Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR)
From cutting-edge discovery research to translation into novel interventions and application within the community
From basic research discovering the causes of disease, through to evaluating novel ways of delivering care to the most vulnerable people in society, the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR) is a thriving community that conducts adventurous world-leading research with the explicit purpose of improving the health and care of the populations we serve. At the heart of PIHR’s mission is a desire to solve the problems that really matter to people.
Our mission is to promote an interdisciplinary, inclusive enterprise with a real commitment to working across boundaries in order to meet the needs of the people of the South West and other rural, coastal, and deprived communities worldwide.
If you have a query about the institute or an idea for a collaboration please contact us via: PIHRSupport@plymouth.ac.uk
Research themes
Lived Experience of Covid
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on all of our lives. Both the spread of the virus and the measures taken to halt or manage it, have necessitated major changes in how we do things. Academics at the University of Plymouth have undertaken a range of research projects on the impact of Covid and how we have adapted to it in a wide range of areas. This includes how health, social care and education providers have coped as well as how the wider community has been affected. Find out more about these projects here.
Cross faculty collaborations
Centre for Coastal Communities
It is increasingly recognised that new and worrying patterns of deprivation have materialised in peripheral coastal areas across the UK, but there has been limited investigation of the problems experienced in widely varying coastal settlements. PIHR, alongside our partners in the Marine and Sustainable Earth Institutes, as well as the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business is consequently leading a new cross-disciplinary Centre for Coastal Communities, building upon the University’s existing strengths in coastal research.
The Centre will examine the economic, environmental, socio-cultural and health issues faced by coastal communities. More information about the Centre for Coastal Communities .
Arts-Health Collaboration
The many benefits that the arts and humanities can make to health have long been recognised. These range from using art, performance or poetry to improve patient wellbeing, through oral history as a form of intergenerational learning, history and heritage connected to memory and place-making, computer music-led therapies/interventions for locked in syndrome and dementia, to applying business and economics research to the organisation of health interventions.
PIHR hosts a range of arts and health research collaborations that cut across our five research themes. Read more about the projects we support .
Health research news
- Digital support can significantly reduce anxiety among autistic adults 30 May 2023
- New study assesses changes to midwifery models of care in England 19 May 2023
- Citizen science project gives people a chance to support future space missions 10 May 2023
- Project stakeholders discuss latest developments in health technology 28 April 2023
- Don’t panic, it’s a test: expert welcomes new UK alerts service but says benefits will only be known following a real emergency 20 April 2023
Postgraduate research opportunities
The University of Plymouth offers a range of postgraduate research degrees across all areas of health research.
The Doctoral College is the hub for all research degree processes – from enquiries and application processes to the award of degrees.
Find out more about the areas in which we supervise postgraduate research at both doctoral and masters levels. Here we offer a flavour of potential topics for your own research project and who to contact to discuss your options.
