Research and implementation

Research themes

Healthier childhoods

Working with our colleagues in primary care, child health, child and adolescent mental health, children’s social care, as well as police and schools, we will build the evidence base to enable frontline services, working with children and their families, to do a better job in their fight to reduce the harm caused by childhood adversity and deprivation.

Theme lead: Professor Karen Luyt

Projects

ReThink: Mental health and transitions for care-experienced young people
An international review of the use of MgSO4 to protect against cerebral palsy
The Behaviour in Schools Study: How does school discipline affect pupil mental health and wellbeing?

Service users make up a client council to discuss issues at a day centre

Integrated and optimal care

With limited budgets and resources, health and care has to become cost-effective yet fair, reaching the right people at the right time. New interventions and service changes must be supportable into the future, as well as considering environmental impact and use of resources. Our research in this theme supports these challenges.

Theme leads: Professor Nicola Walsh

Projects

Mental health

Mental health determines how we think, feel, behave and relate to others. It is important at every stage of life, from early childhood through to old age. Our theme undertakes research that aims to improve mental health and reduce unintended harm in the care of people with mental health problems.

Theme leads: Dr Lucy Biddle and Professor Paul Moran

Projects

A child and an adult walking along a pavement

Public health and prevention

This theme is about preventing ill-health, focused on communities rather than individual patients. Improving public health is a major challenge, embraced by a wide range of organisations, not just the NHS, including local authorities and communities. This theme undertakes research that helps prevent illness, keeping people healthier for longer.

Theme leads: Sara Blackmore and Professor Russ Jago

Projects

Research methodologies

A woman in a blue uniform, at a workbench in a laboratory, smiling

Applied data science

The applied data science team uses data to uncover the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions, and how these link to health services, using the best techniques to increase the reliability of their findings.

Theme lead: Professor Yoav Ben-Shlomo

Behavioural and qualitative science

The behavioural and qualitative science team focuses on adapting behavioural interventions for diverse communities and using qualitative methods to understand the views, cultures and behaviours of individuals and groups. They uncover experiences of health and care, ensuring a wide range of viewpoints is included.

Theme lead: Professor Lucy Yardley

Evidence

The evidence team can review published research studies, or others’ reviews where they exist, as well as various types of data, to help build a picture of the evidence that already exists for a topic or project.

Theme lead: Professor Julian Higgins