Research
Birmingham Medical School’s focus is on providing an exemplary medical education for its students. We maintain high standards in education through research undertaken into pedagogy and education, constantly refining and improving our curriculum and educational delivery.
Birmingham Medical School, through its education-focused research, has pioneered innovations such as SCRIPT, an innovative eLearning programme designed to encourage safe and effective prescribing and medicines management among newly-qualified doctors and other healthcare professionals. Developed by the University of Birmingham, SCRIPT seeks to eliminate the 8-10% error rate in trainee doctor prescribing estimated to cost the NHS £750 million each year.
We are also exploring how we can better support the healthcare professionals of the future through SHarPS (Student Healthcare Professionals Study), a longitudinal study that follows students from admission to their degree. By tracking their time with us and their future healthcare profession of choice, we are learning more about our students, the guiding principle being that the more we know about our students, the better able we are to support them as they progress through their programme of study.
World-class research
Your medical education will benefit from the wealth of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences’ world-class research into areas as diverse as genome biology, musculoskeletal ageing and cancer immunology. The Birmingham Medical School is located in the Institute of Clinical Sciences which boasts specialists research across its schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Biomedical Science and Medicine. Due to its unique location within a large research environment, students of Birmingham Medical School benefit from the direct impact of the latest research breakthroughs in their medical education.
Read our latest research news, research which ensures our teaching is at the cutting-edge of knowledge, knowledge which is critical to ensuring the future of medicine and healthcare.
Latest research news

Matthew advises government on inclusivity and accessibility of all transport for across the UK.

Grant allows West Midlands researchers to provide evidence to policymakers in health and social care to ensure the highest quality of care is received.

Marker Diagnostics, which developed a saliva-based concussion diagnostic based on Birmingham research, is to start a study on concussion in sportswomen.

The Sarkar and Barrett labs have defined the molecular basis of neurodegeneration in Wolfram Syndrome patients carrying the WFS1 gene mutation.

A thin film of cellulose fibre that is invisible to the naked eye, is suitable for use on high traffic objects such as door handles and handrails.

NHS Cancer Programme funding will see an advanced test used at GP surgeries in the West Midlands to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer.

Patients with aggressive brain tumours may be able to take part in a new trial of a cannabinoid-based drug, coordinated by the University of Birmingham.

Study showed that low levels of the MYB protein can be linked to the development of rare blood cancers.

The prevalence of dental cavities remains high, as a result of acids produced by some oral bacteria in dental plaque, as well as acids found in food and drink.

Hypertension patients could receive a personalised medication profile thanks to a new, artificial intelligence-supported research project.

Almost one third of patients in a Chinese ICU infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing severe disease, new study reveals.

A trial of a set of interventions to manage postpartum haemorrhage, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a 60% reduction in heavy bleeding