Our research portfolio in health and medical sciences integrates scientific and clinical disciplines into cross-cutting multidisciplinary programmes focusing on human health, disease and treatment. This permits us to be responsive to novel and emerging lines of research and to foster the cross-disciplinary collaboration that is one of our key strengths.

Research in the Faculty is conducted under the following six overarching research themes.

Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Metabolism

Professor Margot Umpleby
E: m.umpleby@surrey.ac.uk
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/cardiovascular/

This multidisciplinary theme focuses on the study of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. 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. Research aims to translate this understanding into effective treatment with improved nutrition regimes and drug treatment which targets the underlying abnormalities and the development of diagnostic methods including molecular bio-markers.

Health Care Practice and Wellbeing Research

Lead: Professor Tom Quinn
E: t.quinn@surrey.ac.uk
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/healthcarepractice/

Our multidisciplinary approach draws together expertise from across the University of Surrey and our NHS and other academic partners in a wide range of relevant disciplines including: health professions, clinical and bio sciences, health economics, sociology, health psychology, telecare and applied ethics. Our key focus is on clinical research in cancer and supportive care, emergency and cardiovascular care, and non-medical prescribing.

Infection and Immunity

Dr Graham Stewart
E: g.stewart@surrey.ac.uk
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/infectiousdiseases/

This theme brings together a multidisciplinary group of researchers with expertise and interests ranging from molecular microbiology and immunobiology to microbial systems biology and functional genomic biology, with a focus on the study of pathogenic microorganisms. Our activities demonstrate a multi-disciplinary approach to research, interweaving state-of-the-art molecular and imaging technologies with computational modelling of cellular interactions. The ultimate goal of our programme is the development of new drugs and vaccines to combat infectious disease.

Materials and Nanobiology

Dr John Varcoe
E: j.varcoe@surrey.ac.uk
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/materialsandnanoscience/

This multidisciplinary theme brings together active academic researchers in chemical sciences, biosciences, engineering, electronics as well as ethics, all focused on the application of functional nanomaterials at the physical and life sciences interface. 

Sleep, Chronobiology and Neurodisorders

Dr Simon Archer
E: s.archer@surrey.ac.uk
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/sleepandchronobiology/

Sleep, Chronobiology & Neurodisorders research draws upon expertise in sleep physiology and EEG analysis, neuroendocrinology, 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 state-of-the-art facilities at the Surrey Clinical Research Centre. An additional Clinical Investigation Unit also provides facilities for controlled light exposure and ultrasound endothelial function measurement. Radioimmunoassay labs enable the measurement of circadian hormones from samples collected.

Extensive molecular biology facilities provide equipment for gene expression profiling and genotyping, backed up by transgenic animal facilities. Patch clamp and multielectrode array electrophysiology set-ups and state-of-the-art imaging and microdialysis methodology allows a broad range of in vivo and in vitro research.

Sleep, Chronobiology & Neurodisorders research at Surrey has a high national and international profile and consistently attracts significant government, EU, charitable, and industrial funding. 

Drug Design, Cancer and Toxicity

Dr Nick Plant
E: n.plant@surrey.ac.uk
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/drugdesign/

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.

Current research interests include: the development of novel therapeutic agents derived from natural plant products; the use of ‘-omic’ level measurements, coupled with in silico modelling, to develop systems-level understanding of cellular response to chemical challenge; the role of the nuclear receptor proteins in coordinating cellular response to chemical challenge, and their role in the diseases of aging; the molecular mechanisms of DNA damage repair, with particular emphasis on their role in human degenerative diseases; breast, ovarian and prostate cancer research, developing both novel therapeutics and understanding the development of multiple-drug resistance phenotype within these diseases.