Research Institute in Healthcare Science - RIHS

The Research Institute in Healthcare Science is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between three of our academic schools to foster innovative research in the development and promotion of healthcare.

The schools involved are Faculty of Science and Engineering, Health and Wellbeing and Sports, Performing Arts and Leisure.

Recent highlights

• Development of drugs similar to aspirin which can reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer.
• New technology that enables probiotic bacteria (which improves gut health, strengthens immunity and fights gastro-intestinal and respiratory disorders) to be transported to the intestines without being damaged in the stomach.
• £1.6m investment in a world-class biomedical science laboratory, as well as new accommodation for psychology and exercise physiology research

Impacts

Work at the RIHS is striving to achieve:

• Pioneering research in the niche areas of healthcare science and practice
• Contribution to national and international developments in patient-centred healthcare and pharmaceuticals
• Informing policies and healthcare practices

Research areas

There are eight areas of work within RIHS:

Cancer Research – addressing a range of areas concerning cancer, particularly with relation to brain tumours.

Diabetes, Physiology and Molecular Medicine – encompassing how diabetes develops and affects the body at a molecular and cellular level, including diagnosing the disease through studies of the boy’s biochemistry.

Food Biology, Medical Microbiology and Disinfection – looking at the cross-contamination of surfaces and ways of controlling infection in foods and the body.

Molecular Immunology – focusing on immunity and disease, and the development of a range techniques to promote immunity.

Molecular Pharmacology - works with two principle themes: the creation of bioactive peptides and analysis of how they affect the body; and, investigation into the process of new blood vessel formation in the body.

Pharmacy – concerned with the design, development and delivery of drugs for treating infections, cancers, inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as well as current issues in Pharmacy profession and its teaching.

Psychology of Health – covering the aspects of human thought and behaviour that contribute to the management of health and the prevention of, and coping with, illness.

Sport, Exercise and Health – looking at the contribution that sports and exercise make to improving and maintaining health.

Two further research areas are currently in development; one in applied research in health policy evaluation and practice, and one in clinical physiology.

More information

Tel: 01902 321 129  |  Email: rihs@wlv.ac.uk  |  Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/rihs