Robert Maidstone

Robert Maidstone is a Research Fellow in the Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine within the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Manchester. His academic career spans prestigious institutions including the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester, where he has consistently focused on the intersection of circadian biology and respiratory medicine.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Statistics and Operational Research (STOR-i) from Lancaster University (2016), with thesis titled "Efficient Analysis of Complex Changepoint Problems"
• MRes in Statistics and Operational Research (STOR-i) with Distinction from Lancaster University (2012)
• BSc in Mathematics with First Class Honours from Lancaster University (2011)

Dr. Maidstone's research program centers on computational techniques to explore relationships between the circadian clock and disease, with particular emphasis on how disruption to the circadian system (such as through shift work) impacts health outcomes. His current work utilizes UK Biobank data to investigate the relationship between night shift work and moderate-severe asthma, examining how this relationship interacts with sex differences. He has developed expertise in applying statistical methodologies to complex biological questions, bridging computational approaches with clinical medicine.

Analysis of his recent publication record reveals a strong trajectory toward chronobiological applications in respiratory medicine, particularly asthma. His work increasingly combines systematic review methodologies with large-scale data analysis from UK Biobank to examine health impacts of circadian disruption across multiple conditions including mental health, cancer, and metabolic disorders. The research demonstrates growing interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological sophistication in analyzing time-dependent biological phenomena.

Dr. Maidstone's scientific recognition includes:

• Research Scholar with Our Future Health
• Co-Investigator on an Asthma & Lung UK grant

As a computational researcher, Dr. Maidstone serves as Co-Investigator on an Asthma & Lung UK funded project with Dr. Hannah Durrington as Principal Investigator. He co-leads the Research IT Computation and Data in Research (CaDiR) UoM UK Biobank Users community, facilitating data analysis for researchers working with this extensive dataset. His work has been funded through prestigious grants from the Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council (MRC) throughout his career, demonstrating sustained research excellence.

Dr. Maidstone is actively involved in the Institute for Data Science and AI and Digital Futures research platforms at the University of Manchester. His collaborative network spans multiple institutions, with significant work conducted in partnership with Professor David Ray and Professor Andrew Loudon. His research contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through data science applications in health research, positioning him at the forefront of the emerging field of chronomedicine.