Our research areas

As a research-intensive university, Birmingham is committed to research that is pioneering in terms of its originality and distinctiveness, significance and rigour. Our vision is to inspire today’s brightest researchers to make a major impact on global society, and to become the leaders of tomorrow in whatever field they pursue.

Birmingham Heroes

Our vision is one where the transfer of knowledge and technology - generated from our research into the economy, policy and society - is an embedded and natural component of our activity, as important and relevant as the knowledge generation itself.

We support knowledge transfer as a broad spectrum of activity - including dissemination to our peers, engagement of the public, support to government and industry, and commercialisation of our intellectual property. 

We aim to build on individual excellence and to capitalise on our distinctive multi- and inter-disciplinary research strengths to address key national and global challenges; recognising that the complexity of these requires the productive bringing together of different perspectives and skills.

Follow the links below to view our research:

Arts and Law

Research Centres

Research within schools

Research within departments

Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research in Schools

Life and Environmental Sciences

Across the breadth of life and environmental sciences we discover, apply and translate science, forging advances in human and environmental health.

Research by subject

  • Biosciences

  • Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

  • Psychology

  • Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Cross discipline research

Our world-leading collaborative research areas include:

  • Environmental Sciences

  • Microbiology and Infection

  • Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain

  • Human Brain Health (incorporating the Centre for Human Brain Health)

  • Institute for Mental Health

  • Water Sciences

  • Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR)

These areas are underpinned by Enabling Technologies

Medicine and Health

Research overview

Research Departments

Our departments are focused academic units in identified areas of high-performing research and teaching excellence, each with an ambitious strategy and empowered leadership. We draw together outstanding academic, clinical and Professional Services staff around coherent and highly collaborative themes.  

The departments are responsible for driving the further development and delivery of priority themes identified in the institutional Life Sciences Strategy and the College Strategic Framework. They are championing interdisciplinary collaboration across the University’s Colleges and in partnership with our regional NHS Trusts. Each department contributes to our translational pipeline, supporting fundamental research excellence through to clinical and applied health programmes.

This strategy ensures that our research delivers real impact in health and wealth generation and that our educational programmes are informed by our research strengths. Co-location and core focal points for each of the Institutes ensure cohesion while at the same time promoting cross-Institute working and collaboration. 

This is further enabled through access to key College and/or cross-campus-managed facilities and resources and the provision of high quality professional services support including core academic, technical and specialist administration in support of teaching and research delivery. 

Department of Applied Health Sciences

Our internationally leading experts help to tackle global societal challenges, from occupational health risks in the UK and Europe to childhood obesity in China. 

 

Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences

We make a unique and powerful contribution to understanding how genetic abnormalities within cancer cells lead to disease. We use this information to design and rigorously assess new and proven cancer treatments.

 

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

We are world leaders in several areas of cardiovascular work, including research into the behaviour of platelets, white blood cells, atrial fibrillation and angiogenesis.

 

Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy

Birmingham has a very strong history of immunology research going back 50 years, and our large faculty of scientists and doctors are well positioned to make a world-leading contribution to understanding and treating immune- mediated disease.

 

Department of Inflammation and Ageing

From basic science to community exercise classes, we cover every aspect of research into and treatment of inflammation-driven illnesses and the role of inflammation in ageing.

 

IDepartment of Metabolism and Systems Science

For many years we have led the global field in metabolism research, particularly in endocrinology. We are also at the forefront of systems-level studies of the human metabolome – how our bodies function at a more complex level.

 

Research Centres 

Social Sciences

Birmingham Business School includes:

  • Accounting and Finance

  • Economics

  • Management

  • Marketing 

The School of Education includes:

  • Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER)

  • Centre for Research in Race and Education (CRRE)

  • Domus Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Histories of Education and Childhood

  • The Jubilee Centre for Character and Values

  • Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching And Research (VICTAR)

The School of Government and Society includes:

  • Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES)

  • International Development Department

  • Institute of Local Government Studies

  • Political Science and International Studies

The School of Social Policy includes: