About us
Under the Directorship of Professor Martin Tickle and Deputy Directorship of Professor Matt Sutton, Population Health brings together 6 research areas. Each Centre has a named lead as follows:
- Andy Vail - Biostatistics
- Arpana Verma - Epidemiology
- Professor Matt Sutton - Health Economics
- Professor Iain Buchan - Health Informatics
- Professor Steve Williams - Imaging Sciences
- Professor Peter Bower - Primary Care
Staff are primarily located on campus across various sites (e.g. Ellen Wilkinson Building, Jean McFarlane Building, Stopford Building and Williamson Building). However, some staff are located off-campus, for example the Wolfson Molecular Centre, Withington and Salford Royal Hospital (formerly Hope Hospital). This is due to the nature of working collaborations with other external bodies such as The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.
The Institute’s goal is to concentrate its considerable expertise and talents on `priority’ topics of mutual interest. These `priority’ topics are not intended to replace our existing programmes of research, but will add value by connecting them to a wider arena. Cooperative working of this kind will enhance our ability to secure large research contracts and build coherent bodies of knowledge that will in turn accelerate advances in our research performance and prestige. Our `priority’ topics will:
- Feed into the Faculty’s cross-cutting research themes, therefore increasing synergy with other University research teams and maximising impact;
- Address enduring issues of international importance where we are well placed to make a unique and tangible contribution to health improvement;
- Build on the knowledge, interests and skills of our networks of staff;
- Be multi-disciplinary and driven by theory, assembling a body of knowledge that is more than the sum of its component parts.
World-class research
The Institute of Population Health is at the forefront of cutting edge research. For example, E-health in Manchester is strengthened by the presence of the Northwest Institute for BioHealth Informatics (NIBHI) . NIBHI is a research partnership across the North-West that focuses on e-health research and training across biological, clinical and social spheres. Amongst its achievements, NIBHI has been key in developing e-infrastructure for health research and in forging partnerships with industry and the NHS. Complementing this is the newly funded MRC Health eResearch Centre (HeRC) which is dedicated to world-leading research into innovative and trustworthy uses of health data.
The Centre for Integrated Genomic and Molecular Research (CIGMR) has helped facilitate large-scale academic investment in the North West and also raised the regional research profile in the area of genomics. One example is UK Biobank, a £61 million project, where the University of Manchester was successful in bidding to host the UK Biobank Coordinating Centre. Alongside providing genetic epidemiology expertise, CIGMR also manages extensive DNA collections including the UK DNA Banking Network (UDBN) for the Medical Research Council.
The Centre for Imaging Sciences hosts the Wolfson Molecular Centre (WMIC) which is a centre of excellence in the field of PET-based molecular imaging. Its primary purpose is to advance the understanding and treatment of human cancers and brain disorders. The £22M building houses a vertically integrated Positron Emission Tomography (PET) research facility where new tracers are developed and employed in neuroscience and cancer clinical research.
The NIHR-funded Greater Manchester Primary Care Patient Safety Translational Research Centre (GMPSTRC) focuses on patient safety in primary care. It is one of two new Centres that will carry out research to advance and refine new ways of improving safety in hospitals, GP surgeries and in the community. This will translate into real benefits for patients e.g. reducing prescription errors, improving diagnosis of cancer and rare diseases and reducing accidents during surgery. The research centres are partnerships between Universities and NHS Trusts. These partnerships reinforce the relationship between researchers and clinicians and the pro-active transition of improvements to the clinic or ward.
Teaching and learning / student experience
Education and training programmes will be aligned with the Institute’s areas of research expertise to provide the highest quality experience for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Institute already offers a variety of postgraduate subjects including Digital Biology, Biostatistics, Occupational Hygiene, Occupational Medicine, Public Health and Primary Care.
Improved teaching and learning in the field of public health is one of our priority areas for development and we are already making progress. For example, September 2012 sees the launch of our new MSc in Imaging Sciences. This is a cutting edge course that will appeal to a varied audience e.g. Biomedical, Physical Sciences and Engineering Graduates as well as intercalating Medical students. It offers specialist training in the science and technology behind the major imaging modalities used in healthcare and medical research today.
We are also committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) within the field and so in furthering this, the Institute offers professional courses:
- Biostatistics: Methodological Training (aimed at Statisticians and Researchers);
- Diploma in Occupational Medicine (aimed at GPs)
- Various modules and units of relevance are available as short courses within our Public Health / Primary Care postgraduate taught courses
Social responsibility
The Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences are committed to utilising the expertise and opportunities available to them in medicine and health; they have been working closely with their NHS partners to help address major health challenges facing the world in the 21st century.
The Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences site provides more information on how research and education, public engagement and sustainability are helping the Faculty to make significant contributions towards improving the health and wellbeing of the local, national and global population.
Facts and figures
Figures for 2012/2013 academic year:
- Postgraduates (research programmes): 75
- Academic staff (full time): 52
- Research staff (full time): 145
- Support staff: 106
- Research income: £12.1 million
