Skip to main content

Advanced Search

Advanced Search

Current Filters

Filter your query

Publication Types

Other

to

Mirror, Mirror 2024 is your opportunity to explore the impact of policy choices on health and well-being across 10 countries, including the U.S. Read the report here.

David Melzer

1998-99 Harkness Fellow Clinical Senior Research Associate Institute of Public Health University of Cambridge

Harkness Project Title: Epidemiological Studies in Health Policy and Aging

Mentor: Gerard F. Anderson, Ph.D.

Placement: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry Office of the National Institute on Aging

Biography at time of Harkness Fellowship: David Melzer, a 1998-99 Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy, is a clinical senior research associate in the Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge.  His research interests span policy issues in mental health, population aging and new technology.  Current funded research includes national projects on mentally disordered offenders, a needs assessment review of services for dementia and policy analyses of the Medical Research Council’s study of Cognitive Function and Aging.  His publications cover a wide range of policy issues from studies of aftercare for people with schizophrenia to the effects of patent law on the development and evaluation of health care interventions.  In his previous post at the National Health Service, he was responsible for advising Cambridge Health Authority on the commissioning of mental health and other services.  He qualified in Medicine in 1981, received his M.Sc. in Public Health in 1987, became a member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 1989, and was elected a Fellow of the Faculty in 1998.  He is also a member of the scientific advisory board of the Journal of Evidence-Based Health Policy and Management.

Project: Melzer’s project explored policy-related issues related to aging and disability, particularly the need for and drivers of long-term care.  Projected trends in long-term care utilization were examined, as well as differences based on socioeconomic status.  He undertook a literature review and analysis of longitudinal datasets.

Career Activity Since Fellowship:

  • Collaboration Award, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2006 
  • Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Peninsula Medical School, 2005
  • Senior Honorary Visiting Fellow, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, 2005
  • Associate editor, U.S. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 2004.
  • Director, Epidemiology for Policy Group, University of Cambridge, 2001

Current Position: Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Exeter Medical School. (Updated 1/2014)

E-Mail: [email protected]

Selected Publications:

Hek, K., Demirkan, A., Lahti, J., Terracciano, A., Teumer, A., Cornelis, M.C., Amin, N., Bakshis, E., Baumert, J., Ding, J., et al “A genome-wide association study of depressive symptoms,” Biol Psychiatry 2013;  73(7), 667-678.

Fletcher, T., Galloway, T.S., Melzer, D., Holcroft, P., Cipelli, R., Pilling, L.C., Mondal, D., Luster, M., Harries, L.W. “Associations between PFOA, PFOS and changes in the expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism in humans,” Environ Int 2013;  57-58, 2-10.

Tyrrell, J., Melzer, D., Henley, W., Galloway, T.S., Osborne, N.J. “Associations between socioeconomic status and environmental toxicant concentrations in adults in the USA: NHANES 2001-2010,” Environ Int 2013;  59, 328-335.

Holly, A.C., Melzer, D., Pilling, L.C., Fellows, A.C., Tanaka, T., Ferrucci, L., Harries, L.W. “Changes in splicing factor expression are associated with advancing age in man,” Mech Ageing Dev 2013; 134(9), 356-366.

Crosslin, D.R., McDavid, A., Weston, N., Zheng, X., Hart, E., de Andrade, M., Kullo, I.J., McCarty, C.A., Doheny, K.F., Pugh, E., et al “Genetic variation associated with circulating monocyte count in the eMERGE Network,” Human Molecular Genetics 2013; 22(10), 2119-2127.

Wood, A.R., Perry, J.R., Tanaka, T., Hernandez, D.G., Zheng, H.F., Melzer, D., Gibbs, J.R., Nalls, M.A., Weedon, M.N., Spector, T.D., et al “Imputation of variants from the 1000 Genomes Project modestly improves known associations and can identify low-frequency variant-phenotype associations undetected by HapMap based imputation,”Plos One 2013; 8(5).

Dutta, A., Henley, W., Robine, J.M., Langa, K.M., Wallace, R.B., Melzer, D. “Longer lived parents: protective associations with cancer incidence and overall mortality,” J Gerontol a Biol Sci Med Sci 2013; 68(11), 1409-1418.

Antoniou, E.E., Dutta, A., Langa, K.M., Melzer, D., Llewellyn, D. “Personality profile of the children of long-lived parents,” J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2013; 68(5), 730-738.

Westra, H.-.J., Peters, M.J., Esko, T., Yaghootkar, H., Schurmann, C., Kettunen, J., Christiansen, M.W., Fairfax, B.P., Schramm, K., Powell, J.E., et al “Systematic identification of trans eQTLs as putative drivers of known disease associations,” Nature Genetics.

