Doctor with a stethoscope in hand touching medical icons, representing a virtual interface.

An integrated approach.

Led by Professor Tony Heagerty, the School of Medical Sciences at The University of Manchester is the largest provider of healthcare graduates to the NHS in north-west England, and a leader in integrated medical sciences research. We aim to be a world-leading integrated medical sciences research and teaching school.

We host the largest medical school in the UK with around 3,100 undergraduates, 1,200 postgraduates and 2,000 staff. We also have the highest-ranking dental school in the north of England.

Our researchers undertake internationally recognised research spanning bench-side research science in areas from cardiology and developmental biology to clinical trials.  

Notable alumni include Dame Sally Davies, the former Chief Medical Officer for England, and Nobel Prize winner Sir John Sulston.

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What makes us unique?

If you'd like to know more, get in touch.

General enquiries

Please email us at: hosea.sms@manchester.ac.uk

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Our staff

See a list of all academic and research staff in our School.

Academic and research staff

Publications and outputs

See a list of publications and outputs by staff in our School.

View all publications

Research projects

See details of research projects underway in our School.

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Our Divisions

Division of Cancer Sciences

Patient-focused, research-guided and collaborative approaches to improve cancer outcomes.

We have over 40 research teams with interests spanning discovery science, translational research and clinical studies.  

Many of our teams are based at sites such as the Oglesby Cancer Research Building and the new Paterson building, which are next to The Christie Hospital and its Proton Beam Therapy Centre. Other teams work from the University's main campus, including St Mary's Hospital, enabling close interactions with cell biology and biomedical researchers.

The Division is a key component of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), and has close strategic partnerships with the CRUK Manchester Institute, The Christie Hospital and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The Division is a major contributor to the University's Cancer Research Beacon and the wider Greater Manchester cancer ecosystem, helping drive a broader, integrated 'One Manchester' vision.

Division leads:

Read more about the research in our Division in Research Explorer:

Cancer Sciences

  • Lung cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Haematological cancers
  • Colon cancer and peritoneal metastasis
  • Hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Gynaecological cancers, including ovarian and endometrial
  • Prostate, renal and other genitourinary cancers
  • Neuro-oncology, focusing on glioblastoma
  • Immuno-oncology, including T-cell therapy
  • Experimental cancer medicine
  • Radiotherapy-related research
  • Protons research
  • Biomarker development
  • Early detection and prevention
  • Imaging and AI
  • Multi-omics, including cancer genomics and proteomics
  • Chromosome instability
  • Cell signalling and apoptosis
  • Molecular pathology

To help deliver the next generation of oncology researchers, the Division hosts a large number of postgraduate trainees, including clinical and non-clinical PhD students, plus postdoctoral scientists and academic clinical lecturers.  

We make a large contribution to the University's undergraduate teaching portfolio, and run four master's courses, including our flagship MSc in Transformative Oncology. The University's goal of social responsibility is embedded in Divisional activities, not just in terms of public and patient engagement, but also by integrating equality, diversity and inclusivity initiatives into our research and teaching, as well as our daily working practices. 

The Division has on ongoing recruitment drive to attract junior faculty, who we aim to set up for success with support packages and mentoring. Indeed, a cornerstone of our vision is a blossoming junior faculty, with a growing array of clinical/non-clinical partnerships. 

This allows staff to play to their individual strengths while inspiring the next generation of oncologists and delivering high-impact research and innovative teaching across the discovery, translational and clinical spectrum, addressing both Manchester-specific and global oncology issues.

See all research outputs from the Division of Cancer Sciences.

Changing lives and national policy

Professor Emma Crosbie discusses research into the link between Lynch syndrome and womb cancer, and how this has changed NICE guidance on testing for the syndrome.

Read the story : Changing lives and national policy.

Professor Emma Crosbie.

Taking discovery research up a gear

Professor Stephen Taylor explains how a combination of high-quality basic research, translational science, drug discovery and the 'Manchester way' of doing things are yielding results.

Read the story : Taking discovery research up a gear.

Researcher investigating the PARG enzyme and how it might be used to treat ovarian cancer.

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Division of Cardiovascular Sciences

Advancing our understanding of cardiovascular disease to transform patients' lives.

We combine clinical, translational and discovery science in our innovative, interdisciplinary and international collaborative research to reduce the burden of heart and circulatory disease.  

Our research into heart failure involves defining pathophysiological mechanisms and the interplay between obesity, ageing, co-morbidities and environmental factors. This helps us to identify novel biomarkers, identify and evaluate novel therapeutic approaches, and develop precision risk stratification strategies for patient management.  

