Professor William Whiteley (BM BCh MA MSc PhD FRCP)
Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics
- BHF Data Science Centre, Health Data Research UK
Contact details
Background
William Whiteley is a Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology at the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh and a consultant neurologist in NHS Lothian, working with patients with TIA, stroke and dementia.
He has founded and run the Edinburgh Stroke Winter School and clinical PhD research training programs in stroke (funded by the Stroke Association) and dementia (funded by the Alzheimer's Society and University of Edinburgh). He has been supported by personal fellowships from the UK MRC (Clinician Scientist fellowship 2010-2015), the Chief Scientist’s Office (2006-2009, 2018-2025), and his work by the Alzheimer's Society, the Chief Scientist's Office, the Stroke Association and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
Qualifications
Master of Science, University of London, Epidemiology Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Edinburgh, Biomarkers in Stroke Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Oxford Bachelor of Arts, University of Cambridge, Neurophysiology
Responsibilities & affiliations
He is associate director of the the BHF Data Science Centre, and leads the Stroke Data Science Catalyst (2023-present). He is the clinical lead for the Chief Scientist's Office Scottish Stroke Research Network (2023-present).
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Areas of interest for supervision
I have a track record of supporting interested clinicians gain independent funding, and have mentored several fellows through academic clinical fellowships. If you would like to join me to investigate clinical epidemiology, clinical trials, cerebrovascular disease, or use of 'big data' please contact me by email: william.whiteley@ed.ac.uk
Current PhD students supervised
Dr. Emma Davidson, PhD: Identifying brain imaging phenotypes in radiology records (Alzheimer's Society)
Dr. Jakub Kaczynski, PhD: Novel methods to identify high risk carotid plaque (BHF)
Laura Sherlock, PhD: Effect of different analytic techniques on cognitive outcomes in prevention of vascular cognitive impairment (CSO)
Past PhD students supervised
Dr. Yvonne Chun Efficient trials and anxiety after stroke (CSO)
Dr Akila Visvanathan Communication of prognosis after stroke (CSO)
Dr. Douglas Turnbull Predictive models after stroke (MRC)
Research summary
His work seeks to elucidate the mechanisms for prevention of disability due to stroke and dementia through the design, delivery and analysis of epidemiological studies and clinical trials. Of particular interest are: the contribution of vascular risk factors to dementia; the very long term follow-up of randomized trials; clinical diagnosis; and the better use of large electronic health record datasets for more efficient clinical trials and cohort studies.
He founded the Edinburgh Clinical Natural Language Processing Group with Dr Honghang Wu and Dr Bea Alex, a multidisciplinary team at the University of Edinburgh who apply natural language processing to clinical text.
He has founded and run the Edinburgh Stroke Winter School and clinical PhD research training programs in stroke (funded by the Stroke Association) and dementia (funded by the Alzheimer's Society and University of Edinburgh). He has been supported by personal fellowships from the UK MRC (Clinician Scientist fellowship 2010-2015), the Chief Scientist’s Office (2006-2009, 2018-2025), and his work by the Alzheimer's Society, the Stroke Association and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland