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Arts & Humanities
Staff in the faculty of Arts & Humanities carry out research into the impact of arts participation on wellbeing, creative interventions for mental health, medical communication, histories of medicine, translation for health communication, and public health ethics. Projects include developing wellbeing measures, creative approaches to mental health, and public art collaborations in healthcare settings. For example, researchers have applied arts and community-based approaches to reduce alcohol harm in Nepal.
The faculty offers specialised postgraduate programmes focused on health, such as the MA Health Humanities, MA Philosophy Politics and Economics of Health, MASc Creative Health, and PhDs in Health Humanities and Creative Health. A broad range of modules explores health from cultural, philosophical, and social perspectives, including topics like illness, madness, medical translation, gender and ageing, global health politics, and representations of medicine in literature and film. These programmes foster interdisciplinary learning and attract students interested in the intersection of health, society, and the arts.
Bartlett (Built Environment)
UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment covers research and education on how buildings, cities, and infrastructure shape health and wellbeing. Its interdisciplinary approach spans architecture, planning, construction, and real estate, focusing on creating environments that support physical and mental health. Research addresses issues such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, accessibility, and sustainable design, alongside the social determinants of health in urban spaces. Projects explore healthy buildings, inclusive environments, and strategies to reduce health inequalities through better planning and construction practices.
For example, UCL Bartlett researchers partnered with Moorfields Eye Hospital to pilot a pop-up diagnostic hub in Brent Cross shopping centre, showing how accessible, community-based spaces can improve NHS service delivery and reach underserved populations. This collaboration informed NHS policy discussions on integrating healthcare into everyday public environments, enhancing engagement and health outcomes. Education programmes in the Bartlett embed health-related themes across undergraduate and postgraduate courses, equipping future professionals to design and manage spaces that promote wellbeing. Students engage with modules on healthy buildings, sustainability, and urban health, supported by cutting-edge research and industry collaboration.
Brain Sciences
The Faculty of Brain Sciences is a global leader in research and education focused on the brain, mind, and behaviour. It comprises the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Ophthalmology, Ear Institute, Division of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, and the Institute of Prion Diseases. Research spans neuroscience, mental health, vision, hearing, communication, and neurodegenerative diseases, addressing conditions such as dementia, stroke, psychiatric disorders, and sensory impairments. The faculty pioneers advances in neurotechnology, personalised medicine, and innovative therapies, translating discoveries into clinical practice and health policy.
Education programmes include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in neuroscience, psychology, audiology, speech sciences, ophthalmology, and psychiatry, as well as professional training for clinicians and researchers. Through partnerships with hospitals, charities, and industry, UCL Brain Sciences ensures research-led teaching and global impact, improving diagnostics, treatments, and quality of life.
Engineering Sciences
In the faculty of Engineering, research spans biomedical engineering, digital health, and assistive technologies, with projects focused on improving patient care, diagnostics, and rehabilitation. Key areas include medical imaging, robotics and automation for surgery, prosthetics, and AI-driven health solutions. The faculty also leads initiatives in healthcare data analytics and personalised medicine, leveraging engineering expertise to enhance clinical decision-making and public health outcomes.
For example, researchers at the UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering (IHE) have developed quantum-enhanced nanodiamond rapid tests that can detect COVID-19 much earlier and more accurately than conventional lateral flow tests. The technology has the potential to transform infectious disease diagnostics by providing fast, reliable results in clinical and community settings.
Education programmes embed health-related themes across undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Biomedical Engineering, Medical Physics, Medical Robotics, AI and Medical Imaging and Vaccine Bioprocessing. Students gain interdisciplinary skills combining engineering, life sciences, and healthcare applications, preparing them for careers in medical technology and health innovation. Through collaboration with hospitals, industry, and research centres, UCL Engineering advances solutions that improve quality of life and shape the future of healthcare.
Institute of Education (IOE)
IOE’s research addresses major health challenges through multidisciplinary approaches, focusing on child development, mental health, health inequalities, and public health. The Institute is home to the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), which manages national cohort studies that provide vital insights into health and wellbeing across the life course. IOE’s Social Research Institute leads projects examining the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on health, informing policy and practice in education and public health.
For example, the Thomas Coram Research Unit is leading the Healthier Wealthier Families in East London project, which is investigating whether linking welfare benefits advice with health appointments could improve the mental health and finances of parents of newborn babies in East London.
Education programmes at IOE integrate health and wellbeing into teacher training, educational leadership, and policy studies. The Institute prepares educators to support the physical and mental health of learners, embedding wellbeing into school and community contexts. IOE’s research and teaching inform national and international policy, contribute to NHS workforce development, and advance understanding of health in educational settings.
Laws
The Faculty of Laws covers health law, ethics, and policy, with research and teaching that address the legal dimensions of healthcare, patient rights, and medical decision-making. Faculty members are internationally recognised for their work in medical law, global health governance, and children’s rights, contributing to national and international debates on health policy and legal reform.
Research projects explore the impact of law on public health, including the social history of legal responses to infectious diseases, the role of law in shaping health policy, and the relationship between legal problems and health outcomes. The Faculty’s work on health-justice partnerships demonstrates how unresolved legal issues - such as housing, welfare, and employment - can affect health, and how collaboration between legal and healthcare professionals can improve patient wellbeing.
