About Us
Vision
To advance world-leading research and teaching that promotes health equity, addresses emerging health threats, and harnesses data-driven innovation to improve local and global population health.
In Public Health, we work in three theme areas, and apply cross-cutting methodologies and partnership.
Health, Wellbeing, Inequalities & Social Determinants
Our research in this theme explores the complex interplay between social, political, and biological factors that shape health across the life course.
We examine health inequalities, including the role of poverty, employment, and policy in driving disparities in health outcomes.
Our work spans maternal and child health, adolescent health, and veteran’s health, investigating how early-life experiences and occupational exposures impact long-term wellbeing.
We also study mental health, neurodegenerative diseases, and multimorbidity, generating evidence to improve prevention and care.
Through natural experiments and policy evaluations, we assess the effectiveness of interventions to reduce inequalities.
Our expertise in cancer epidemiology, traumatic brain injury, and the early origins of chronic conditions informs strategies to promote healthier lives and communities in Glasgow and globally.
Health Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
We harness cutting-edge data science and artificial intelligence to revolutionise public health and clinical decision-making.
Our researchers develop innovative methods in natural language processing, multimodal AI, and medical imaging, advancing disease detection and risk prediction. We work with trusted research environments and data linkage to integrate diverse health data sources, ensuring secure and ethical analysis.
Our research spans genetic epidemiology, omics, and neuroimaging, uncovering insights into brain health and complex disease mechanisms.
We also drive advances in pharmacoepidemiology and cardiometabolic risk prediction, including in translating and developing tools for low-income settings.
By leveraging these approaches, we generate actionable insights that improve health outcomes globally.
Global Health, Climate & Infectious Diseases
Our global health research addresses the interconnected challenges of climate change, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases.
We study the health impacts of climate change, from extreme weather events to shifting disease patterns.
Our work in infectious disease epidemiology spans tuberculosis, HIV, and emerging infections, utilizing genomic epidemiology, transmission modelling, and novel surveillance methods to inform global control efforts.
We lead research on the burden, prognosis, and prevention of long-term physical and mental health conditions, with a strong focus on maternal, child, and mental health in low-resource settings.
Our partnerships in African genomics are advancing understanding of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and kidney disease.
Central to our approach is a commitment to equitable global health partnerships, ensuring that our research drives sustainable and locally led solutions.
History of Public Health at University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow’s Public Health came into being in 1923 when Sir Henry Mechan endowed the Henry Mechan Chair of Public Health. The chair has since been held by nine professors with the present incumbent, Professor Jill Pell, being appointed in 2007. The department moved to Lilybank Gardens in 1985, and to the Clarice Pears building in 2023.
The Public Health research group is part of the School of Health and Wellbeing which was formed in 2011 as part of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences.
The department is highly active, with research comprising epidemiological studies, health services research, statistics and social sciences and public health intervention studies into diseases and modifiable risk factors of high public health importance. We currently host the Healthy Working Lives Group, Scottish Veterans Health Research Group and have hosted the Midspan Studies, several large occupational and general population cohort studies based in Scotland, as well as the West of Scotland Cancer Surveillance Unit (WoSCSU).
The department also contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching and runs the Master of Public Health course. Since 1923 over 1200 postgraduate students have received further degrees in public health and many are now prominent in public health in the UK and throughout the world. They include:
- Mr Grant Archibald, Director of Emergency Care and Medical Services - NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, MPH 2001/2002
- Professor Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, MPH 1990/199
- Mr Tim Davison, Chief Executive - NHS Lothian, MPH 1997/1998
- Dr Andrew Fraser, Director of Public Health Sciences - NHS Health Scotland, MPH 1989/1990
- Professor Laurence Gruer OBE, Past Director of Public Health Sciences - NHS Health Scotland, MPH 1986/1987
- Dr Harpreet Kohli, Director of Public Health - NHS Lanarkshire, MPH 1986/1987
- Professor Carol Tannahill, Director of Glasgow Centre for Population Health, PhD 1989