Holly, A.C., Melzer, D., Pilling, L.C., Henley, W., Hernandez, D.G., Singleton, A.B., Bandinelli, S., Guralnik, J.M., Ferrucci, L., Harries, L.W., et al “Towards a gene expression biomarker set for human biological age,” Aging Cell 2013; 12(2), 324-326.

Dutta, A., Henley, W., Pilling, L.C., Wallace, R.B., Melzer, D.  “Uric acid measurement improves prediction of cardiovascular mortality in later life,” J Am Geriatr Soc 2013; 61(3), 319-326.

Harries, L.W., Fellows, A.D., Pilling, L.C., Hernandez, D., Singleton, A., Bandinelli, S., Guralnik, J., Powell, J., Ferrucci, L., Melzer, D., et al “Advancing age is associated with gene expression changes resembling mTOR inhibition: Evidence from two human populations,” Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2012; 133(8), 556-562.

Murabito, J.M., White, C.C., Kavousi, M., Sun, Y.V., Feitosa, M.F., Nambi, V., Lamina, C., Schillert, A., Coassin, S., Bis, J.C., et al “Association between chromosome 9p21 variants and the ankle-brachial index identified by a meta-analysis of 21 genome-wide association studies,” Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics 2012;  5(1), 100-112.

Harries, L.W., Pilling, L.C., Hernandez, L.D., Bradley-Smith, R., Henley, W., Singleton, A.B., Guralnik, J.M., Bandinelli, S., Ferrucci, L., Melzer, D., et al  “CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-beta expression in vivo is associated with muscle strength”. Aging Cell 2012; 11(2), 262-268.

Melzer, D., Harries, L., Llewellyn, D.J., Bandinelli, S., Guralnik, J.M., Ferrucci, L. “Gene Expression Associations with Mmse Scores: Phagocytosis of Cns Beta Amyliod?” Gerontologist 2012; 52, 453-453.

Pilling, L.C., Harries, L.W., Powell, J., Llewellyn, D.J., Ferrucci, L., Melzer, D. “Genomics and successful aging: grounds for renewed optimism?” J Gerontol a Biol Sci Med Sci 2012;  67(5), 511-519.

Sarwar, N., Butterworth, A.S., Freitag, D.F., Gregson, J., Willeit, P., Gorman, D.N., Gao, P., Saleheen, D., Rendon, A., Nelson, C.P., et al “Interleukin-6 receptor pathways in coronary heart disease: a collaborative meta-analysis of 82 studies,” Lancet 2012 ; 379(9822), 1205-1213.

Harries, L.W., Bradley-Smith, R.M., Llewellyn, D.J., Pilling, L.C., Fellows, A., Henley, W., Hernandez, D., Guralnik, J.M., Bandinelli, S., Singleton, A., et al “Leukocyte CCR2 expression is associated with mini-mental state examination score in older adults,” Rejuvenation Res 2012; 15(4), 395-404.

Melzer, D., Dutta, A., Henley, W., Langa, K., Wallace, R.B., Robine, J. “Middle-aged Offspring of Long Lived Parents in Hrs,” Gerontologist 2012; 52, 414-414.

Stolk, L., Perry, J.R.B., Chasman, D.I., He, C., Mangino, M., Sulem, P., Barbalic, M., Broer, L., Byrne, E.M., Ernst, F., et al  “Meta-analyses identify 13 loci associated with age at menopause and highlight DNA repair and immune pathways,” Nature Genetics 2012; 44(3), 260-268.

Dastani, Z., Hivert, M.-.F., Timpson, N., Perry, J.R.B., Yuan, X., Scott, R.A., Henneman, P., Heid, I.M., Kizer, J.R., Lyytikäinen, L.-.P., et al “Novel loci for adiponectin levels and their influence on type 2 diabetes and metabolic traits: a multi-ethnic meta-analysis of 45,891 individuals,” Plos Genetics, 8(3).

Melzer, D., Osborne, N.J., Henley, W.E., Cipelli, R., Young, A., Money, C., McCormack, P., Luben, R., Khaw, K.-.T., Wareham, N.J., et al “Urinary bisphenol a concentration and risk of future coronary artery disease in apparently healthy men and women,” Circulation 2012; 125(12), 1482-1490.

Melzer, D., Osborne, N.J., Henley, W.E., Cipelli, R., Young, A., Money, C., McCormack, P., Luben, R., Khaw, K.T., Wareham, N.J., et al  “Urinary bisphenol a concentration and risk of future coronary artery disease in apparently healthy men and women,” Circulation 2012; 125(12), 1482-1490.

