In this study we are developing the next generation of health impact models of transport and testing this in England. The study builds on the existing ITHIM tools.

This study represents a sister study to TIGTHAT. In TIGTHAT we are laying the foundation for a globally applicable model that can cover settings with diverse and typically limited data. In METAHIT we are investigating how far we can go with a setting with good data.

Key developments in METAHIT are:

1. Producing estimates at smaller spatial scales
2. Better representation of uncertainty, including using Value of Information analysis to prioritise future research
3. Inclusion of noise pollution
4. Improving and comparing health impact modelling methods (using a proportional multi-state life table model with Dr Belen Zapata-Diomedi)
5. City region scenarios in collaboration with the Department for Transport and city region authorities, and building on the Propensity to Cycle Tool

The model is in R and all code is available open source https://github.com/ITHIM/ITHIM-R/.

Investigators and researchers

University of Cambridge (Dr James Woodcock, Dr Soren Brage, Dr Ali Abbas,  Dr Chris Jackson, Dr Rob Johnson)

Imperial College (Dr Audrey de Nazelle, Dr Tim Oxley)

University of Leicester (Prof John Gulliver)

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Dr Anna Goodman)

Norwegian Centre for Transport Research (Dr Rune Elvik).

METAHIT is funded through the MRC Methodology Research Programme from 2017 to 2021