The research environment in the Faculty of Health and Medicine has received a top score of 100% in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), which assesses the quality and impact of research submitted by 157 UK universities.

In addition to a “world leading” research environment, the faculty scored 91% for the high quality of its research which was rated “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”.

Research in FHM was also ranked 12th out of 91 submissions in this category (UOA 3) for research power, which is based on both the quality of research and the number of staff submitting research outputs.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment is undertaken every seven years and examines the quality of research across UK universities. The REF review is designed to demonstrate the benefits and impact of research funding.

This latest REF score is the outcome of a strategic decision in 2008 to make a significant investment in health and medicine an institutional priority for Lancaster University.

This sustained investment has seen significant growth in the number of FHM students, which has increased by up to 39%. During the REF period, there has also been significant capital investment with the £41M Health Innovation Campus and fourteen appointments at professorial and reader level plus seven promotions to professor.

The Faculty’s strong research performance during REF 2021 follows growth from 2014 of :-

• 98% in research awards from £20M to over £36M
• 86% in Post-Doctoral Research Associates
• 117% in graduating Post Graduate Research Students

The Faculty has now matured into a thriving, integrated, multi-disciplinary academic community of laboratory-based scientists and applied health researchers who deliver world-leading work focussed on making a real difference to individuals and communities.

This research is driven by interdisciplinary working and partnerships with patients and the public, local health and care trusts, national agencies, regional and international networks and organisations.

Faculty research represents a wide variety of research methodologies from biomedical to social sciences, all of which enhance interdisciplinarity. Specialist areas include ageing, palliative care, mental health, health information, computing and statistics, infectious disease transmission and biology, and social and economic inequality in public health.