Elizabeth A. Spencer

Spencer’s research spans areas of public health including living reviews, biomarkers, self-care in chronic conditions, and the impact of environmental exposures on health.^[2] She has advanced strategies for managing multimorbidity.^[3][4][5][6] She has also enhanced methodologies in evidence synthesis, emphasising well-defined research questions, transparent methodologies, and comprehensive search strategies.^[7]

At the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM),^[8] Spencer is a major contributor to the Evidence-Based Multimorbidity Project. This initiative focuses on developing strategies for the early recognition, screening, and treatment of multimorbidity, aiming to reduce the burden of chronic conditions.^[9][10]

She has been involved in studies at CEBM including "Tamiflu as a Treatment for Influenza," evaluating its efficacy in combating influenza^[11] and "Primodos and Congenital Malformations," which investigated the potential links between the hormonal pregnancy test and birth defects.^[12] In addition, she has contributed to "Green Tea and Blood Pressure Effects," which examined the potential benefits of green tea consumption on blood pressure^[13] and "Transmission of SARS-CoV-2," a study that focused on understanding the transmission dynamics of the virus, particularly among asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals.^[14]

Spencer was also involved in the launch of Open Evidence Reviews, an initiative by CEBM providing real-time updates on evidence related to COVID-19. This initiative addressed critical areas such as transmission dynamics, the effectiveness of public health interventions, and the role of PCR cycle thresholds in predicting infectiousness.^[15] Her additional research suggests that PCR cycle threshold values may be crucial in predicting the infectiousness of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals with COVID-19. This study, part of a comprehensive review, highlights the importance of PCR testing in understanding transmission dynamics.^[16]

She has researched the risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using large-scale databases. She has also contributed to the Million Women Study, a landmark research project investigating the health of women aged 50 and over, with a focus on evaluating the risks and benefits of HRT and other health factors.^{[17][18][19][20]}

• Davey, G. K.; Spencer, E. A.; Appleby, P. N.; Allen, N. E.; Knox, K. H.; Key, T. J. (May 2003). "EPIC-Oxford: Lifestyle characteristics and nutrient intakes in a cohort of 33,883 meat-eaters and 31,546 non-meat-eaters in the UK". Public Health Nutrition. 6 (3): 259–269. doi:10.1079/PHN2002430. PMID 12740075.
• Rosca, EC; Heneghan, C; Spencer, EA; Brassey, J; Plüddemann, A; Onakpoya, IJ; Evans, D; Conly, JM; Jefferson, T (2022). "Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with Cruise Ship Travel: A Systematic Review". Trop Med Infect Dis. 7 (10): 290. doi:10.3390/tropicalmed7100290. PMC 9610645. PMID 36288031.
• Rosca, EC; Heneghan, C; Spencer, EA; Plüddemann, A; Maltoni, S; Gandini, S; Onakpoya, IJ; Evans, D; Conly, JM; Jefferson, T (2023). "Coinfection with Strongyloides and SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review". Trop Med Infect Dis. 8 (5): 248. doi:10.3390/tropicalmed8050248. PMC 10224069. PMID 37235296.