research at bsms

observing, analysing, discovering, advancing

Developing a strong and vibrant research programme is a key part of the BSMS strategy, and the school gives research a high priority. We teach our students in a research-rich environment, and have developed a collaborative research programme that embraces both basic and applied aspects of clinical science.

Together with the two universities and the local NHS, we have developed a small number of in-depth research areas that build on existing strengths. Research programmes range in scope from international health to those tailored to the health-care needs of the local community.

Our main areas consist of

• Inflammation and Infection
• Neuroscience
• Oncology and genetics

and are underpinned by the groups working in

• Elderly care and community medicine
• Medical education
• Imaging sciences

Further information about each research area can be found on the left.

Infrastructure
BSMS has made a very substantial investment in research infrastructure to underpin our research activities. Our state-of-the-art Medical Science Research Building on the Falmer campus provides an outstanding resource for approximately 50 medical scientists, with core laboratory facilities and specialist equipment. We also have a new Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, providing a resource for translational research in oncology and neuroscience. At the Royal Sussex County site we have built a Clinical Investigation and Research Unit, a 10-bedded facility for carrying out clinical studies in physiology and therapy. Together, these three units represent a major investment in capacity that provide first class resources for clinical research.

People
Our clinical and non-clinical academics have expertise ranging from basic science to clinical practice and share a strong emphasis on translational medicine. We have a mixture of senior and early career researchers, with almost 20 postgraduate students currently undertaking DPhil, MPhil and MD qualifications with us.

Lydia Richardson spent her third year student selected component (SSC) working with two researchers on a paper that was published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

‘I am interested in surgery and picked a topic significant to paediatric surgery after-care. I had seen a few babies with gastroschisis, which is one of the many conditions that may lead to short bowel syndrome (SBS), due to resection of the bowel.

‘The SSC gave me an opportunity to follow the progress of a baby with SBS on the wards for 8 weeks. This was carried out by reading notes each week, talking to the nurses about the baby’s progress and seeing the baby at each visit.

‘I compared mucus fistula refeeding to an older technique of feeding the babies and found that it had many advantages. This is a piece of work I feel really proud of as it will hopefully make an impact on the care of babies with short bowel syndrome and will be read by professionals in neonatology.’