I have worked in epidemiological research since 1996, in which time I have been involved in the establishment of several large occupational cohort studies, including the collection, cleaning and analysis of data and writing up research findings. I have also developed a number of prediction models using electronic health data. I have worked as a statistician in a primary care clinical trials unit at the University of Birmingham. This involved scoping and preparatory work in the design phase of a trial, preparing analysis plans, reporting at data monitoring committees, statistical analysis and reporting of results.

Since 2017 I have worked with Professor Jane Hutton in the area of medico-legal expert witness reporting. The majority of my work involves reviewing evidence and writing life expectancy reports for individual clients involved in litigation. I have also provided input into several reviews of statistical evidence for court cases.

I am PI on a cohort of electricity supply industry workers. This dataset is an important source of health information on workers in this industry, it has more than 30 years of follow up and contains detailed employment history data.

Publications

Barons MJ, Walsh LE, Salakpi EE, Nichols L. 2024. A Decision Support System for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Loss Reduction under Uncertain Agricultural Policy Frameworks. Agriculture. 14(3) Special Issue Sustainable Pest Management in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030458Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

R A Carr, D Mesiano, C Heffron, T Radonic, J Wiggins, S Tso, R Agrawal, E Cheung, D N Slater, L Nichols, and others. 2023. Aberrant p16, p53 and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry staining patterns can distinguish solitary keratoacanthoma from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Pathology. 55(6), 772—784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pathol.2023.07.001Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

T M Sorahan, L Nichols. 2022. Motor neuron disease risk and magnetic field exposures. Occup Med. 72(3): 184-190. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqab180Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

Nichols L, Taverner T, Crowe F, Richardson S, Yau C, Kiddle S, Kirk P, Barrett J, Nirantharakumar K and others. 2022. In simulated data and health records, latent class analysis was the optimum multimorbidity clustering algorithm. J Clin Epidemiol. 152:164-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.10.011Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

Torlinska B, Nichols L, Mohammed MA, McCabe C, Boelaert K. 2019. Patients treated for hyperthyroidism are at increased risk of becoming obese: findings from a large prospective secondary care cohort. Thyroid. 29(10):1380-9. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2018.0731Link opens in a new window;

Šumilo D, Nichols L, Ryan R, Marshall T. 2019. Incidence of indications for tonsillectomy and frequency of evidence-based surgery: a 12-year retrospective cohort study of primary care electronic records. Br J Gen Pract. 69(678): e33-41. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X699833Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

Taylor CJ, Ryan R, Nichols L, Gale N, Hobbs FDR, Marshall T. 2017. Survival following a diagnosis of heart failure in
primary care. Fam Pract. 34(2):161-168. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmw145Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

Nichols L, Ryan R, Connor C, Birchwood M, Marshall T. 2016. Derivation of a prediction model for a diagnosis of depression in young adults: a matched case-control study using electronic primary care records. Early Interv Psychiatry. 12(3): 444-455. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12332Link opens in a new window;

Clegg A, Bates C, Young J, Ryan R, Nichols L, Teale EA, Mohammed MA, Parry J, Marshall T. 2016. Development and validation of an electronic frailty index using routine primary care electronic health record data. Age Ageing. 45(3):353-360. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw039Link opens in a new window;

Lycett D, Nichols L, Ryan R, Farley A, Roalfe A, Mohammed MA, Szatkowski L, Coleman T, Morris R, Farmer A, Aveyard P. 2015. The association between smoking cessation and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a THIN database cohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 3(6):423-30.http://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-8587(15)00082-0Link opens in a new window;

Begh R, Munafò MR, Shiffman S, Ferguson SG, Nichols L, Mohammed MA, Holder RL, Sutton S, Aveyard P. 2015. Lack of attentional retraining effects in cigarette smokers attempting cessation: a proof of concept double-blind randomised controlled trial. Drug Alcohol Depend. 149:158-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.01.041Link opens in a new window;

Murtagh EM, Nichols L, Mohammed MA, Holder R, Nevill AM, Murphy MH. 2015. The effect of walking on risk factors for cardiovascular disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials. Prev Med. 72:34-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.12.041Link opens in a new window; pdfLink opens in a new window

Sheppard JP, Holder R, Nichols L, Bray E, Hobbs FD, Mant J, Little P, Williams B, Greenfield S, McManus RJ. 2014. Predicting out-of-office blood pressure level using repeated measurements in the clinic: an observational cohort study. J Hypertens. 32(11):2171-8.

Macleod J, Tang L, Hobbs FD, Wharton B, Holder R, Hussain S, Nichols L, Stewart P, Clark P, Luzio S, Holly J, Smith GD. 2013. Effects of nutritional supplementation during pregnancy on early adult disease risk: follow up of offspring of participants in a randomised controlled trial investigating effects of supplementation on infant birth weight. PLoS One. 8(12):e83371. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083371;Link opens in a new window

Begh R, Munafò MR, Shiffman S, Ferguson SG, Nichols L, Mohammed MA, Holder RL, Sutton S, Aveyard P. 2013. Attentional bias retraining in cigarette smokers attempting smoking cessation (ARTS): study protocol for a double blind randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 13:1176. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1176Link opens in a new window;

Damery S, Nichols L, Holder R, Ryan R, Wilson S, Warmington S, Stokes-Lampard H, Manavi K. 2013. Assessing the predictive value of HIV indicator conditions in general practice: a case-control study using the THIN database. Br J Gen Pract. 63(611):e370-7. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X668159Link opens in a new window;

