Epidemiology and health geography

Our work focusses on the environmental, social, and policy influences on population health. In particular we undertake research to identify the manner by which characteristics of the social and physical environments act to influence key health related behaviours. We make use of geographical information systems and mapping technologies in much of our work.

Key areas of interest are:

  • Obesogenic environments
  • Physical activity behaviours
  • Dietary behaviours
  • Environmental determinants of health outcomes
  • Rurality and access to health care
  • Spatial analysis and mapping

In collaboration with the University of Cambridge we are part of the UK Clinical Research Consortium funded Centre of Excellence in Diet and Physical Activity Research (CEDAR) (http://www.cedar.iph.cam.ac.uk/) . We also work closely with the Department of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter, and the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol.

Researchers

Prof Andy Jones
Dr Emma Coombes
Dr Flo Harrison
Dr Alice Dalton (School of Environmental Sciences)

University Partners

Nutrition
Health Services Research
Musculoskeletal Science
Respiratory Health
Health Economics
School of Environmental Sciences

Health Economics

Health economics research revolves around a central theme of decision-making in health care. Keys areas of research are:

  • Economic evaluation, including cost effectiveness analysis alongside randomised controlled trial, and economic evaluation of public health interventions
  • Public health economics, including social and economic consequences of health and health behaviours
  • Socio-economic inequalities in and determinants of health and health behaviours
  • Benefit valuation

Researchers

Dr Garry Barton
Darren Burns
Dr Charlotte Davies
Professor Ric Fordham
Dr Yevgeniy Goryakin
Professor Ruth Hancock
Lisa Irvine
Richard Little
Dr Jim Maas
Dr Marcello Morciano
Ryota Nakamura
Professor Louis Niessen
Angela Robinson
Dr Tracey Sach
Professor Marc Suhrcke
Ed Wilson
Vijay Singh GC
Dr Veronica Toffolutti
David Turner
Xia Wang

University Partners

Health services research
Clinical science and trials
Health Economics Consulting

Health Services Research

Our health services research investigates the effectiveness, efficiency, equity and acceptability of health care. We emphasise research on health care that affects the health of populations, especially through primary care. Key research areas are:

  • Randomised controlled trials, assessing the effectiveness of complex health care interventions
  • Observational studies of the quality and effectiveness of health care
  • Qualitative research on patients' and professionals' experience of health care
  • Diagnostic accuracy and screening programmes
  • Medical ethics

Researchers

Prof Max Bachmann
Dr Jean Craig
Prof Amanda Howe
Dr Bob Fleetcroft
Prof Richard Holland
Dr Lee Hooper
Dr Tom Shakespeare
Dr Nick Steel
Dr Andrea Stokl
Dr Anna Smajdor
Prof Fujian Song

University Partners

Primary care
Health economics
Evidence synthesis
Medical statistics
Clinical science and trials

Evidence synthesis

Methodological studies of methods for systematic review and meta-analysis, including publication bias, indirect treatment comparison and network meta-analysis, evaluation of complex healthcare interventions, and methods for evaluating data on adverse effect.
Health technology assessment, systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, observational studies, and studies of diagnostic tests on a wide range of health topics

Researchers

Dr Jean Craig
Dr Lee Hooper
Dr Yoon Loke
Prof Fujian Song

University Partners

Health services research
Clinical science and trials
Nutrition

Primary Care

Our research combines clinical, epidemiological and social sciences to extend knowledge that addresses the core challenges of primary care. We focus our research on patient needs, working both with quantitative and qualitative approaches, and addressing issues both at the level of individual patients and populations. Some key current research areas are: health literacy and the consequences of diagnosis for predictive medicine, quality of care and relevance of guideline evidence to primary care, effectiveness of screening interventions, impacts of patient and public involvement, models of disability, and the ethics of reproductive technologies.

Researchers

Dr Asmaa Abdelhamid
Dr Bob Fleetcroft
Dr Antonia Hardcastle
Prof Amanda Howe
Dr Caitlyn Notley
Dr Charlotte Salter
Dr Nick Steel
Dr Andrea Stockl
Dr Anna Smajdor
Dr Tom Shakespeare

Academic clinical fellows

Dr Vanessa Bull
Dr Helen Edwards
Dr Brendan Fletcher
Dr John Ford
Dr Mark Karaczun
Dr Kosala Perera
Dr Ashia Shafi
Dr Caroline Thurlow
Dr Rachel Wakelin

University Partners

The Group works with many others in the Department and across MED, also having regular collaborations with AHP (Simon Horton, Fiona Poland, Val Pomeroy), SNS (Jamie Murdoch) and PHA (David Wright, Debi Bhattacharya). Outside UEA, we have a number of grants with other universities, including Univ. of Herts, UCL, York, and KCL.

NHS Partners

We work with many general practices who host UEA research, and closely with the R&D team at Norfolk PCT who co-ordinate the Norfolk and Suffolk Primary Care Research Network. Dr.Charlotte Salter is currently linked with the Research and Development Research Unit. We have a number of projects linked with NHS colleagues at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (Prof Sampson, Prof Scott, Dr Tarnya Marshall, Dr Phyo Mint, Dr Andrew Wilson); and at James Paget Hospital (Dr Justin Zaman).

Medical Statistics

Medical statistics provides statistical support for a range of research activities within the Norwich Medical School including clinical trials and epidemiological studies and leads research into statistical methods for clinical trials.

Key areas of research are:

  • Statistical methods within clinical trials
  • Genetic epidemiology

Researchers

Dr Allan Clark
Dr Ian Nunney
Dr Gill Price
Prof Lee Shepstone
Dr Jane Skinner
Dr Louise Swift

University Partners

Clinical science and trials
Health services research
Health economics
Epidemiology