Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology

The aim of this these is to study the role of the environment and gene in determining disease aetiology and outcome, and using such knowledge to inform the design of population-based or clinical interventions to prevent or treat conditions of population health importance. In addition to UK-based work, we have established a sizeable portfolio of overseas projects through longstanding collaborations in other developed countries and the establishment of new strategic links in less affluent regions for example, Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. In the latter areas, in addition to trying to answer important research questions, one of our main aims is to facilitate the development of local research capacity.

The present work programme focuses on:

Health Services Research

The expertise and experience within health services research includes: clinical medicine, public health and epidemiology, clinical trials and trials methodology, health economics and modelling, policy analysis and qualitative methods. These skills are collectively drawn on and have aided our success in attracting Centre funding for the Department of Health Economics (NHS NCCRCD), NIHR programme funding for the National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHS R&D), Technology Assessment Reviews (NIHR), and for the Economic Evaluation of Medical Devices (EPSRC). The ethos of integrating these interests has been reinforced by our hosting the National Coordinating Centre for Research Methodology (NHS Exec - National Co-ordinating Centre for Research Methodology (NCCRM), the commissioning lead for the National Patent Safety Research Programme (DH), the management of the ‘Connecting for Health’ National Programme for Information Technology and Evaluation, and the Diagnostic Evaluation Review Support Unit (NIHR CCF). All of these are funded for five years or more. More recently, we have been successful in gaining NIHR funding to support both a Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) for Birmingham and Black Country (NIHR CLAHRC for Birmingham and Black Country) and also a Research Design Service (West Midlands Research Design Services (WMRDS))

Our Health Services Research orients around five closely interrelated themes. These themes share the aim of improving the evidence base - through trials, longitudinal studies and evidence synthesis - for policy and practice, and improving the methods available for research.

Those projects marked (*) are supported all or in part by the West Midlands PCT Levy.  The West Midlands PCT Levy provides invaluable support for a wide-range of university-based academic services to commissioners of health care (see Levy Projects)