Melanie Carder

Dr. Melanie Carder is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care at The University of Manchester. Her research focuses on occupational health, particularly respiratory and dermatological conditions linked to workplace exposures. She leads projects under the THOR network, analyzing trends in occupational diseases like contact dermatitis, asthma, and silicosis. Key areas include surveillance of nickel/chromium/cobalt-related illnesses and occupational respiratory conditions with short latency periods. She collaborates on national and international initiatives, such as the Health and Occupation Reporting (THOR) network and the Epidemiology and Public Health Group (EPHG). Her work emphasizes improving surveillance methodologies for underreported occupational risks, contributing to policy development and workplace safety standards.

Her research integrates epidemiological analysis with public health interventions, addressing emerging occupational hazards such as artificial stone-associated silicosis and PPE-related dermatoses. She has contributed to cross-border studies in Ireland and evaluated the impact of EU regulations on reducing chromate-related dermatitis. Dr. Carder’s projects also explore mental health in occupational settings, including burnout syndrome classification, and have examined trends in work-related illnesses among medical professionals and construction workers.

Key collaborations include the THOR network, SWORD reporting scheme for respiratory diseases, and the EPHG. Her work spans over 60 peer-reviewed articles, with a focus on longitudinal studies and surveillance system optimization. Current projects involve refining statistical models for zero-inflated occupational disease data and assessing long-term respiratory health impacts of workplace exposures.