Research in the School

Health and Population Sciences research at University of BirminghamThe research domain of Health & Population Sciences (HaPS) encompasses expertise in the fields of primary care, public health and epidemiology, clinical trials, health technology assessments, health economics, occupational and environmental medicine, biostatistics, health services research, health care development, nursing and physiotherapy.

Our research involves cross-disciplinary collaborations within the university and beyond, utilising some of the brightest minds and latest scientific technology in our quest to push back the boundaries of research in this field.

We are focused on three specific research themes: Population Health Research and Epidemiology; Service Design and Delivery; and Healthcare Evaluation and Methodology.

How our Research is organised into Themes and Groups

Research themes

Healthcare Evaluation and Methodology

Description
The scope of groups within this theme stretch from providing methodological infrastructure and support for applied health research projects based in Health and Population Sciences, or elsewhere in the College; through provision of health evaluation services; to development and evaluation of the scientific methodologies for development and evaluation of methodology. The study of biomedical ethics, both as applied to research and clinical practice, and the history of medicine are included.

Population Health Research and Epidemiology

Description
Research within this theme is determining disease aetiology and health outcomes, including the role of the environment and genes, and using such knowledge to inform the design and evaluation of population-based or clinical interventions to prevent or treat conditions of population health importance.Work is focused in three main areas. Research studies are being undertaken in behavioural medicine relating to smoking, obesity, exercise and sexual health. Several groups under research related to particular stages of life: maternal and infant health, occupational and environmental medicine, and end of life care. Other major research programmes are focused on key disease areas.

Service Design and Delivery

Description
This research theme covers topics of patient safety, quality of care, service design and delivery including lay health workers, alternative and complementary medicine and the Quality Outcomes Framework