Graduate School
Health and Social Care research overview
The School of Health Sciences and Social Work (SHSSW) conducts high quality research and knowledge transfer that is relevant, timely and of use to the community at regional, national and international level.
Our Research and Knowledge Transfer activity has expanded rapidly over recent years and been strongly enhanced by active multidisciplinary links with the external research community and researchers across the University. The School’s research principles are based on focused activity and building on existing strengths, as well as strong commitment to NHS and Social Services priorities and needs.
For more information about how to apply please contact the Faculty of Science using the Contact us page.
If you have any questions about studying for a research degree at the University of Portsmouth, please complete our enquiry form.
Key Facts
RAE rating:Our researchers contributed to the recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008) as part of the Institute of Biomedical and Bimolecular Science (IBBS) and under the Pharmacology and Clinical Immunology Unit of Assessment (UoA 12). We were placed in the national top ten for research quality. The overall quality profiles means that 85% of our research work was classified as being of “international standing”.
Academic staff: 48, please see our staff list webpage.
Postgraduate research students: 24
Internal links: The School has close research links with the Institute of Biomedical and Bimolecular Science (IBBS) at the University of Portsmouth.
External links: The School has research links with several British institutions including the University of Southampton, the London School of Economics, the University of St Andrews, the Cochrane Collaboration and NHS Healthcare Trusts. Some of our researchers are key members of the recently formed South Central Research Design Service (RDS), part of the infrastructure of the National Institute for Health Research. We also have close links with the local and regional National Health Service Trusts (including the Ambulance Services), the Strategic Health Authority and Social Services.
Resources
Our postgraduate research students benefit from access to extensive resources, including a Clinical Skills Laboratory, Digital X-Ray Suite, VERT (Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training) System, dedicated Ultrasound Room and ExPERT simulation suites. This includes an operating theatre and a Ward/Emergency Room facility.
Research Centres
Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS)
The Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS) serves as a focus for multidisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences, including both fundamental studies and applied research in the molecular biosciences.
Research Areas
Health and Social Care
Allergic and respiratory disorders
Our researchers are working and supervising students in fields such as: development and prevention of allergic diseases; prevalence of food allergies and intolerances; diagnosis and management of food allergies and intolerances; quality of life and food allergies; consumer behaviour and nutritional intake of sufferers of food allergies and intolerances.
Health and social care environments
If your research interest lies in the area of sensory environments (e.g. the built environment and the materials, components, and multi-faceted systems making up the environment), we can provide you with excellent supervision in fields such as: effects of health and social care environments on health-related outcomes; psycho-social effects of health and social care environments; methodologies for conducting research in environmental design; cross-disciplinary collaborations and networks in environmental design research.
Health and social care of the older person
Our researchers can provide you with supervision in the following fields: user-driven, participatory projects to address practice-based problems; falls and fall-related injury prevention; psycho-social well-being (e.g. quality of life, dignity, and sense of control); collaborations and networks with multiple stakeholders and organisations.
Global health and social care
The School's researchers are working and supervising students in topics such as: causes and consequences of demographic transition; reproductive health; maternal and child health, inequalities in access to health care. Our focus is on developing countries, particularly countries in South Asia, Africa and South America.