Wes Spiller

Wes Spiller is a Wellcome Trust Ph.D. student at the Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol. He previously studied at the University of Edinburgh and Lancaster University, with a background in econometrics and statistical analysis. His research primarily focuses upon the use of Mendelian randomization (MR) and causal inference within the context of genetic epidemiology.

His recent work has focused upon the development of statistical methods to detect and correct for pleiotropic bias in MR studies, using both individual and summary level data. This includes the development of MRGxE, a method leveraging information on gene-by-environment interactions to correct for bias in MR analyses, and two-sample summary methods such as radial MR.

Wes is also interested in the development of software packages which facilitate the application of various MR methods. This includes the mrrobust Stata package, the RadialMR R package, and contributions to the MRBase software platform. He is also involved in collaborations with Yonsei University in South Korea, centerd upon incidence of stroke and mental health outcomes.