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Researchers in the Medication Use, Systems and Practice cluster are engaged in projects which aim to
improve safety and optimise outcomes in the use of medicines. We recognise that
medicines use should be viewed in the context of wider policy and health
agendas. These contexts inform our research programme and the design and
execution of individual projects. Our work informs and influences policies to
improve professional practice and the use of medicines.
Current research includes projects in the following areas:
- Health and use of medicines from the perspectives of older and younger people and with long-term conditions to optimise therapy.
- Public health in the context of changing demography and epidemiology and supporting patients and the public towards living health lives.
- Systems approaches to medication safety, evaluation of technology and translation of findings into professional health care practice.
- Development of pharmacy services and pharmaceutical care to achieve medicines optimisation.
Research methods: Members of the cluster have expertise in many health services research methodologies, epidemiology and pharmaco-epidemiology, policy analysis, clinical applications of formulation science, quantitative and qualitative approaches to clinical, health services and social research.
Research settings and collaboration: Research is undertaken in a wide range of settings: tertiary, secondary and primary care, community pharmacies, social care settings and with patient’s in their own homes. Collaboration with researchers in complementary disciplines, health professionals, voluntary and special interest organisations and representatives of patients and the public is a feature of almost all our projects. These extend to partnerships within UCL, across London, the UK and internationally. In particular, input of representatives of the public, patients and carers has been valuable to the design and execution of many projects. Members of the cluster have run successful formal public engagement events which have informed our research programme. Since joining UCL in 2012, a number of new research collaborations have been established which have led to the development of bids for research and successful projects.
Seminars: The cluster is keen to support all its researchers, from PhD student through to senior research staff. We are planning a range of seminar activities:
- A forum for PhD students to share experience and idea.
- Special discussion events focusing on topics or calls that are of interest across the cluster membership. These enable identification of areas of complementary perspectives and expertise in formulating and addressing research questions.
- Participation in a department seminar programme with invited internal and external experts.
Teaching: Cluster members are also active in teaching in the school (MPharm, MSc and PhD) as well as contributing to many outside programmes. Our teaching reflects and enables sharing of our research interests with students. We have recently introduced two new specialist modules and are planning an MRes to enable us to prepare researchers of the future and advance research in our field.