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Our research areas in the Centre for Lifelong Health

Our members collaborate locally, nationally and internationally with other academic institutions, charities, hospitals and businesses, focusing on four main themes. Themes are interconnected and many researchers work across and between them:

• Mechanisms of disease
• Prevention of disease
• Medicines use
• Integrated technologies

The Centre for Lifelong Health is a founding member of SIMER, a county-wide research and education partnership. 

Research into the mechanisms of health ad disease

This research area focusses on the complex mechanisms that shape both health and disease across the life course.

Our centre adopts a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to understand the mechanisms underlying the onset, progression, and outcomes of a wide range of conditions.

Our members bring international expertise in areas including ageing, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, hearing, HIV, and musculoskeletal health—working collaboratively to uncover the fundamental drivers of lifelong wellbeing.

Notable projects in the area include:

• Mel Flint's work revealing and invesigating the relationship between stress and cancer 
• , which led to a better understanding of hearing loss of different genesis and new treatment methods.

Research into the prevention of disease

This research focuses on the identification of predictive biomarkers of disease, with the aim that early interventions will delay or prevent disease initiation.

By investigating the processes that sustain health as well as those that drive disease, we aim to identify early biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and strategies for prevention and intervention.

We harness a wide range of approaches and technologies—from molecular profiling to advanced imaging—and examine interactions across biological systems to uncover early indicators of dysfunction. This integrative strategy supports the development of targeted, proactive solutions for lifelong health.

Notable projects in this area include:

• The , which led to the making of an electrochemical probe that can be inserted into the lower bowel to track the changes in the chemicals released from the mucosa and the muscle activity.
• , which led to a better understanding of hearing loss of different genesis and new treatment methods.
• , which researches sustainable and accessible methods to support females to navigate extreme heat episodes.

Research into medicines use

Our medicines research theme spans three interconnected areas: the science of medicines, their clinical use, and medicines-related education. 

We apply basic science techniques to deepen understanding of how medicines work and how to use them safely and effectively, with expertise in adverse drug reactions in older adults, pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutical formulation, clinical bioanalysis, and pharmacogenomics. We also investigate human behaviour and psychology in health and disease, focusing on behavioural medicine, health psychology, and paediatric medicine use. In parallel, we develop and evaluate innovative approaches to educate and assess the current and future healthcare workforce in medicines use and medicines-related research.

Notable projects in these areas include:

• 'Does a loss of blood-brain barrier integrity in Alzheimer’s disease lead to changes in the pharmacokinetics of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?'
• , a project which explored whether pharmacist-led clinic care could help to achieve the goal of optimisation of cardio-protective therapies for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after their hospital discharge.

Integrated technologies research

This theme showcases the Centre’s commitment to using and developing integrated technologies that support cutting-edge research.

Our instrumentation and technical platforms are designed to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling researchers to generate impactful findings across the life course. By combining technologies with domain expertise, we offer a unique advantage in research quality, innovation, and funding potential. The theme also provides valuable training opportunities, equipping individuals with hands-on experience in advanced, cross-functional systems.

Instrumentation and expertise under this theme:

• • High resolution mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, for proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics. 
  • Biosensors 
  • Laser capture microdissection (LCM) microscope. 
  • Genomics high-throughput sequencing of exomes, whole genomes, and transcriptomes 
  • Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner 
  • Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

Notable achievements in this area include:

• , through which funding from the Medical Research Council brought about the purchase a laser microdissection microscope.

Our research impact and knowledge exchange

We foster strong relationships across multiple sectors to deliver impactful research. 

The public health sector

Our research enhances understanding of disease mechanisms to inform healthcare education and practice. In the short term, we support professional development for clinicians; in the long term, our discoveries—such as novel diagnostics, drug targets, and devices—guide clinical trials and influence care pathways. Strong links with the NHS, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and the local Health and Care Research Partnership help us translate research into real-world impact, such as developing sensors to predict chronic constipation and faecal incontinence.

The commercial private sector

We collaborate with industry partners in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Current projects include artificial liver technologies with Carbalive and developing novel accommodating contact lenses with Cooper Vision.

Third sector

We work closely with charities such as Breast Cancer Now, Rosetrees Trust, Diabetes UK, ARUK, and Age Concern. These partnerships deliver both local benefits and national impact— for example, exploring the health benefits of community initiatives like and investigating links between stress hormones and tumour recurrence.

Public engagement

Our outreach spans the life course, raising awareness of chronic conditions and empowering patients, carers, and the public through talks, events, and school programmes. We aim to reduce stigma, improve understanding, and encourage open conversations about health. We also contribute to STEM Sussex’s STEMFest and run an annual outreach programme reaching over 800 schoolchildren and U3A members.

Research outputs and projects from the Centre for Lifelong Health

Details of research publications and other outputs fostered by the centre and achieved by its members, along with funded projects delivered by the centre, can be accessed on the Centre for Lifelong Health's database of research.

• Visit the record of the Centre for Lifelong Health's  
• Visit the record of the Centre for Lifelong Health's 

Our most recently funded projects