Tullett J, Murray E, Nichols L, Holder R, Lester W, Rose P, Hobbs FD, Fitzmaurice D. 2013. Trial Protocol: a randomised controlled trial of extended anticoagulation treatment versus routine anticoagulation treatment for the prevention of recurrent VTE and post thrombotic syndrome in patients being treated for a first episode of unprovoked VTE (The ExACT Study). BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 13:16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-13-16;Link opens in a new window

Damery S, Nichols L, Holder R, Ward ST, Warmington S, Wilson S, Wakelam MJ, James J, Ismail T. 2013. Assessing the value of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in improving the appropriateness of referrals for colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer. 108(5):1149-56. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2013.49Link opens in a new window;

Ford SJ, Obeidy P, Lovejoy DB, Bedford M, Nichols L, Chadwick C, Tucker O, Lui GY, Kalinowski DS, Jansson PJ, Iqbal TH, Alderson D, Richardson DR, Tselepis C. 2013. Deferasirox (ICL670A) effectively inhibits oesophageal cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Br J Pharmacol. 168(6):1316-28. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.12045Link opens in a new window;

Damery S, Smith S, Clements A, Holder R, Nichols L, Draper H, Clifford S, Parker L, Hobbs R, Wilson S. 2012. Evaluating the effectiveness of GP endorsement on increasing participation in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 13:18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-13-18Link opens in a new window;

de Vocht F, Burstyn I, Straif K, Vermeulen R, Jakobsson K, Nichols L, Peplonska B, Taeger D, Kromhout H. 2007. Occupational exposure to NDMA and NMor in the European rubber industry. J Environ Monit. 9:253-259. https://doi.org/10.1039/B615472GLink opens in a new window;

Nichols L, Sorahan T. 2005. Mortality of UK electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973-2002. Occup Med. 55:541-548. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqi157Link opens in a new window;

McMillan GHGM, Nichols L. 2005. Osteoarthritis and meniscus disorders of the knee as occupational diseases of miners. Occup Env Med. 62:567-575. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2004.017137Link opens in a new window;

Nichols L, Sorahan T. 2005. Cancer incidence and cancer mortality in a cohort of UK semiconductor workers, 1970 -2002. Occup Med. 55:625-630.https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqi156Link opens in a new window;

Nichols L. 2004. The Epping jaundice outbreak: Mortality after 38 years of follow-up. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 77:592-594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0565-7Link opens in a new window.

Sorahan T, Nichols L. 2004. Mortality from cardiovascular disease in relation to magnetic field exposure: Findings from a study of UK electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973–1997. Am J Ind Med. 45:93-102. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10314Link opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Nichols L. 2002. Mortality and cancer morbidity of production workers in the UK flexible polyurethane foam industry: updated findings,1958-98. Occup Environ Med. 59:751-758. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.59.11.751Link opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Nichols L, Harrington JM. 2002. Mortality of United Kingdom oil refinery and petroleum distribution workers, 1951-1998. Occup Med. 52:333-339. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/52.6.333Link opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Nichols L, van Tongeren M, Harrington JM. 2001.Occupational exposure to magnetic fields relative to mortality from brain tumours: updated and revised findings from a study of United Kingdom electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973–97. Occup Environ Med. 58:626-630. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.10.626Link opens in a new window;

Harrington JM, Nichols L, Sorahan T, van Tongeren M. 2001. Leukaemia mortality in relation to magnetic field exposure: findings from a study of United Kingdom electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973–97. Occup Environ Med. 58:307-314. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.5.307Link opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Hamilton L, van tongeren M, Gardiner K. 2001. A cohort mortality study of U.K. carbon black workers, 1951–1996. Am J Ind Med. 39;158-170. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0274(200102)39:2%3C158::AID-AJIM1003%3E3.0.CO;2-LLink opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Hamilton L, Jackson JR. 2000. A further cohort study of workers employed at a factory manufacturing chemicals for the rubber industry, with special reference to the chemicals 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), aniline, phenyl-β-naphthylamine and o-toluidine. Occup Environ Med. 57:106-115. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.57.2.106Link opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Hamilton L, Gardiner K, Hodgson JT, Harrington JM. 1999. Maternal occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields before, during, and after pregnancy in relation to risks of childhood cancers: Findings from the Oxford survey of childhood cancers, 1953–1981 deaths. Am J Ind Med. 35:348-357. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199904)35:4%3C348::AID-AJIM5%3E3.0.CO;2-XLink opens in a new window

Sorahan T, Burges DCL, Hamilton L, Harrington JM. 1998. Lung cancer mortality in nickel/chromium platers, 1946–95. Occup Environ Med. 55:236-242. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.55.4.236Link opens in a new window;

Sorahan T, Hamilton L, Gompertz D, Levy LS, Harrington JM. 1998. Quantitative risk assessments derived from occupational cancer epidemiology: a worked example. Ann Occup Hyg. 42(5):347-352.

Sorahan T, Hamilton L, Wallace DMA, Bathers S, Gardiner K, Harrington JM. 1998. Occupational urothelial tumours: a regional case-control study. Br J Urol. 82:25-32. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1464-410x.1998.00690.xLink opens in a new window;

Contact Details

MB4.08
Department of Statistics
University of Warwick
CV4 7AL, UK

Tel +44(0)24 7657 5110

Email L.Nichols@warwick.ac.uk