Faculty of Medicine

Our research ranges from basic cellular and molecular biology right through to the epidemiology of service provision. We have a long-established relationship with Cancer Research UK and are home to the UK's first centre for cancer immunology.

We aim to foster high quality cancer research with an emphasis on translating theory into viable clinical applications.

Over 100 researchers, clinicians and associated staff work as coordinated teams across several disciplines. This enables us to bring discoveries into clinical practice as quickly as possible, and to ensure that the scientific hypotheses underlying cancer treatments are fully tested.

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Our researchers and educators aim to promote human health across the lifecourse. We characterise:

• transgenerational genetic, lifestyle and behavioural influences on growth, development and function
• how early life events influence functional capacity and resilience in later life
• how functional capacity is altered with disease and early ageing

We investigate mechanisms and test interventions, studying molecules, cells, individuals and populations. We are especially interested in musculoskeletal, metabolic, and immune/inflammatory health.

The school incorporates the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and is closely linked with the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

Our research groups are:

• human genetics and genomic medicine
• epigenetics
• developmental physiology and medicine
• nutrition, endocrinology and metabolism
• bone and joint
• global health

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Our researchers are driven by a desire to create better treatments and diagnostics for their patients, specialising in world-leading patient-focused translational research. We've conducted many clinical trials, including being a leading centre for the COVID vaccine trials.

We work with both commercial and non-commercial partners to stay at the forefront of research, and many of our researchers work in the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Insights gained from our work are now underpinning novel treatments, gene therapies and stem cell research.

Our work focuses on 5 main areas, each with their own specific research and educational aims:

• infection and immunology
• allergy and respiratory
• clinical neurosciences
• integrative physiology
• psychiatry

We work across the faculties to deliver interdisciplinary projects, bringing new technologies and methods to our patient-centred work.

We undertake a wide range of research, teaching and enterprise activities:

• the Primary Care Research Centre is a world-leading centre for primary care research and a member of the NIHR School of Primary Care Research
• Population Health Sciences
• Medical Education hosts many of our senior educators in addition to the Centre for Learning Anatomical Science (CLAS)

NIHR Research Design Service South Central is one of 10 regional centres. We offer methodological, public involvement, and general research advice to researchers applying for funding. We support applications for research funding in health and social care being submitted to the NIHR, and to other open, national, peer-reviewed schemes.

Our research is multi-disciplinary and broad, delivering high quality, evidence-based health research to enhance prevention, early detection and management of health-related conditions.

We collaborate nationally and internationally with academics and clinicians to develop, deliver and implement research that has an impact on policy and clinical practice. Our active patient and public involvement members help ensure our research is both inclusive and relevant to patients’ priorities.

We help develop the next generation of researchers and clinicians. We have active early researcher and postgraduate groups, and our staff make major contributions to medical undergraduate teaching and postgraduate training.

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We're a community of researchers, healthcare professionals and educators with expertise spanning medicine, health, bioengineering and technology. We champion the development of healthcare innovations that generate social change and economic benefits.

Our experts use research findings to create practical solutions for healthcare systems and services worldwide. Supporting the exchange of knowledge from academia to the real-world and fostering business connections are at the heart of everything we do. 

We host the largest enterprise contract at the University and collaborate with groups across healthcare — from researchers and policymakers to industry and the public.

Explore the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation

Research groups, centres and institutes bring together specialists to share knowledge and solve problems.

• Cancer Sciences
• Centre for Cancer Immunology
• Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration
• Clinical Ethics and Law
• Clinical Neuroscience
• Clinical Trials Unit
• Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
• Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Global Health Research Institute
• Immunology and Inflammation
• Infection and Immunity
• MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre
• Musculoskeletal Disease
• NIHR School for Primary Care Research
• NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Wessex Applied Research Centre
• Nutrition, Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Perioperative and Critical Care
• Population Health
• Primary Care Research Centre
• Respiratory Allergy and Critical Care
• Southampton Centre for Biomedical Research
• Southampton Centre for Medical and Health Humanities
• Southampton Clinical Academic Training Scheme
• Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre (SHTAC)
• Versus Arthritis - MRC National Centre of Excellence