School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
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Through our teaching and research, the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences strives to find new ways to help those with debilitating illnesses and diseases. Our first accredited pharmacy course in Portsmouth began in 1919/20 so we are celebrating 100 years of education in the pharmacy field.
We recognise that research is a core academic activity, which is why we contribute so much to multidisciplinary research across the University. It's this positive research environment that recently placed the university in the top 3 for funding in England in the subject Allied Health Professions & Studies.
Our connections with the NHS allows us to offer regular sandwich placements in a variety of hospitals, such as Southampton Hospital, Royal Bournemouth, Salisbury, St Richards, Winchester and Basingstoke.
Teaching
Our school has supported funded outbound mobility opportunities with many countries and also offers short term traineeship programmes with students and researchers in Caen, France, Nihon, Japan and the Nencki Institute Warsaw, Poland.
Some of our programmes also allow for sandwich year opportunities, and this life experience in the field helps our graduates stand out to employers.
Students who are doing their Master of Pharmacy degree can attend a working pharmacy to meet real patients in our Healthy Living Pharmacy Live project – this brings our students into contact with the public, and helps them gain a greater understanding of why their research is so important.
Facilities
The School offered the first Biomedical Science course in the UK some 40 years ago and today, our facilities are truly exceptional.
In our school's Centre for Simulation in Health Care – a resource facility recently updated to reflect current industry standards – students develop their skills in a safe and contextual environment.
As part of the students’ skill development, they practice in a fully functional operating theatre under the guidance of our practising staff. They also have access to an ultrasound suite, a flexible simulation space, as well as 15 human patient simulators.
See our facilities
Our teaching areas
Healthcare and social care courses
The world needs healthcare and social care professionals – and our courses can help start your exciting career in the field.
Biological sciences courses
Get a deep knowledge of the natural world on our biological sciences courses, learning how to harness the earth and combat biological threats to humanity.
Research
In order to nurture a progressive research environment, many of our staff are actively engaged in internationally-recognised work. We bring together laboratory, computational and clinical expertise to address major healthcare challenges. From advanced biomaterials and precision medicines to regenerative biology, disease modelling and healthcare delivery, our research translates scientific discovery into better diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes.
Our research was submitted to Unit of Assessment (UoA) 3 in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. 90% of our overall research quality was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Our impact case studies were all rated as very considerable in terms of their reach and significance. This included research improving the detection of oesophageal cancer, research improving the health of patients with chronic respiratory conditions and research transforming health research governance and ethics in the UK National Health Service and Ministry of Defence.
Our areas of expertise
Explore our 5 areas of expertise within Pharmacy, Pharmacology & Biomedical Sciences research.
Advanced Materials for Diagnosis and Therapy
We’re creating advanced materials for smarter drug delivery, earlier diagnosis and tissue regeneration. From nanoparticles and antimicrobial implants to precision cancer therapies, our research aims to make treatments safer, more targeted and more effective.
Computational Biology
We’re using computational modelling and simulation to understand biological processes across scales, from individual molecules to the whole body. Our research explores drug action, disease progression, the blood-brain barrier and predicting treatment responses in individuals and populations.
Drug Discovery for Personalised Medicine
We’re investigating diseases at the cellular and molecular level to discover safer, more effective treatments tailored to individual patients. Using live-cell analysis, molecular profiling and high-throughput screening, we study conditions including infection, cancer, neurological, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Neurons, Stem Cells and Development
We’re exploring how stem and progenitor cells develop, migrate and regenerate tissues, and what happens when these processes go wrong. Using gene editing, organoids and advanced disease models, we aim to develop new approaches to diagnosing and treating brain cancers, rare conditions and currently incurable congenital diseases.
Healthcare Outcomes and Clinical Practice
We’re investigating how healthcare can be planned, delivered and evaluated more effectively to improve patient outcomes and public benefit. Our research spans clinical practice, health services, epidemiology, health protection, digital medicine and healthcare education, addressing real-world challenges through multidisciplinary collaboration.
Our research centres
Much of our exceptional research takes place within the following cross-disciplinary research centres – find out more below.
Institute of Life Sciences and Healthcare
We're seeking to discover, understand and develop knowledge of health and disease in order to achieve real-world impact.
We're investigating biomaterials for their potential use as drug carriers, bioadhesives, therapeutic (and diagnostic) agents, and surgical implants.
Our staff
Explore our faculty
Explore the other Schools and Departments that make up our Faculty of Science and Health.
News, blogs and podcasts
Find out more about our latest research successes, read blogs by our academics and listen to the latest ideas and discoveries that look set to change our lives in our Life Solved podcast.
Health and wellbeing blog
In this research theme blog, we cover topics including self-care, sport and exercise, mental wellbeing, diseases and medical advancements.
Life Solved podcast episodes
Contact us
To get in touch, please contact our Admissions office.
