Caroline Relton

Caroline Laura Relton is a British biochemist, Professor and Pro Director for Research and Academic Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her research considers genetic and epigenetic epidemiology and looks to understand the role of DNA methylation in complex disease.

Early life and education
Relton studied applied biology and nutritional science as an undergraduate. She earned a postgraduate certificate in science education in 1990. She was a doctoral research student in molecular genetics at Newcastle University. Her research involved investigations into genes associated with insulin resistance. After completing her doctorate she was appointed to the faculty at Newcastle, a position she held for 12 years.

Research and career
She moved to the University of Bristol in 2012. Relton investigates the variations in epidemiology that cause disease, and how these can be used to predict disease. She uses population-based approaches to study how behavioural, psychological, and social variables relate to DNA methylation. She was one of the first researchers to show that DNA could be a predictor of body weight: factors that influence the development of a baby in the womb (e.g. diet, smoking, stress) can predispose a child to obesity. Relton studied this using the Children of the 90s study. She used data from 520,000 people across Europe to demonstrate a link between levels of B vitamins and lung cancer, showing a reduced risk of lung cancer among people with high levels of Vitamin B6 and methionine.

Alongside her research position at Bristol, Relton is Pro-Director of Research and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.