During March the MRC Epidemiology Unit held two meetings for volunteers who had taken part in the Fenland Study. The study has recruited over 10,000 volunteers across the Eastern Region since the first volunteer was measured back in January 2005. Although we know our volunteers are pretty committed people to have given up their time to take part, we were really pleased in the level of interest these meetings. In total over 400 people came along to the two evening events at Churchill College in Cambridge and The Maltings in Ely.

Each evening started with presentations from some of the principal investigators of the study, outlining the initial findings, the contribution this unique study will have in the longer term and our plans for the study in the future. This was followed by a wide ranging panel discussion with questions from the audience. The questions again really highlighted the level of interest in the study and the depth of the audiences’ understanding. Thank you to everyone who came along and made for such a friendly and fascinating evening.

If you were unable to come along the slides for each talk can be found below:

• ‘The health and lifestyles of people in Fenland’ Dr Soren Brage
• ‘The influence of genes, lifestyles and the environment on the health of people in Fenland’ Professor Nick Wareham
• ‘Can we influence the lifestyles of people in Fenland?’ Professor Simon Griffin
• ‘Future plans and Fenland 2’ Dr Nita Forouhi