Wales helps to secure the legacy of public health research centres
2-04-19
A new report points to a bright future for Welsh and UK research driving better public health thanks to Wales’ Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) and five other sites across the UK.
A strategic investment by Health and Care Research Wales, DECIPHer is part of a £37 million UK-wide network of centres of excellence co-funded with England's Medical Research Council in 2008. The new report released by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) shows that this network has exceeded what was thought possible in growing research and continuing expertise to build the evidence driving better public health policy and practice.
A Cardiff-led collaboration with Swansea and Bristol Universities with a particular focus on the health of children and young people, DECIPHer is a leading centre of innovative multidisciplinary public health research. Combining effective engagement with public health professionals and policy makers with public involvement in research, the centre is tackling the health impacts of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, obesity, physical activity and diet, and enabling good mental health and wellbeing.
Together, the UKCRC centres have had far-reaching impact nationally, with evidence from centre research programmes influencing the government sugar tax, encouraging healthy transport policies, providing guidance on physical activity, promoting health in schools and playing a leading role in government policy on tobacco smoking and vaping.