Lifelong health and wellbeing research
We develop health and wellbeing policies and programmes that target prevention and therapeutic treatments.
Our research
Our researchers from the Department for Health work to understand the various factors that lead to overall health and wellbeing. A key aim of our research is to develop person-centred, socially-just and cost-effective interventions, policies and programmes which target both primary prevention and therapeutic treatments.
Many diseases such as cancer, obesity, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease are linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity. Research is conducted into these health and disease risk factors in order to inform policy decision making and/or individual lifestyle choices. Other long-term health conditions such as permanent disability or aging-related illness require alternative approaches involving evidence-based support to manage ongoing physical challenges. In addition, poor mental health is closely connected to physical health and our research informs both the treatment and management of issues concerning mental health and wellbeing.
Further research in all these areas promises to improve overall health and wellbeing across the lifespan and we are developing cutting edge research around emerging health technologies to solve health problems and improve quality of life.
Our research methodologies are innovative and diverse as we seek to develop responses to identified major problems of significance in our field, such as:
- epidemiology
- systematic reviews
- clinical trials
- qualitative studies
- policy and media analysis
- participatory action research
- digital interventions
- laboratory mechanistic investigations
- mathematical modelling and evaluation studies.
Our research groups and centres
We pursue this research agenda through the following research groups and centres:
- Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change
- Centre for Pain Research
- Tobacco Control
- Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism
- Physical Culture, Sport and Health
- Clinical Rehabilitation and Exercise Medicine
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research
Our projects
- Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation in Chronic Pain Management
- BlueIce App to reduce the incidence of self-harm in young people
- Enhancing the assessment and monitoring of growth and maturation in young athletes
- Inequalities in older people: a plan for action
- Promoting physical activity and well-being in children and adolescents
- Teenagers in chronic pain