Introduction

In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), the School was recognised as being within the top nine of UK universities for Nursing and Midwifery research with over 50% of research being regarded to be of international standing. The School has a large professoriate with 12 Professors, 3 Readers and over 40 Research Fellows working within specialist teams engaged in applied healthcare research contributing to enhancement of policy and public services. There are nine research themes within the School:

• Cancer, Supportive and Palliative Care
• Children's Nursing
• Healthy Settings
• Mental Health Nursing
• Midwifery
• Professional Ethics
• Social Inclusion
• Stroke
• Transforming Health Evidence

Research projects have been secured through a variety of national, European and international funding sources including the Department of Health, Economic Social Research Council, National Institute for Health Research and the European Union Commission (FP7). The research themes underpin the School’s undergraduate and postgraduate portfolio, whereby researchers share their research findings with students.

Each of the theme areas engages in a programme of research that is interdisciplinary and collaborative engaging all sectors of Health and Social Care. Many projects have the full involvement of other University staff, the Health Service, Social Services, the Voluntary sector as well as in other Higher Education Institutions nationally and internationally.

The overall purpose of the School’s research is to develop new knowledge and in particular undertake applied research that brings about improvements in peoples lives.

The School’s research programmes have an important role in underpinning its postgraduate and undergraduate teaching activities, and in contributing broadly towards the development of the health and social services as evidence-based, learning organisations. We offer research degree programmes at both masters and doctorate levels on a full and part-time basis backed by excellent individual support facilities to enable students to pursue their chosen fields of study.

Details of current and recently completed projects can be seen in theme areas or individual staff profiles.