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Health and Medical Sciences

Surrey is one of the top UK universities in the field of Health and Medical Sciences. Ninety-five per cent of our research in this area is rated at a worldleading or international standard, our Masters programmes are judged ‘highest quality’ by HEFCE and we have recently completed a £14m investment in stateof- the-art laboratories, simulation suites and equipment.

Research Environment

Our Health and Medical Sciences core-technology programme supports and funds equipment-intensive research technologies and promotes their use in multidisciplinary projects. This includes facilities for:

  • Functional genomics
  • Transcriptomics
  • Bio-informatics
  • Proteomics
  • Metabolomics
  • Advanced microscopy
  • Fluorescence-activated cell sorting
  • Imaging

Our human studies are supported by a state-ofthe-art clinical trials facility within a clinical research centre. In addition, our research is supported by NMR and animal facilities, including dedicated suites for transgenic work. We have all the analytical and project-specific equipment necessary for high-quality research, including that for animal behavioural studies, electrophysiology and molecular biology.

Key Research Areas

  • Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolism
  • Sleep, chronobiology and neurodisorders
  • Drug design, cancer and toxicity
  • Healthcare practice and wellbeing
  • Infection and immunity

Research centres and groups

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolism

This multidisciplinary theme focuses on the study of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis. The theme brings together scientists and physicians with expertise in cell and molecular biology, immunology, physiology, nutrition and appetite regulation, drug development, chemistry and the regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms. This research aims to translate this understanding into effective treatment with improved nutrition regimes and drug treatments that target the underlying abnormalities, and develop diagnostic methods including molecular bio-markers. There is a strong  focus on key macro (energy, dietary fat) and micronutrients (vitamin D, trace elements, minerals) and the importance of these to outcome markers. Our research to understand the human metabolic demands for nutrients has received considerable media attention and has a very high national and international profile.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/cardiovascular

Sleep, chronobiology and neurodisorders

Sleep, Chronobiology and Neurodisorders research draws upon expertise in sleep physiology and EEG analysis, euroendocrinology, molecular genetics, rest-activity and waking performance monitoring, circadian photoreception, shift work, sleep disorders, nutritional physiology, neuropharmacology, psychopharmacology, clinical pharmacology, neurotoxicology and neurodegeneration. Research activities are supported by medical and clinical staff in stateof-the-art facilities at the Surrey Clinical Research Centre. An additional Clinical Investigation Unit provides facilities for controlled  light exposure and ultrasound endothelial function measurement. Radioimmunoassay labs enable the measurement of circadian hormones from samples collected. We have looked extensively at the importance of diet to chronobiology.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/sleepandchronobiology

Drug design, cancer and toxicity

Research in drug design encompasses the entire spectrum from bench to bedside, with the aim of enabling the delivery of novel, safe therapeutics to patients, leading to an increase in health and wellbeing within the general population. Our multidisciplinary approach draws together world-leading researchers from across the University, coupled with strong collaborations with academic partners and the pharmaceutical sector. Such partnerships allow us to develop novel approaches to the design and isolation of therapeutic agents, their testing within in silico and in vitro models, and ultimately the translation of such research into clinical practice.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/drugdesign

Healthcare practice and wellbeing

Within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, there are currently around 15 academic members of staff who are actively engaged in research related to the Health Care Practice theme. Improving outcomes for patients is at the heart of our research. Our multidisciplinary approach draws together expertise from across the University of Surrey and our NHS and other academic partners, in nursing and the allied health professions, clinical and biosciences, health economics, sociology, health psychology, telecare and applied ethics.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/healthcarepractice

Infection and immunity

The focus of our research is the molecular and cellular basis of important human and veterinary infectious diseases. Our research recognises the importance of studying the host and the pathogen as an integrated dynamic system. Our activities demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to research, interweaving state-of-the-art molecular and imaging technologies with computational modelling of cellular interactions. Similar systems-based approaches are also being applied to the optimisation of biotechnology processes such as antibiotic production in Streptomyces. The ultimate goal of our programme is the development of new drugs and vaccines to combat infectious diseases.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/infectiousdiseases

Research Academics - Health and Social Care

Career Development

Opportunities for students with postgraduate qualifications from Surrey are numerous and not limited to the area in which you have studied. Examples of positions achieved by our students after earning their postgraduate qualification with us:

  • Cyton Biosciences – Regulatory Executive
  • Food Standards Agency – Senior Scientific Officer
  • King’s College London – Research Assistant
  • Porterhouse Medical Ltd – Medical Writer
  • Rentokil – Regulatory Assistant

I am always impressed at how well Surrey is known and recognised whenever I have been overseas to present my research.

Malachy Ujam
PhD Mental Health

Surrey has a worldwide reputation that opens doors and attracts the interest of sponsors. I am always impressed at how well Surrey is known and recognised whenever I have been overseas to present my research.

Over my time at Surrey, I have met some fantastic people and struck up friendships that I will cherish forever. I have always enjoyed the vibrant social life that is on offer on campus and in Guildford, and I regularly make use of the excellent facilities at the Surrey Sports Park. My PhD is in the fi eld of mental health services. I have been collaborating with Surrey Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Trust, investigating current service configurations for mental health patients in crisis. I already have offers of employment, so my task will be to decide what career trajectory to take after I complete my research.

Surrey is a fantastic university with international recognition for excellence in research across many subjects. You can look forward to a stimulating research environment that is also fun to be part of. The student population is diverse, so you will always feel at home. The facilities are world class and there is genuine encouragement of entrepreneurship. What is more, Surrey has one of the best graduate employment figures in the UK.

The mix of clinical Doctorate and PhD researchers creates a vibrant and stimulating research environment, under the guidance of supervisors who have made their mark in their various fields. This unique combination moulds world-class researchers with transferable skills that are sought after by employers.