Melzer, D., Gates, P., Osborne, N.J., Henley, W.E., Cipelli, R., Young, A., Money, C., McCormack, P., Schofield, P., Mosedale, D., et al “Urinary bisphenol a concentration and angiography-defined coronary artery stenosis,” Plos One 2012; 7(8).

Melzer, D., Osborne, N.J., Henley, W.E., Cipelli, R., Young, A., Money, C., McCormack, P., Luben, R., Khaw, K.-.T., Wareham, N.J., et al (2012). Urinary bisphenol: a concentration and risk of future coronary artery disease in apparently healthy men and women. Circulation.

Soni, M., Kos, K., Lang, I.A., Jones, K., Melzer, D., Llewellyn, D.J. “Vitamin D and cognitive function,” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl 2012; 243, 79-82.

Wood, A.R., Hernandez, D.G., Nalls, M.A., Yaghootkar, H., Gibbs, J.R., Harries, L.W., Chong, S., Moore, M., Weedon, M.N., Guralnik, J.M., et al “Allelic heterogeneity and more detailed analyses of known loci explain additional phenotypic variation and reveal complex patterns of association,” Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20(20), 4082-4092.

Melzer, D., Galloway, T. “Bisphenol a and adult disease: making sense of fragmentary data and competing inferences,” Ann Intern Med 2011; 155(6), 392-394.

Melzer, D., Harries, L., Cipelli, R., Henley, W., Money, C., McCormack, P., Young, A., Guralnik, J., Ferrucci, L., Bandinelli, S., et al “Bisphenol a exposure is associated with in vivo estrogenic gene expression in adults,” Environ Health Perspect 2011; 119(12), 1788-1793.

Melzer, D., Harries, L., Pilling, L., Bandinelli, S., Guralnik, J.M., Singleton, A., Hernandez, D., Ferrucci, L. (2011). Confirmation of Mouse Model of Sarcopenia By Genome Wide Expression Study in Humans. Gerontologist, 51, 506-507.

Rice, N.E., Lang, I.A., Henley, W., Melzer, D. “Common health predictors of early retirement: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing,” Age Ageing 2011; 40(1), 54-61.

Zhai, G., Teumer, A., Stolk, L., Perry, J.R.B., Vandenput, L., Coviello, A.D., Koster, A., Bandinelli, S., Bell, J.T., Bhasin, S., et al “Eight Common Genetic Variants Associated with Serum Dheas Levels Suggests a Key Role in Ageing Mechanisms,” Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 2011; 49, S425-S425.

Zhai, G., Teumer, A., Stolk, L., Perry, J.R.B., Vandenput, L., Coviello, A.D., Koster, A., Bell, J.T., Bhasin, S., Eriksson, J., et al  Eight common genetic variants associated with serum dheas levels suggest a key role in ageing mechanisms. Plos Genetics, 2011; 7(4).

Melzer, D. (2011). Environmental Medicine. Journal of Public Health, 33(3), 469-469.

Ohlsson, C., Wallaschofski, H., Lunetta, K.L., Stolk, L., Perry, J.R.B., Annemarie, K., Petersen, A.K., Eriksson, J., Lehtimaki, T., Huhtaniemi, I.T., et al “Genetic Determinants of Serum Testosterone Concentrations in Men,” Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 2011; 49, S424-S424.

Harries, L.W., Hernandez, D., Henley, W., Wood, A.R., Holly, A.C., Bradley-Smith, R.M., Yaghootkar, H., Dutta, A., Murray, A., Frayling, T.M., et al “Human aging is characterized by focused changes in gene expression and deregulation of alternative splicing,” Aging Cell 2011; 10(5), 868-878.

Yaghootkar, H., Hernandez, D., Nalls, M., Wood, A., Gibbs, R., Harries, L., Chong, S., Moore, M., Guralnik, J., Bandinell, S., et al “Identifying likely causal connections between gene expression levels using a Mendelian randomization approach,” Clinical Biochemistry 2011; 44(13), S294-S294.

Lang, I.A., Llewellyn, D.J., Hubbard, R.E., Langa, K.M., Melzer, D. “Income and the midlife peak in common mental disorder prevalence,” Psychol Med 2011; 41(7), 1365-1372.

Llewellyn, D.J., Langa, K.M., Lang, I.A., Melzer, D. “Investigating factors of decline in cognitive function or dementia: Reply,” Archives of Internal Medicine 2011; 171(3), 267-267.

Nalls, M.A., Couper, D.J., Tanaka, T., van Rooij, F.J.A., Chen, M.-.H., Smith, A.V., Toniolo, D., Zakai, N.A., Yang, Q., Greinacher, A., et al “Multiple loci are associated with white blood cell phenotypes,” Plos Genetics 2011; 7(6).

