Research partners

From advancing technology to direct impact on patient care. Our research partnerships are improving healthcare in the South West and beyond
Research partners

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's research partnerships, with external researchers and organisations locally, nationally and across the world, are essential to the delivery of our internationally renowned medical, dental and biomedical research. We collaborate closely with NHS Hospital and Partnership Trusts across the South West and beyond, patient groups, healthcare providers, charities and commercial organisations including:

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust – Derriford Hospital

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has a well established reputation for high quality research and development and a strong record of recruitment into and conducting commercial and non-commercial clinical trials supported by dedicated research infrastructure. 

The main acute hospital at Derriford, one of Europe’s largest, is adjacent to the Peninsula Medical and Dental Schools and the Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed) at Plymouth Science Park.

Our close relationship with Hospital clinicians and staff facilitates enhanced interdisciplinary working and clinical collaboration providing the means to translate discoveries made into real benefits for patients.

NIHR PenCLAHRC

The Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC) is a partnership between the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter and NHS organisations across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, established in 2008 and funded by the NIHR as part of a national network of 13 CLAHRCs.

The partnership supports and funds research with direct impact on patients’ health and the way in which NHS care is delivered, conducting research based on questions from those directly affected: doctors, nurses, therapists and, importantly, patients. The partnership has been highly successful in utilising match funding to access support for our research projects from other sources and external partners.

South West Academic Health Sciences Network (SWAHSN)

Part of a national network of 15 AHSNs, set up by NHS England to identify, adopt and disseminate innovative health and care, SWAHSN membership consists of clinical commissioning groups, mental health trusts, acute hospital trusts and academic institutions from across Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly.

SWAHSN’s mission is ‘to enable a sustainable health and care system for the South West by supporting and driving quality improvement and innovation’, focussing on prevention/early intervention, and person-centred co-ordinated care to improve the health of patients and the population as a whole.

Brain Tumour Research

We're one of only four universities in the UK working with the charity Brain Tumour Research to improve the treatment and outcomes of brain tumours.

They support academic and research staff, research students and research programmes at the University of Plymouth’s Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, led by Professor C. Oliver Hanemann, enabling the continued development of the Centre’s internationally renowned investigation of low grade brain tumours.

The Centre of Excellence is based at the University’s flagship Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed)

Public Health England

Public Health England (PHE) is an executive agency of the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care, whose mission is 'to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities'.

PHE supports research in the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed), across biomedical and health services research through direct funding of research staff and students on a range of collaborative projects and in partnership on externally funded research.

Alzheimer’s Research UK

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. The Charity supports 15 Centres of scientific excellence across the UK through its Research Network, including the Alzheimer’s Research UK SW Network Centre, co-hosted by the University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter.

The SW Network Centre supports the provision of brand new opportunities for scientists to collaborate, share resources, attend scientific conferences, pursue innovative projects and enhance public engagement.

Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE)

PDSE is a Community Interest Company (CIC) committed to improving oral health across the South West. They: run Dental Education Facilities in Plymouth, Truro and Exeter, where students from the University treat NHS patients; improve awareness of oral health in the wider community, focusing on groups such as schoolchildren, the elderly, parents, those with specific conditions, people with special needs substance abusers, the homeless, prisoners and; ensure access to dental care for all, but especially to those groups who may feel excluded from mainstream dentistry.


Biovault Technical

Biovault is the UK’s largest private tissue bank based on the Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park, close to the both the University of Plymouth's Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Partnered with the NHS and working with research specialists across the UK, Biovault is an accredited leader of best practice in the industry.

The company has strong research interests in the area of stem cell technology and is working closely with University partners to develop and accelerate innovation leading to new and improved techniques and/or products for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.