Public Health
Research
BUILDING A HEALTHIER SOCIETY IN BIRMINGHAM AND BEYOND
The goals of the public health research centre are to prevent disease and optimise health and quality of life across communities. We are building innovative interventions to reduce health disparity and optimise societies health locally and globally. We aim to develop inclusive health research partnerships including communities, NHS, and diverse health workforce.
Multiple Long-Term Conditions Lifestyle Prevention
We are investigating disease determinants, using biological foundations and disease epi-data, as well as researching lifestyle determinants: sedentariness, physical activity, nutrition, psycho-social behaviours.
Our work focuses on lifestyle, medicine and interventions, investigating obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We investigate the multi-components of diet, nutrition, sleep, exercise and physical activity, researching children and adolescents with obesity, older adults with diabetes and hypertension, kidney disease complications.
We investigate ageing and longevity on a molecular level, to whole body physiology. Our research looks at personalised nutrition, the effectiveness of diet and supplements in ageing and longevity. We are using applied health interventions in special groups: older individuals' physical and mental health, postmenopausal women, children and adolescents with obesity-comorbidities, young adults and minority ethnicities.
Reducing health disparity and inequalities
Minority ethnicities health equity and quality of life
We are reviewing physical activity and lifestyle behaviours (inter and intra-ethnicity differences) and working with vulnerable and minority ethnicities in West Midlands (such as women with type 2 diabetes and children with obesity co-morbidities).
Empowerment and co-production
We are creating innovative co-production models in minority ethnicity communities. Investigating self-care in diabetes and associated diseases and developing PPI and multi-stakeholders for PH interventions.
Reducing Global Health Disparities
We are researching childhood obesity and co-morbidities in HICs and LMICs and creating new global guidelines on prevention and management of obesity co-morbidities in minority ethnicity populations. Our work aims to reduce global health disparities, implementation science in Low and Middle-Income Countries.
Current Projects
Our projects are diversely supported from major funding councils including UKRI (e.g. NIHR, MRC, Welcome Trust), education, industry and local authority. We have the following ongoing projects, and we continuously welcome new collaborations.
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Obesity and Comorbidity Health Interventions
A Midlands Consortium involving regional hospitals in Birmingham, and universities in the West Midlands, focussed on: reduction of disease complications in children with obesity from high-risk communities, especially minority ethnicity communities.
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NCD Multimorbidity Prevention in Low and Middle Income Countries
A large global consortium involving four countries and 27 stakeholders aimed at implementation of lifestyle interventions in a number of low and middle income countries, especially Sub-Saharan African Region.
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Sedentary Lifestyle and Physical Activity in Minority Ethnicities in England
Understanding and enhancing physical activity levels in Midland’s minority and vulnerable populations.
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Health impact on vulnerable communities in Birmingham
Working with local councils and health authorities collaboration focused on social, housing and health matters in Birmingham.
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Dietary and nutrients intake consequences for obesity, diabetes and cancer.
Two thematic projects in collaboration with industry focused on clinical physiology and adaptive responses to functional foods and their disease preventative roles.
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Metabolic determinants of healthy aging and performance
A multi-national collaboration focused on prescription of age-specific exercise and nutrition and personalised medicine.
Centre Team
Dr Ayaz Safi, Dr Hora Ejtehadi, Dr Muhammad Hossain, Dr Olatunde Aremu, Dr Ferozkhan Jadhakhan, Dr Bismillah Sehar, Dr Basiru Gai, Dr Masoud Mohammadnezhad, Dr Nasrin Soltani, Dr Kal Alnababatah.
Membership is open for registration from staff and postgraduate students. Please contact Public Health Cluster lead, Professor Ahmad Alkhatib.