Dutta, A., Henley, W., Lang, I., Llewellyn, D., Guralnik, J., Wallace, R.B., Melzer, D. “Predictors of extraordinary survival in the Iowa established populations for epidemiologic study of the elderly: cohort follow-up to "extinction" J Am Geriatr Soc 2011; 59(6), 963-971.

Wills, M., Akbar, A., Beswick, M., Bosch, J.A., Caruso, C., Colonna-Romano, G., Dutta, A., Franceschi, C., Fulop, T., Gkrania-Klotsas, E., et al “Report from the second cytomegalovirus and immunosenescence workshop,” Immunity and Ageing 2011 ; 8.

Simanek, A.M., Dowd, J.B., Pawelec, G., Melzer, D., Dutta, A., Aiello, A.E. “Seropositivity to cytomegalovirus, inflammation, all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related mortality in the United States,” Plos One, 2011; 6(2).

Dutta, A., Henley, W., Lang, I.A., Murray, A., Guralnik, J., Wallace, R.B., Melzer, D. “The coronary artery disease-associated 9p21 variant and later life 20-year survival to cohort extinction,” Circ Cardiovasc Genet 2011;  4(5), 542-548.

Llewellyn, D.J., Lang, I.A., Langa, K.M., Muniz-Terrera, G., Phillips, C.L., Cherubini, A., Ferrucci, L., Melzer, D. Vitamin D and Risk of Cognitive Decline in Elderly Persons EDITORIAL COMMENT. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 2011; 66(6), 354-355.

Llewellyn, D.J., Lang, I.A., Langa, K.M., Melzer, D. “Vitamin D and cognitive impairment in the elderly U.S. population. Journals of Gerontology - Series a Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences,” 2011; 66 A(1), 59-65.

Llewellyn, D.J., Lang, I.A., Langa, K.M., Melzer, D. “Vitamin D and cognitive impairment in the elderly U.S. population,” J Gerontol a Biol Sci Med Sci 2011; 66(1), 59-65.

Llewellyn, D.J., Lang, I.A., Langa, K.M., Muniz-Terrera, G., Phillips, C.L., Cherubini, A., Ferrucci, L., Melzer, D. “Vitamin D and risk of cognitive decline in elderly persons,” Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey 2011; 66(6), 354-355.

Strain, W.D., Shore, A.C., Melzer, D. “Albumin:creatinine ratio predicts mortality after stroke: analysis of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” J Am Geriatr Soc 2010; 58(12), 2434-2435.

Melzer, D., Rice, N., Depledge, M.H., Henley, W.E., Galloway, T.S. “Association between serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and thyroid disease in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” Environ Health Perspect 2010; 118(5), 686-692.

Melzer, D., Rice, N.E., Lewis, C., Henley, W.E., Galloway, T.S. “Association of urinary bisphenol a concentration with heart disease: evidence from NHANES 2003/06.” Plos One 2010; 5(1).

Rice, N.E., Lang, I.A., Henley, W., Melzer, D. “Baby boomers nearing retirement: the healthiest generation?” Rejuvenation Res, 2010; 13(1), 105-114.

Melzer, D., Galloway, T. “Burden of proof,” New Scientist, 2010; 208(2783), 26-27.

Melzer, D. “Common Human Genetic Variation in Pathways to Successful Ageing,” Gerontologist, 2010 ; 50, 436-436.

Galloway, T., Cipelli, R., Guralnik, J., Ferrucci, L., Bandinelli, S., Corsi, A.M., Money, C., McCormack, P., Melzer, D. “Daily bisphenol a excretion and associations with sex hormone concentrations: results from the InCHIANTI adult population study,” Environ Health Perspect 2010; 118(11), 1603-1608.

Dutta, A., Guralnik, J., Wallace, R., Melzer, D. “Early Life Predictors of Exceptional Survival in the Iowa Epese-study,” Gerontologist, 2010 ; 50, 19-19.

Wallace, R.B., Dutta, A., Guralnik, J., Melzer, D. Iowa 2 “Blood Biochemistry and the Prediction of Survival in the Iowa-epese,” Gerontologist, 2010; 50, 20-20.

Dalton, H.R., Bendall, R.P., Pritchard, C., Henley, W., Melzer, D. “National mortality rates from chronic liver disease and consumption of alcohol and pig meat.” Epidemiol Infect 2010 ; 138(2), 174-182.