Education in health law is delivered through a range of LLM modules, including medical law, global health governance, and children’s rights. Clinical legal education incorporates trauma-informed approaches, preparing graduates to address the psychological and social impacts of legal practice in health contexts. UCL Laws translates research into policy and practice, supporting NHS service delivery and informing public understanding of health law and ethics.
Life Sciences
The Faculty of Life Sciences is focused on biological and biomedical research and education, advancing understanding of life from molecules to ecosystems. It comprises the Division of Biosciences, School of Pharmacy, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, and the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour. Research spans molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, pharmacology, and computational biology, addressing major health challenges such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, and drug development. The Faculty also explores plant sciences, biodiversity, and systems biology, fostering interdisciplinary innovation.
As an example of impact, School of Pharmacy research was the first to determine and address the cardiovascular health significance of long-term sodium consumption from medications (specifically effervescent, dispersible and soluble formulations in which high sodium levels are present). This led to a European Medicines Agency (EMA) directive to ensure that the sodium content is clearly labelled.
Education programmes include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in biological sciences, neuroscience, pharmacology, and pharmacy, alongside specialist research training. Through partnerships with hospitals, industry, and global institutions, UCL Life Sciences translates discoveries into clinical practice and health policy, shaping treatments and improving wellbeing worldwide.
Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MAPS)
Health-related research in MAPS spans medical imaging, computational modelling, and materials science, supporting advances in diagnostics, drug development, and personalised medicine. Physicists and chemists develop cutting-edge techniques for imaging and spectroscopy, improving cancer detection and neurological disease monitoring. Mathematicians apply data science and modelling to epidemiology, health analytics, and predictive tools for disease spread and treatment optimisation. The Clinical Operational Research Unit (CORU) applies operational research, data analysis and mathematical modelling to problems in health care.
As an example, a recent review led by researchers from UCL Statistical Science explored how statistical and machine learning tools can promote health equity in genomic research. The work, published in Nature Reviews Genetics, highlighted how biases in genomic datasets and analytical methods can perpetuate health disparities. The review called for more equitable approaches to ensure that genomic research benefits all populations fairly, influencing policy discussions on the use of genetic data in clinical decision-making and the design of future genomic studies.
Education programmes integrate health applications into courses such as Medical Physics and Computational Science, equipping students with interdisciplinary skills for careers in healthcare technology and research. MAPS collaborates with hospitals, industry, and research centres to translate scientific innovation into clinical practice, shaping future health policy and improving patient outcomes.
Medical Sciences
The Faculty of Medical Sciences is a centre for biomedical research and education, advancing understanding of health and disease across multiple disciplines. It comprises the Cancer Institute, Eastman Dental Institute, Division of Infection & Immunity, Division of Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science and UCL Medical School, alongside specialist institutes such as the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research and the Institute of Immunity & Transplantation. Research spans cancer biology, immunology, infectious diseases, surgical innovation, and regenerative medicine, with strong translational links to clinical practice.
Education programmes include MBBS Medicine, postgraduate degrees in surgery, oncology, infection, and sports medicine, and professional training for healthcare practitioners. Through partnerships with NHS Trusts, and global collaborators, the Faculty delivers research-led teaching and drives innovations that improve patient care, inform health policy, and shape the future of medical science.
Population Health Sciences
The Faculty of Population Health Sciences is dedicated to improving health worldwide through research, education, and policy impact. It comprises the Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, Institute for Women’s Health, Institute for Global Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, Institute of Health Informatics, and the UCL Global Business School for Health. Research spans child health, epidemiology, global health, health data science, clinical trials, and cardiovascular medicine, addressing major challenges such as health inequalities, chronic disease, and infectious disease control.
Education programmes include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in public health, global health, epidemiology, and clinical research, alongside specialist training for healthcare professionals. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with NHS, government, and global organisations, the Faculty translates research into practice, shaping health policy and improving outcomes across populations.
Social & Historical Sciences
In the faculty of Social & Historical Sciences, researchers investigate themes such as human evolution and childbirth, mental illness, health inequalities, environmental health, migration, trauma, and wellbeing. Projects span from participatory visual methodologies for community health, digital anthropology, and games for cognitive health, to the developmental origins of health inequalities and the economics of health in developed and developing countries. Researchers also explore historical and archaeological perspectives on health, trauma, and nutrition.
Researchers in the UCL Centre for Digital Anthropology developed the “Trini Food Quiz” app to promote healthier eating in Trinidad, using digital anthropology to influence public health behaviour. This research provides a model for digital engagement in nutrition campaigns.
The faculty also offers specialised programmes such as the MSc Medical Anthropology and Biosocial Anthropology, iBSc Medical Sciences with Medical Anthropology, and PhD Medical Anthropology. A wide range of modules explores health from anthropological, economic, historical, and geographical perspectives. Topics include biosocial approaches to childrearing, evolutionary medicine, migration and health, nutrition and culture, health economics, gender and knowledge in early modern Europe, and the history of medicine and society. These programmes foster interdisciplinary approaches to health, wellbeing, and society.