Our research in Health is focussed on providing knowledge, insight and innovative technological breakthroughs that improve planetary health, environments and human health and wellbeing locally and globally.
Aligned with the World Health Organization, a lifecourse approach of our research provides a holistic view of health and wellbeing at all ages and interlinks with sustainable development. This approach brings together high-impact, evidence- and rights-based strategies and outputs. Our experts apply their research through new models of care, understanding biological, social and psychological perspectives for defined populations across the lifecourse. We also develop effective intervention and prevention practises of health problems.
Our work in human and planetary health
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Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences
With Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Central North West London Foundation Trust as partners we aim to deliver radically transformed physical and mental health and social care in our community. Read more
Research expertise
Our multidisciplinary research on planetary and human health is underpinned by a number of research groups including:
Brunel Older People’s Reference Group
Brunel Older People’s Reference Group (BORG) is a database of local people aged over 50 who are interested in Brunel and the research that goes on here.
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Group
Understanding the biological, social, physiological aspects of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and producing knowledge to improve cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Circular Food Forum
Leads discussions across the “food chain” with the aim to improve resource management, through working with industries and Government to respond to global pressures of growing resource scarcity and food waste.
Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience
Fundamental and applied research into brain function using techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), eye-tracking, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), infrared thermography together with psychophysics and cognitive behavioural paradigms in health and disease.
Culture and Evolution
Evolution and culture are the two most fundamental and powerful influences on human behaviour, and their effects are what we study at the Centre for Culture and Evolution.
Embodiment in Academic and Professional Practice
Development of an enhanced awareness of bodies as sensors of crucial information about ourselves and our reality; Enhancing our performance as human beings, practitioners, researchers and educators.
Experimental Techniques Centre
A highly regarded cross-disciplinary characterisation facility, with specialist staff that have expertise from various scientific disciplines, e.g. biology, metallurgy, geology and engineering.
Flood Risk and Resilience
Flood event prediction, management, and response; Water, wastewater, and water supply; Critical infrastructure and sector dependencies and interdependencies; Hazard vulnerabilities.
Flood, Coastal and Water Engineering
The Flood, Coastal and Water Engineering Group addresses the challenges of water scarcity, aging water infrastructures and flood management in the UK and worldwide. The group also concentrates on providing research solutions for recycling water and offering sustainable water resources for domestic and industrial uses.
Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering
Delivering a new understanding of our geo-environment and critical infrastructure in diverse ecosystems, for predicting and preventing catastrophic failure and responding to the need for decarbonisation and energy security.
Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents
The generation, promotion and integration of new, multi-disciplinary research that is particular to the British nuclear test veteran community, their genomic health and the impact of uncertainty on health more broadly.
Institute of Communities and Society
The Institute focuses on the social, community, and cultural aspects of pressing contemporary issues including migration and movement, social unrest, intersectional inequalities, and institutionalised poverty.
Institute of Energy Futures
We have particular strengths in environmental design in refrigeration, heating and cooling and disruptive energy and fuels bringing together researchers from different disciplines as well as mainstream engineering research.
LEAP-Lab: Learning, Expertise, Action, Perception
Three innovative spaces, which collectively support a thriving research culture in which staff and students work collaboratively to produce high-quality research on the topics of Learning, Expertise, Action, and Perception.
Organ-on-a-Chip
The group’s main research focus is on women’s health and developing four main organ-on-a-chip (OOC) models: the breast, vagina, ovary, and placenta.
Physical Activity in Health and Disease
The centre conducts interdisciplinary research to improve human health and performance through regular physical activity and exercise, and by limiting sedentary behaviour.
Pollution Research and Policy
Predictive approaches in toxicology, including combined chemical exposures and development of new frameworks for non-animal approaches for predicting toxicity; Endocrine disruptor research with an emphasis on mechanisms of disease and test method development; Pollution monitoring, clean-up technologies and chemical analytics.
Resource Efficient Future Cities
Urban energy; Sustainable advanced materials; Energy efficiency in buildings; System integration of energy and infrastructure planning at community/district/city scales.
Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains
Energy demand and GHG emissions reduction in all stages of the food chain; optimal ways the food chain can utilise different energy sources and interact with the energy supply system; resource efficiency through intensification of food processing.
Sustainable Plastics
SPLaSH group combines the strengths of social scientists in the Department of Social and Political Sciences with colleagues working in the area of plastic pollution from Environmental Sciences, Design, Business & Marketing, and Engineering. We are leading experts on behaviour change, public health protection, resource and waste management, governance aspects and sustainability design.
Planetary Health and Human Health and Wellbeing across the life course