About Us

The Population Health Research Institute uses routine health statistics, together with the results of health surveys and controlled trials, to measure the burden of disease in communities, to explore causes of ill-health, to inform policies for prevention and to improve the delivery of healthcare.

Our research on the health of populations involves researchers from a wide range of backgrounds, including epidemiologists, statisticians, mental health researchers, nutritionists, social scientists and health psychologists. We have clinical researchers with backgrounds in primary care, paediatrics, psychiatry, medicine and public health, which provide links to St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the South West London Mental Health Trust.

Research is organised under two Research Sections. The Chronic Disease Epidemiology section, led by Professor Chris Owen, focuses on the epidemiology and determinants of chronic disease (including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, eye disease and respiratory and allergic disease) and congenital anomalies. The Environment, Prevention & Health Care section, led by Professor Charlotte Clark, focuses on environmental determinants of health, disease prevention (including behaviour change trials), mental health research, primary care research (including the Primary Care Epidemiology Group) and evidence-based health care (including the Cochrane Airways Group).

Members of the institute are active participants in many international partnerships, including some with global coverage. There are also formal links within the University of London, with the Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, based at Imperial College and King’s College, and with the British Regional Heart Study team, based at University College London.