Improving health by gaining a deeper understanding of disease.

Mission

To increase understanding of the fundamental, biological and environmental basis of common diseases affecting children and adults in order to help better diagnose and treat disease. To apply new knowledge to define individuals at risk of disease, and design and test new strategies to prevent disease.

Theme Description

Whilst improved health care has been a major contributor to increased quality of life over the last century, many diseases still present substantial challenges to modern health care. Developing a deeper understanding of the genetic, environmental and biological basis for these diseases is the key to developing more effective treatments.

Clinical and basic science researchers in the understanding and preventing disease theme are together tackling some of the major challenges facing our health care system. Our research is focused in several areas that present major challenges in both the developed and developing world including; metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, infectious and inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

Disease prevention remains the best way to prevent morbidity and to reduce health care expenditure. Therefore we intend to use our increased knowledge of the fundamental basis of disease to design appropriate strategies to prevent disease.