Institute of Health and Community

Shaping health and communities with research and innovation
Institute of Health and Community

The Institute of Health and Community (IHC) is a multi-disciplinary institute with a vibrant research culture and a focus on innovation. The current key areas of research define the scope of the Institute:

Applied Health Research

  • Health and behaviour / work force research
  • Patient care research and rehabilitation (including quality/safety)
  • Developing and evaluating health care for vulnerable groups 
  • Health promotion/prevention/wellbeing 

eHealth and Technology

Methodological skills 

Sustainability, society and health

There are 12 multi-disciplinary research groups which support these research areas across the University. 

Professor Jill Shawe
Director, Institute of Health and Community

Our research is supported by the following research groups

Key characteristics

The institute has strong collaborative links with researchers and practitioners across the University and beyond. Key characteristics of the IHC include:

  • world class research
  • the promotion of research informed teaching and research informed practice
  • innovative methodological approaches and practices
  • proactive engagement with practitioners and organisations who share our ambitions to have a real impact on our communities through use of world class research and facilities
  • a positive and encouraging environment which attracts and supports new researchers and helps facilitate their continuing development.
     

Global collaboration

The institute acts as a gateway to those undertaking important areas of research and innovation in the areas of health and community at the University and promotes and builds the work of our research groups, clusters, units and of individuals across the University. We have a strong history of welcoming research partners from different locations across the world, different types of organisation (private, public, charitable and community) and from different academic disciplines.


 

IHC Plymouth Public Health Forum

The IHC Plymouth Public Health Forum was set-up to facilitate closer links between those of us, from across Plymouth, who are engaged in public health. It is a resource for anyone in Plymouth (and beyond) to use to support the development and evaluation of public health in Plymouth.

Discover more about IHC Plymouth Public Health Forum

The University of Plymouth Centre for Innovations in Health and Social Care; a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence

The University of Plymouth Centre for Innovations in Health and Social Care; a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence is a Joanna Briggs Collaborating Centre.

Supporting the synthesis of evidence to directly meet the needs of the health and social care sector and its stakeholders.

Find out more about the centre 

Global Health Collaborative

Created in 2016, the Global Health Collaborative (GHC) represents the coming together of individuals and organisations with an interest in global health issues.

Through innovation and partnership working, the GHC uses its collective expertise in clinical education, research and social engagement to further the understanding of global health challenges and to build resilience into health promotion and disease prevention programmes worldwide.

Discover more about the Global Health Collaborative

Family planning research in Kenya - Dr Lucy Obolensky, EGHO research project

South West Clinical Schools

The Clinical Schools are a collaboration between the University of Plymouth and NHS Trusts working with nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals at all stages of their clinical and academic development.

Our work with local health services has identified the urgent need to capture improvements in patient and family outcomes, as well as ensure that existing evidence is used to best effect and increase the amount of research led by non-medical health professionals. To meet these needs, we have invested in Clinical Schools, which are professorial-led centres, in five of our local NHS Trusts.

The main focus for the Clinical Schools is to encourage nurses, midwives and other allied health professionals to look at their practice, challenge current thinking, try out new ideas and work out ways to measure what they're doing.

Find out more about the Clinical Schools. 

Eye and vision masterclass series

  • Series 1: Glaucoma and optic neuropathies
  • Series 2: Vision rehabilitation
  • Series 3: Binocular vision and paediatrics
  • Series 4: Vision and ophthalmic optics
  • Series 5: Anterior segment and dry eye

The eye and vision masterclass series at the University provides cutting-edge continuing education for eye professionals of all disciplines (optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthoptists, dispensing opticians, ophthalmic nurses, ophthalmic photographers and technologists) and is supported by leading industry partners. Specialists deliver clinically relevant seminars, real-time demonstrations with volunteer patients and state-of-the-art kit, as well as exercises and assessments on computer workstations.

The masterclasses are for ambitious graduate professionals who have a deep interest in clinical eye care and who are able to support their learning through high-level reading (five to ten hours per class), some of it self-directed. Course material, along with a 30-minute self-assessment, will be available three weeks prior to each class. 

The masterclasses will be highly clinical and will expose the latest evidence-base for clinical care and decision-making. Our faculty includes world-leading specialists who will bring to life current controversies through panel discussions and debates. A cross-cutting theme of all masterclass series will be public eye health and epidemiology. CET points will be applied for (TBC).

For registration (£100, reduced for students and trainees) email Professor Paul Artes.


Our publications