Research
The School maintains a strong portfolio of research, a large part of which is based in the developing countries of the tropics. There are also laboratory-based programmes, particularly in the area of parasitic and other communicable diseases. Research ranges from studies devoted to improved delivery of health services to poor and disadvantaged populations, through social science research and clinical intervention studies, to basic studies in the molecular sciences, genomics and immunology of communicable diseases.
Research is broadly organised into groups and details of their activities can be found through this link. Links between groups are strongly encouraged and contribute to supporting major research themes within the School.
Research Themes
1. Tropical and Infectious Diseases
This research theme builds on the expertise, knowledge and networks generated by the DfID funded Knowledge Programmes in malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS and the Global Alliance for filariasis control, and national funded research on snake venoms. The theme has a particular focus on improving the quality of health services in poorer countries and making them work for the most vulnerable communities and individuals. Key components are gender and equity, research synthesis, clinical trials, scaling-up of implementable research outputs and policy development.
2. Development of Drugs and Diagnostics
Liverpool has a very strong drug development community owing to the links between researchers in specific diseases (e.g. malaria, HIV/AIDS), pharmacology and medicinal chemistry. This work is also informed by research programmes within LSTM on clinical trials and health implementation studies. There is a clear need for more new drugs as well as techniques to monitor pharmacokinetics and resistance. Many of these methodologies have overlaps with insecticide development/resistance, combining the School’s strong portfolio in vector control with the development of therapeutics.
3. Clinical Trials
Clinical trials and research synthesis are significant activities related to tropical and infectious disease, vector control, child and reproductive health, and are central to informing health sector policy. The new Clinical Trials Development Team integrates drug discovery into health implementation by participation of laboratory, clinical, disease control and international health groups within the School.
4. Vector Control
LSTM has one of the largest groups of insect vector biologists in the world and is recognised as a leader in research on insecticide resistance from molecular characterisation to development of practical interventions for resistance management with additional skills in ecology, epidemiology and population genetics. Links to other research themes exploit rational chemical design to develop, implement and scale up new vector control methodologies and partnerships with health ministries, industry and international organisations to improve vector control.
5. Control of Veterinary Diseases
The aim is to improve human health and the welfare and productivity of food-producing animals through better diagnosis and control of parasitic diseases. Research targets zoonoses and animal diseases of major economic importance both in monitoring outbreaks (diagnostics; epidemiology) and identifying new therapies (drugs; vaccines).
6. Child and Reproductive Health
The central aim is to improve maternal and child health and survival. The work prioritises research on infection and nutrition and disease prevention in policy emphasises informing health care provision. These activities include topic-specific research related to clinical epidemiology, malaria epidemiology, reproductive health and child/adolescent health.
7. Health Services Research
Health care and health promotion are complex to deliver effectively, particularly if they are to benefit those who are hard to reach. The School has a strong history in health services and community health research, and has research priorities that complement emerging global health strategies in financing, organisation and human resource management, qualitative approaches to improve equity, research synthesis for evidence-based decisions and strengthening of health service capacity in resource-poor settings.