A new £20m investment has established five
Centres of Excellence across the UK to strengthen research into
complex public health issues such as obesity, smoking and health
inequalities.
The Centres bring together experts from a
range of disciplines with practitioners, policy makers and wider
stakeholders. Together they will tackle public health issues which
are likely to have a significant impact on the health of the
nation.
The successful Centres, which were awarded
funding via a competitive process, are based in Newcastle, Cardiff,
Belfast, Cambridge and Nottingham. Each will receive up to £5m over
5 years to create new academic posts and develop strong training
and career development programmes.
The investment will also support the technical
staff, IT systems, equipment, administrative support, research
facilities and other infrastructure needed to carry out high
quality research.
Research conducted at the centres will cover a
broad range of public health issues, and will include topics such
as diet and nutrition; physical activity; and alcohol, tobacco and
drugs.
The £20m investment was provided by a
partnership of funders which came together under the umbrella of
the UKCRC. The funding partners were: the British Heart Foundation,
Cancer Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council, Health
and Social Care Research & Development Office for Northern
Ireland, Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health
Research, Wales Office of Research and Development - Welsh Assembly
Government, and the Wellcome Trust.
Link to full
press release
Link to UKCRC
public health web page