Dupuis, J., Langenberg, C., Prokopenko, I., Saxena, R., Soranzo, N., Jackson, A.U., Wheeler, E., Glazer, N.L., Bouatia-Naji, N., Gloyn, A.L., et al. “New genetic loci implicated in fasting glucose homeostasis and their impact on type 2 diabetes risk,” Nat Genet, 2010; 42(2), 105-116.

Cluett, C., Brayne, C., Clarke, R., Evans, G., Matthews, F., Rubinsztein, D.C., Huppert, F., Llewellyn, D.J., Rice, N., Henley, W., et al “Polymorphisms in LMNA and near a SERPINA gene cluster are associated with cognitive function in older people,” Neurobiol Aging 2010 ; 31(9), 1563-1568.

Williams, B., Lang, I., Llewellyn, D., Melzer, D., Rice, N. “Vitamin D and lower reproductive tract infections in women: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2004,” HIV Medicine 2010 ; 11, 76-76.

Llewellyn, D.J., Lang, I.A., Langa, K.M., Muniz-Terrera, G., Phillips, C.L., Cherubini, A., Ferrucci, L., Melzer, D.  “Vitamin D and risk of cognitive decline in elderly persons,” Arch Intern Med 2010; 170(13), 1135-1141.

Lang IA, Llewellyn DJ, Hubbard RE, Langa KM, Melzer D. “Income and the midlife peak in common mental disorder prevalence.” Psychol Med. 2011 Jul;41(7):1365-72.

Rice NE, Lang IA, Henley W, Melzer D. “Baby boomers nearing retirement: the healthiest generation?” Rejuvenation Res. 2010 Feb;13(1):105-14.

Hogarth S, Javitt G, Melzer D. “The current landscape for direct-to-consumer genetic testing: legal, ethical, and policy issues”. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2008;9:161-82. Review.

Steel N, Bachman M, Maisey S, Shekelle P, Breeze E, Marmot M, Melzer D. “Self reported receipt of care consistent with 32 quality indicators: national population survey of adults aged 50 or more in England.” BMJ 2008; 337;a957.

Lang IA, Llewellyn DJ, Alexander K, Melzer D. “Obesity, physical function, and mortality in older adults.” J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Aug;56(8):1474-8. Epub 2008 Jul 24.PMID: 18662211

Stevens, K.N., Lang, I.A., Guralnik, J.M., Melzer, D. “Epidemiology of balance and dizziness in a national population: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.” Age and Ageing 37 (3), pp. 300-305:  2008

Lang, I.A., Rice, N.E., Wallace, R.B., Guralnik, J.M., Melzer, D. “Smoking cessation and transition into retirement: Analyses from the English longitudinal study of ageing.” Age and Ageing 36 (6), pp. 638-643: 2007

Lang, I., Guralnik, J., Wallace, R.B., Melzer, D. “What level of alcohol consumption is hazardous for older people? Functioning and mortality in U.S. and English national cohorts.”  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 55 (1), pp. 49-57: 2007

Melzer, D., Lan, T.-Y., Tom, B.D.M., Deeg, D.J.H., Guralnik, J.M. “Variation in thresholds for reporting mobility disability between national population subgroups and studies  Journals of Gerontology - Series A.” Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 59 (12), pp. 1295-1303: 2004

Lan, T.-Y., Melzer, D., Tom, B.D.M., Guralnik, J.M. “Performance tests and disability: Developing an objective index of mobility-related limitation in older populations.  Journals of Gerontology - Series A.” Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 57 (5), pp. M294-M301:2002

Steel N, Melzer D, Shekelle PG, Wenger NS, Forsyth D, McWilliams BC.  “Developing Quality Indicators for Older Adults: Transfer From the USA to the UK is Feasible,” Qual Saf Health Care 2004; 13(4):260-4. 

Melzer D, Guralnik JM, Brock D. “Prevalence and Distribution of Hip and Knee Joint Replacements and Hip Implants in Older Americans by the End of Life,” Aging Clin Exp Res 2003; 15(1):60-6.

Melzer D, Izmirlian G, Leveille SG, Guralnik JM. “Educational Differences in the Prevalence of Mobility Disability in Old Age: The Dynamics of Incidence, Mortality and Recovery,”  J Gerontol: Soc Sci 2001; 56B:S294-S301.

Bedford S, Melzer D, Guralnik J.  “Problem Behavior In the Last Year of Life: Prevalence, Risks and Care Receipt in Older Americans,” J Am Geriatr Soc 2001; 49(5):590-595.

Leveille SG, Penninx BW, Melzer D, Izmirlian G, Guralnik JM. “Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Mobility Disability in Old Age: The Dynamics of Incidence, Recovery, and Mortality” Journal of Gerontology 2000; 55:S41-S50.