Purpose

The aim of the ‘Integrating Health Research: Mechanisms to Populations’ research strand is to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary research between fundamental bio-scientists and population health scientists. The strand will bring together the ground-breaking research into disease mechanisms being carried out in the fundamental biosciences with the state-of-the-art methodologies and applied techniques in the population health sciences. The ultimate objective is to enhance the understanding of disease processes and accelerate the arrival of therapies into the clinic.

The strand will provide a formal structure for promoting and facilitating interdisciplinary research between fundamental bioscience and population health science through dedicated researcher capacity with the necessary skills in locating, accessing and analysing population health data as well as providing a space to foster collaborations. In doing so our aim is to support interdisciplinary grant applications and publications.

Fundamental bioscience is the study of the molecular processes that form the basis of life. Research in fundamental bioscience at the University of Bristol is diverse and centres around understanding the processes that cause and exacerbate disease, leading to eventual generation of therapies and disease prevention strategies.

Population health science is the study of the biological, social and environmental factors that influence the health and wellbeing of populations. The world-leading research in population health science at the University of Bristol includes work on the causes of disease, the identification of intervention strategies to improve health or prevent disease and ways to improve health care practice and policy.

Strand Launch event

The strand launch event took place on Thursday 29 April 2021. Emma Vincent and Chrissy Hammond (Strand co-leads) presented the scope and aims of the strand. Ruth Mitchell presented ideas on integrating biosciences and population health and how the strand can facilitate cross-disciplinary projects. There was an opportunity for attendees to define how they would like to engage with the Strand through questions and comments, informing and shaping discussions. Watch a recording of the event below or see the presentation slides from the event.

Mechanisms to Populations Launch Event Presentation Emma Vincent (PDF, 625kB)

Mechanisms to Populations Launch Event Presentation Ruth Mitchell (PDF, 3,448kB)‌

‌

Contacts

Integrating Health Research: Mechanisms to Populations Research Strand is a cross-Faculty initiative led by:

Emma Vincent, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences

Chrissy Hammond, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ruth Mitchell, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences

Strand Management Group:

• Borko Amulic, Faculty of Life Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
• Carolina Borges, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Science
• Celia Gregson, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Science
• Bethan Lloyd-Lewis, Faculty of Life Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
• Paul Martin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biochemistry / Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
• Alastair Poole, Faculty of Life Sciences, Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
• David Stephens, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biochemistry
• Ann Williams, Faculty of Life Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
• Alison Denny, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Science

Research Administrator: Esther Kissane-Webb

More information about activities and opportunities associated with this initiative will be announced soon: watch this space. For queries or to join the strand mailing list please contact ebi-mechanisms-populations@bristol.ac.uk