Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Community research focusses on innovation and client-focused applied health and social care research, facilitating interdisciplinary, collaborative research with the NHS, local authorities, civil society, and industry.
Our work is based in the insights and theoretical frameworks generated by foundational disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, policy studies, mathematics, and economics) working with all professional groups in health and social care, and patients and carers. Our research strength covers the life course from maternal and child health, though mental health to long term conditions, obesity and metabolic disease, and frailty and dementia. Using a range of applied methods, we address key interfaces, those between: technology and the human; health care and social care; mental and physical health; and hospital and community.
The PenCTU clinical trials unit supports rigorous testing of health innovations through large-scale trials. Our healthcare policy and public health specialists work with NICE, Public Health England, local government and the third sector to reverse health inequalities for our unique rural and coastal populations. We have a strong focus on prevention and health promotion as well as treatment and care and wide expertise in the design and evaluation of complex interventions, epidemiological studies, service evaluation and systematic reviews.
Collaborations which encourage health and care professionals to look at their practice and challenge current thinking include our South West Clinical Schools, the Global Collaboration Initiative, and the Centre for Innovations in Health and Social Care, a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence.
Educational research is a core element of our research and we support the development of our health and care workforce with research that covers educational delivery and preparedness for practice, recruitment, revalidation, and resilience.
