Health research for the benefit of as many people as possible

Author: Fiona Cramp, Director of the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, and Professor of Long Term Conditions

Here in the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, we carry out world-class research in neurology and musculoskeletal management, emergency care, supportive and palliative care, and end-of-life care. As a centre, we have cross-cutting themes of Children, Young People and Families, as well as Knowledge Mobilisation and Evaluation.

In everything we do, in all our health research activities, we embed patient and public involvement. Simply because the work we do is to help them. We’re here to improve real lives, to improve people’s quality of life.

Staff in the Centre for Health and Clinical Research

"We want to make a positive difference that matters. We’re all about health research that can be actively put into practice for the benefit of as many people as possible."

Fiona Cramp, Director of the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, and Professor of Long Term Conditions 

Fiona Cramp Director of the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, and Professor of Long Term Conditions 

Quality of living

My personal research is in physical activity and the role it can play in helping people with long term conditions. For example, we know that if people can keep physically active, it can help with management of a range of symptoms such as pain and fatigue. And the better that individuals can manage their symptoms, the better their quality of life, particularly for those who are living with long-term conditions.

Our research is about actually making a difference; doing research that can be actively put into practice.

Addressing health inequalities

Right from the word go, when we design any research, we’re thinking about how it will make a difference. Does it have the potential to improve the care of people? Can it help people to better help themselves in relation to their specific health condition?

As a centre, we’re looking closely at health inequalities too. There’s lots of things we know that work when it comes to helping people manage their own conditions. But we need to do more to make sure that this knowledge, this awareness, is accessible to everybody. Because right now, it isn’t.

Maybe because you can’t access a physical activity programme because you’re from an ethnic minority background where women wouldn’t traditionally participate in physical activity alongside men. Or maybe it’s because you’re from a socioeconomically deprived background where you maybe don’t have the technology that you need to help you. Whatever the reason it’s important that we design interventions that meet people’s needs.

Access for all

For me, it’s vital that we focus our research efforts on making sure that whatever we’re developing is accessible to everybody – or, at the very least, that it can be adapted to benefit as many people as possible.