Using multidisciplinary approaches, we are discovering novel mechanisms underlying stroke, vascular dementia and blood vessel diseases to identify and develop translatable therapeutic targets. We are also identifying factors that predict adverse outcomes to improve early detection, and improving patient outcomes and clinical care through novel rehabilitation regimens. 

In cardiovascular genetics and genomics, we are taking forward our genetic discoveries in hypertension, congenital heart disease and inherited cardiac conditions using functional genomics and deep longitudinal phenotyping. This will help us to better understand phenotypic complexity and identify novel drug/drug repurposing opportunities.

Division leads:

Read more about the research in our Division in Research Explorer:

Cardiovascular Sciences

  • Heart failure and cardiac pathophysiology
  • Cardiovascular genomics and development
  • Hypertension and its consequences
  • Small and large vessel disease
  • Stroke and vascular dementia
  • Impact of obesity and diabetes on cardiovascular health
  • Genetics of hypertension, congenital heart disease and inherited cardiac conditions

See all research outputs from the Divison of Cardiovascular Sciences.

The impact and breadth of our cardiovascular research, conducted with researchers from numerous Divisions across the University, is illustrated by the cases highlighted on our Heart and Circulatory Research webpage.

Rapid testing for acute coronary syndromes: faster treatment, lower hospital admissions, cost-efficient

Patients arriving at emergency departments with chest pain traditionally required emergency hospital admission for testing, which took up to three days to complete. Research led by Prof Rick Body has resulted in the development of three new methods of investigating chest pain using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays.

These tests detect troponin at much lower levels than previous tests allowed, meaning results are available quicker, thereby allowing quicker access to treatment where necessary and a reduction in unnecessary hospital stays.

Improving care for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) patients

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), where bleeding occurs within the brain tissue, is a life-threatening type of stroke affecting over 10,000 people in the UK each year.

To improve the quality of care for these patients, the ABC care bundle for ICH was developed based on research conducted by Dr Adrian Parry-Jones. This care bundle has reduced 30-day ICH mortality by 33% and is recommended by NHS England's Rightcare Stroke Toolkit.

Increasing understanding of congenital heart disease and research capacity building in Africa 

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of childhood mortality and makes up one-third of all congenital birth defects globally. The prognosis for a child born with CHD in a low and lower-middle income country (LLMICs) is worse than in a high-income country.

Manchester and Cape Town researchers are collaborating to address knowledge gaps about CHD in African populations while also building research capacity and expertise in the Cape Town region.

Rapid testing for acute coronary syndromes

Our work in the emergency department has helped develop ultra-high sensitivity blood tests and rapid decision-making tools for patients suspected of having had a heart attack, allowing for quicker treatment, improved recovery and earlier discharge.

Read the story : Rapid testing for acute coronary syndromes.

3D drawing of a heart within the body.

Improving patient adherence to high blood pressure medication

We developed a urine test to determine if patients with high blood pressure are taking their medicines, so healthcare professionals can work more effectively with them and reduce complications from high blood pressure later in life.

Read the story : Improving patient adherence to high blood pressure medication.

A blood pressure instrument surrounded by packets of pills.

Investigating the impact of polyaromatic hydrocarbon pollutants on heart function

Air pollution is associated with heart attacks, strokes and irregular heart rhythms, particularly in people already at risk for these conditions. We aim to learn more about the effects of a specific type of pollutants on our health.

Read the story : Investigating the impact of polyaromatic hydrocarbon pollutants on heart function.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in an aquarium.

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Division of Dentistry

Undertaking world-leading research to improve dental care and reduce oral health inequalities.

Teaching, research, clinical and support staff in the Division of Dentistry play a role in ensuring our undergraduate and postgraduate students receive an outstanding teaching and learning experience, underpinned by world-class research.  

We train undergraduate dentists and dental hygienists/therapists, as well as offering a range of postgraduate taught and research courses. Our teaching facilities will be enhanced further with the development of a new Dental Hub, which will provide additional chairs and amenities.

We are proud of the fact that our research, when assessed as part of the Research Excellence Framework 2021’s Unit of Assessment 3 (encompassing Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy), was placed 2nd in the UK. Overall, 96% of our research was assessed as internationally excellent or world-leading.

The Division is linked to Cochrane Oral Health (COH) who work with global partners to produce research that has underpinned international guideline development and helped shape policy, changing clinical practice in the process.

