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Research in the School of Medicine covers a wide range of areas with an emphasis on clinical, population health, biomedical translational, and medical education research. Our projects span disciplines applying multiple research methodologies, for the benefit of patients and the wider population.
The aim of the clinical medicine and population health research theme is to support researchers with their study of health and illness in people, to learn how to prevent, diagnose and treat illness, and translate to patient care in clinical practice (the so-called T2-T4 translational gap).
Our clinical research is focused on infertility management primary care, fertility preservation, health inequalities in cancer screening, cancer diagnosis and management in primary care, thyroid disease, and peripheral arterial disease diagnostics.
Our researchers within this theme deploy multiple research methods in healthcare evaluation including cluster randomised controlled trials, feasibility trials, big database research including Emulated Target Trials, and qualitative methods including focus groups and in-depth interviews.
Current projects include:
Translational biomedical medicine science has a long reach including immunobiology, medical genetics, cellular and molecular bioscience, molecular microbiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and toxicology, which allow us to investigate pathological mechanisms and interventions relating to health and disease.
Much of this work aligns to the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute (JDDDRI) which focuses upon drug discovery and delivery, diagnostics and disease biomarker, data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning themes. However, some D1 to T1 translational gap research including pathogenesis and non-pharmacological interventions is supported within the CTMR translational biomedical science theme.
Our researchers in the translational biomedical science research theme employ sophisticated in vitro molecular and cell culture-based techniques, multiomics approaches and in vivo comparative biology research to better understand disease mechanisms.
Our research is focused on stem-like cells in glioblastoma and metabolic function and modulation in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Our current projects include transplantation immunobiology and investigating the molecular mechanisms underpinning vascular endothelial dysfunction after ischaemic reperfusion injury.
Our aim is to become recognised nationally and internationally for our high standards of innovation and development in medical education research, especially in anatomy delivery.
Working with medical regulators, healthcare education providers, patients, and the public, we aim to ensure that our medical education research has real-world impact.
Our work focuses on broad areas such as widening participation, the student experience, interprofessional healthcare learning and the learning environment.
Current projects include an analysis of the widening participation strategy at the medical school and its impact, interprofessional learning with medical and midwifery students, and blended delivery of anatomy with cadaveric, model, ultrasound and anatomage delivery.
The Master of Medical Education course supports a range of social science research projects contributing to the enhancement of undergraduate and postgraduate curricula provision within the School of Medicine and beyond. In addition, opportunities for dissemination of research are provided through the School's annual regional Medical Education conference.
The work of the CATO is supported by our Clinical Academic Director, manager, research administrator and education administrator.
The scope of the CATO includes:
Check out our upcoming events and latest research news stories:
IMCAN (Improving Muslim Women’s Uptake of Cancer Screening) is a three-year project, run jointly by the Universities of Sunderland and Glasgow, and is reaching out to women in Muslim communities with information to help them make informed choices about screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancers.
Read more about the IMCAN project
More than £2million in funding has been awarded to the University of Sunderland to expand research opportunities for medical students and junior doctors – leading to improvements in people's health and wellbeing.
Read more about the CATO and ACF programme
The University of Sunderland is taking the next step in bringing medical research from the lab to your local doctor with the announcement of the first three John and Sam Dawson PhD Scholars.
Read more about the John and Sam Dawson PhD Scholars
Check back to see upcoming events in Medicine.