Professor Mark Elwood

MB BCh, MD, DSc, MS, MBA, FRCPC, FAFPHM

Professor - Cancer Epidemioloy

In: Epidemiology and Biostatistics » Population Health » Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Biography

Mark Elwood is Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the School of Population Health. He is an epidemiologist and public health physician (MB, MD, DSc, FRCP (Canada), FAFPHM). He has been involved in research in cancer epidemiology and in cancer control, including causes and prevention, screening and early diagnosis, and improving patient outcomes. His other areas of interest include evidence-based health care in general, birth defects, and health issues relating to electromagnetic fields (such as cellphones and power lines). He supervises PhD and Master's students. He has previously been Vice-President of the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada; Director of the National Cancer Control Initiative in Australia; Professor and chair of the Dept. of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Nottingham, UK; and Professor at the Univ. of Otago. He has written over 300 scientific publications and several books. These include ‘Critical Appraisal of Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials’, Oxford University Press, 4th edition 2018. His current interests, all of which could give opportunities for students, include: quality of care and patient outcomes in breast, lung, colorectal and other cancers, and in melanoma; international comparisons of cancer incidence and survival; causes, prevention, early diagnosis and screening for cancer; primary care aspects of cancer; other applications of evidence-based critical appraisal; and health issues of electromagnetic fields and other environmental issues.

Research | Current

Studies of outcomes of breast cancer in New Zealand, development of predictive models of outcomes, and aspects of quality of care. Studies of lung cancer in New Zealand, with special regard to genetic subtypes, such as EGFR mutations. Studies of the presentation and outcome of colorectal cancer. Studies of the management of cancer in primary care, with links to the International Cancer Benchmarking Project. Assessments of progress in cancer control in New Zealand, with international comparisons. Studies of other cancers including melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and endometrial cancer. Health effects of electromagnetic fields including low frequency (power line) and radiofrequency (mobile phone) fields.

Teaching | Current

Has taught the Epidemiology PoplHlth 304 course from 2012 to 2018, but not in 2019.

Postgraduate supervision

Past and current supervision of PhD, MPH, and BHSc honours dissertation students. All completed students have published papers.

Distinctions/Honours

Previously Vice-President, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Australia. Previously Director of the National Cancer Control Initiative, Australia. Post-doctoral research prize, Society of Epidemiological Research (US). Past-president, Australasian Epidemiological Association. Distinguished lecturer, Clinical Oncology Society of Australia.

Responsibilities

Member of the NZ National Screening Advisory Committee (Ministry of Health).

Areas of expertise

Epidemiology, Public Health Medicine, cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, electromagnetic fields.

Committees/Professional groups/Services

Member of editorial boards of Melanoma Research, Journal of Medical Screening.

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Elwood, J. M., Tawfiq, E., TinTin, S., Marshall, R. J., Phung, T. M., Campbell, I., ... Lawrenson, R. (2018). Development and validation of a new predictive model for breast cancer survival in New Zealand and comparison to the Nottingham prognostic index. BMC cancer, 18 (1)10.1186/s12885-018-4791-x
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/46268
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Roger Marshall, Ian Campbell, Sandar Tin Tin, Essa Tawfiq
Menzies, S. W., Emery, J., Staples, M., Davies, S., McAvoy, B., Fletcher, J., ... Ward, A. (2009). Impact of dermoscopy and short-term sequential digital dermoscopy imaging for the management of pigmented lesions in primary care: a sequential intervention trial. Br J Dermatol, 161 (6), 1270-1277. 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09374.x
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/15706