The Division collaborates with Colgate-Palmolive, strengthening the relationship between industry and academia. Over its 50-year history, the unit has accomplished major scientific advances in dental public health, epidemiology, and diagnostic sciences.

Division leads:

Read more about the research in our Division in Research Explorer:

Dentistry

  • Basic dental science
  • Applied health research

Postgraduate courses

To develop and support the next generation of dental specialists, the Division trains postgraduate students across a range of specialties.

These include paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and fixed and removable prosthodontics. We offer both 3-year full-time clinical master's courses and 4-year full-time clinical PhD programmes.

Students are taught by a range of clinical and academic staff including consultants and specialists, and work under all sedation modalities including local analgesia, conscious sedation and general anaesthesia. They gain experience in a range of environments including the University Dental Hospital of Manchester, district general hospitals and the Royal Manchester Children 's Hospital.

Students undertake high quality research projects under the supervision of academic and clinical staff. We encourage and mentor students to attend and present at regional, national and international conferences.

Our MSc (Clin) programmes are world renowned, and confer eligibility to undertake the relevant Royal College of Surgeons examination.

International links

The Division of Dentistry is proud to extend our impact beyond the local community. We are committed to excellence in education, research and service.

Our international partnerships and initiatives are instrumental in advancing dental care and promoting oral health worldwide. We have established collaborations with leading dental schools around the world, such as the Henry Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, USA and the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia.

These agreements give our students unique opportunities to learn about oral health on a global scale, and start building their international network. Our students take part in international online learning platforms, exchange visits and research opportunities.

The Division also has a joint BDS degree programme with Alexandria Dental School, Egypt and a licensed degree with Mansoura Dental School, Egypt.

Cochrane Oral Health Group leads the international evidence base for oral health: Antibiotics for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis
Lee Hooper (Participant), Richard Oliver (Participant) & Helen Worthington (Participant) Impact: Health impacts

Researchers at The University of Manchester (UoM) evaluated the evidence for this practice by undertaking a high quality systematic review (initially published 2004). The review has informed multiple international guidelines. Publication of the NICE guideline led to a fall in the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics from 10,727 to 2,292 per month, an approximate annual saving of £174,580.

Dental care for refugees and other minority groups

Dr Joanne Cunliffe is working with a team of student volunteers to deliver dental care to refugees and other minority groups in Manchester.

Read the story : Dental care for refugees and other minority groups.

Dr Joanne Cunliffe.

Making a difference through dentistry

Dr Senathirajah ‘Raj’ Ariyaratnam, uses his experience to train Sri Lanka’s dentists and address dental health inequalities closer to home.

Read the story : Making a difference through dentistry.

Children receiving dental care products as part of the Tamil project.

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Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine

Translating fundamental biology into an understanding of the mechanisms of life and evolution to translate these findings into better human health and life.

The Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine includes scientists and clinical scientists studying multiple different aspects of developmental biology, from basic cell behaviour to clinical reproductive and obstetric medicine.

We have a diverse group of developmental biology academic-led research groups, and the Maternal Fetal Health group, which comprises research biologists and clinicians focused on placenta, pregnancy, early development and embryology.

The Division has an internationally leading academic and clinical reputation. We work in partnership with the NHS and several charities, and are keen for all staff members to engage with the University of Manchester's social responsibility agenda, as this recognises the important links we have with those directly affected by our research.

Division leads:

Read more about the research in our Division in Research Explorer:

Developmental Biology and Medicine

  • Maternal and fetal health 
  • Paediatric growth and development 
  • Developmental biology 

See all of our publications in the Research Explorer:

Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine publications.

Increasing the availability of a simple blood test to diagnose pre-eclampsia

Our researchers have developed better diagnostic tests for pre-eclampsia, a potentially serious condition occurring in pregnancy that can affect both the mother and baby, and are assessing new treatment options to reduce the risk of complications.

Read the story : Increasing the availability of a simple blood test to diagnose pre-eclampsia.

A doctor takes a blood sample from a pregnant woman.

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Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology

Multidisciplinary research into the mechanisms and systemic physiology underpinning health and disease.

We draw together clinical academics and scientists based on the University campus and at three teaching hospitals around Manchester, with shared interests in how major body systems function and interact in health and disease.

Our key interests are in the endocrine, gastrointestinal and circadian systems, the mechanisms by which they are controlled, their dysregulation in metabolic and inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and liver fibrosis, and therapeutic approaches to remedy this.

In keeping with our broad research interests, expertise within the Division spans molecular and cellular physiology, systems neuroscience and integrative physiology to human experimental medicine to epidemiology.

