George Davey Smith

Professor George Davey Smith is a clinical epidemiologist whose research focuses on improving causal inference in studies of disease aetiology and prevention. He is based at the Bristol Medical School, where he contributes to the development and application of epidemiological methods across a range of public health challenges.His work has advanced the use of methodological tools such as negative controls, cross-context comparisons, sensitivity analyses, and randomized trials in complex or unconventional settings. He is known for pioneering the use of germline genetic variants to investigate modifiable causes of disease�a strategy now widely referred to as Mendelian randomization. He has contributed to the refinement and extension of this approach and its application in diverse research areas.Professor Davey Smith advocates for the use of triangulation�applying multiple methods with different bias structures to address the same research question�as a strategy to strengthen causal inference. He has emphasized the importance of transparency and reproducibility in epidemiological research, promoting open data access and collaborative study designs.He has played a leading role in several major research initiatives, including the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which has contributed significantly to lifecourse epidemiology. His current research spans genetic epidemiology, public health, and methodological innovation, with ongoing projects addressing early-life determinants of disease, gene-environment interactions, and the causal pathways underlying health inequalities.