation of Mia an Innovative National Breast Screening Initiative. Kheiron Medical Technologies Limited under NIHR Phase 4 AI Award. 2022-2024, £413,689.
• Omar, Anderson (Co-I), MacLennan, MacLennan, Speirs & European Association of Urology Guidelines Office. Optimal treatment for patients with solid tumours in Europe through artificial intelligence.. European Commission, 2021-2026, €10,459,997.00 (£565,400 to UoA). Part of the 21.3 million Euro project. https://www.optima-oncology.eu/
• Farrow, Anderson (Co-I) & Ashcroft. ARCHERY PROJECT: AI TO REVOLUTIONISE THE PATIENT CARE PATHWAY IN HIP AND KNEE ARTHROPLASTY. Chief Scientist Office, Scotland, 2021-2024, £237,568.
• MOSAICC study : Anderson (PI). MOSAICC (MyelOproliferative neoplasmS: An In-depth Case-Control) study in Aberdeen. Friends of Anchor, 2021-2023. £22,064; Anderson (PI), McShane, Mc Mullin, Duncombe, Fritschi, DeVocht, Mesa. MOSAICC study. MPN Voice. 2021-2023. £75,631; McShane, Anderson (Co-I), McMullin. MOSAICC study. Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI, £47,000. 2021-2022; Anderson (PI). MOSAICC Ireland, Mercy Hospital Foundation. 2023-2024, £49177.89.
• McShane, Gavin, Anderson (Co-I). Investigating the impact of geographic inequalities and local service provision on multiple myeloma patient outcomes within the UK. Myeloma UK, 2021-2023. £100,000.

Prior Research (last 5 years)

• Elsberger, Anderson (Co-I), Scottish National Audit of Breast Cancer in Older Patients (S_NABCOP). NHSG Endownment Breast Cancer Research Fund 2022-2023, £13,422.
• Abderson (PI), Abutheraa N. Using Occupational Integrated Database Exposure Assessment (OccIDEAS) to assess occupational exposure risk for MyeloProliferative Neoplasms (MPN) patients and their control: A comparison study. University of Aberdeen Internal Funding to Pump-Prime Research and Research Networks. 2023. £9,931.75.
• Harrison, Blackwood, Anderson (Co-I). The Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics https://icaird.com/. Extension bid (2022-2023). Innovate UK. £1,611,191. Total iCAIRD project grant £9,970,020 (UoA total: £394,477).
• Anderson (PI), D’Ambruoso, Camanda, Buco, Chocolate, Lohfeld. Evaluating opportunities and barriers to establishing an autonomous and functional sickle cell anaemia (SCA) unit in Cabinda, Angola. Scottish Funding Council, 2020-2021, £45,563.
• Murchie, Anderson (Co-I), Analysing NCDA data to support the adoption of Early Cancer Diagnostic Centres in Scotland. Chief Scientist Office, Scotland, 2021. £50,000.
• Black, Anderson (Co-I), Fluck, Hollick, Nath, Sawhney. MINIMISING IMPACT ON VULNERABLE PATIENTS: DATA DRIVEN DESIGN, MONITORING AND ADAPTATION OF COVID AND NON-COVID CLINICAL CARE PATHWAYS. Chief Scientist Office, Scotland. 2020. £61,452.
• McShane, Kunzmann, Anderson (Co-I), Lohfeld, Donnelly, Bayarmongol, Jigjidsuren, Enkhjargal, Tudev, Badamsuren, Jugder. Reducing cancer burden in Mongolia: Co-developing an Evidence-based Plan to Strengthen the Health Care System and Inform Policy. NIHR, £93,487.
• Gavin, Anderson (Co-I). Northern Ireland Colorectal cancer Audit, Public Health Agency NI, £81,531.
• Gavin, Anderson (Co-I). Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Public Health Agency NI, £823,560.
• Gavin, Anderson (Co-I). Northern Ireland Cardiovascular Registry. Heart Research UK, 2019-2021. £149,991.
• Lohfeld, Anderson (Co-I), Santin, Donnelly, Franziska, Jenkins, Burgess, Nguyen, Murphy, Hang, Truong, Schroeder, Hang. Documenting how the arts and storytelling can save lives: The Viet Nam Breast Cancer project, MRC-AHRC. 2018-2020. £165,416.
• Lohfeld, Anderson (Co-I), Promoting Sustainable Health and Wellbeing in Angola. 2018-2019, Department for the Economy Northern Ireland, £52,793.

Teaching Responsibilities

PhD Opportunities

Supervising students with an interest in Health Data Science and cancer research.  Please contact lesley.anderson@abdn.ac.uk