Division leads:

Read more about the research in our Division in Research Explorer:

Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology

  • Biological timing
  • Obesity, diabetes and endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology and hepatology
  • Organ function, disease and regeneration

Research in the Division is contributing to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of ill health, including:

Integrated Diagnostics for Early Detection of Liver Disease

We are leading an Innovate UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund project (ID Liver), encompassing university academic centres, NHS Trusts and industrial partners, to use community-based diagnostics for the early identification of liver disease.

Targeting areas of high disease prevalence that have traditionally been underserved, via PPIE partnerships and community ambassadors, the project is drawing on primary care data, multimodal diagnostics and AI risk prediction tools to develop a holistic patient dashboard. This will be accessible to all healthcare professionals involved in a patient's diagnostic pathway and allow them to review, align and decide on the optimal treatment for each patient.

Optimising light to promote health

Daily patterns of light exposure influences health and wellbeing, but established methods of measuring light and associated lighting regulations do not take such non-image-forming effects into account.

Research in the Division has established and validated a novel method for quantifying these effects and demonstrated the application of this approach for predicting meaningful biological effects of lighting in real world applications.

As a result, the new metric has been adopted as a new international lighting standard, forms the basis of a new set of scientific consensus guidelines for healthy lighting, and is being used by the lighting industry to develop products and systems maximising the biological potential of light.

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Division of Medical Education

Specialists in health professional education, research into the history of science, technology and medicine, and health workforce development

We are home to a thriving group of staff who help deliver both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The Manchester MBChB is the largest undergraduate medical course in the UK, with a long history based on the founding values of training doctors to practice in the north of England. Another long-standing course is the MSc in Medical Microbiology, which has been training postgraduates in this lab-based clinical discipline for nearly a century.

We train other healthcare scientists at postgraduate level, including blood scientists training across the UK while working in the NHS as part of the national Scientist Training Programme. We support clinicians with professional development opportunities through our PGCert in Medical and Health Education and PGDip in Clinical Practice, specifically designed to help transition international clinicians to working in the NHS. We have been training Physician Associates, an increasingly important role in the health workforce, for 10 years.

Our research centres on medical education, behaviour sciences and the humanities related to science, technology and medicine. Our portfolio encompasses innovative pedagogy and academic development focused on enhancing the student experience. We have expertise in supporting the global health workforce.

The Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM) focuses on understanding science, technology and medicine since the 1800s. Its undergraduate teaching units form part of the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL), and its postgraduate courses cover the history of science, technology and medicine, and science and health communication.

Division leads:

Read more about the academic activity in our Division in Research Explorer:

Medical Education

  • Medicine
  • Physician associates
  • Healthcare sciences
  • Clinical sciences
  • Clinical biochemistry
  • Clinical immunology
  • Medical microbiology
  • Medical and health education
  • History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM) research and education
  • Health workforce (including medical education) research

The impact of the work and people of the Division of Medical Education can be seen locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Our impact is diverse and vast across the University, supporting the key pillars of teaching, research and social responsibility.

Teaching and learning

Our leadership of PRiME (Professionals in Medical Education) ensures staff development means excellent training for our clinical educators at all career stages.

Nationally, many of our academic colleagues sit on professional and regulatory groups in their disciplines, impacting on policy and strategies relating to health professional and science education, as well as impacting on health professionals and their patients.

Overseas, we are making significant efforts to address global health workforce shortages through our medical education partnerships with internationally excellent medical schools.

Research

Through our research, we carry out robust evaluations of our innovative education to understand the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of our educational innovations, supporting the future workforce to be the best that they can be.

Nationally, we lead behavioural research through a leadership hub, and contribute to workforce policy discussions. Internationally, our research investigates and drives behaviour change in the health workforce and, subsequently, in patients and the public.

We are active within the University, within our community and more widely to support and drive change, as well as reducing inequalities.

Read more about our impact in the Research Explorer:

Division of Medical Education impacts

Boosting Egyptian medical education with Manchester expertise

Helping Egyptian universities enhance their medical training programmes and equip students with the skills to work as a doctor internationally.

Read the story : Boosting Egyptian medical education with Manchester expertise.

Three medical students sitting on steps.

The Making a Difference Awards: Medics in primary schools

Sylvia Osahan was highly commended for ‘outstanding contribution to widening participation’ thanks to her involvement in the Medics in Primary Schools (MiPS) society.

Read the blog : The Making a Difference Awards: Medics in primary schools.

A child looking down a microscope in a school classroom.

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