The overall objective of this KEW was to discuss ways that CLOSER can improve and promote interdisciplinary research, and explore what can be learnt from previous experience of working across disciplines. Many of the cohort studies included in CLOSER have been used for both social and medical research.

Session 1: Social to biology

Guest talk: Biology of social inequalities (PDF) – Eric Brunner, University College London

Session 2: A view from the CLOSER cohorts – Short talks by cohort Prinicipal Investigators/investigators to highlight current social and biological integration

MRC National Survey of Health and Development – Rebecca Hardy, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing

1958 National Child Development Study – Jane Elliott, Centre for Longitudinal Studies

Millennium Cohort Study – Lisa Calderwood, Centre for Longitudinal Studies

Session 3: Moving forwards

Promoting ALSPAC to social scientists – Lynn Molloy, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

How social scientists have used biological data: Some case studies using ALSPAC – Claire Crawford, Institute for Fiscal Studies