My research is centered on understanding the genetics of puberty and reproductive aging, as well as investigating how these relate to later life outcomes. This has involved large scale studies to identify the genetic variation linked to the timing of menarche and menopause, and also on birthweight. We use these identified variants to help to understand the biological pathways that relate to these traits. We also can construct genetic scores to act as a proxy for exposures that might be a risk for subsequent diseases. This method, called Mendelian randomization, has led to the conclusion that earlier puberty is a risk factor for cancer in later life, and that low birthweight is linked to metabolic disease through shared genetic influences.
