The Department of Social Medicine is a leading centre for research and teaching of population health sciences. The primary characteristic of research in the Department is that it is collaborative and multi-disciplinary. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the Department's Epidemiology and Public Health research was ranked 4th in the UK, with 35% 4*, 35% 3*, 25% 2*, 5% 1*, and its Health Services Research was ranked 3rd, with 20% 4*, 60% 3*, 20% 2*. Over 70% of the Department's research was thus rated as world leading or internationally excellent.  The Department’s staff are located either in Canynge Hall or Oakfield House.

Within the Department are several major research centres and programmes:

MRC CAiTE (Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology) Centre, directed by Professor George Davey Smith and deputy directors Professor Debbie Lawlor and Professor Ian Day;
ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children), the premier birth cohort study, directed by Professor George Davey Smith;
UKCRC DECIPHer (Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement) Centre, jointly with the Universities of Cardiff and Swansea, directed by Professor Rona Campbell;
MRC ConDuCT (COllaboration and iNnovation in DifficUlt and complex randomised Controlled Trials) methodology hub, directed by Professor Jane Blazeby;
BRTC (Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration) UKCRC/NCRI-accredited trials unit,  jointly with Primary Care, with Dr Athene Lane as associate director;
NIHR HTA Programme-funded ProtecT (Prostate testing for Cancer and Treatment) study - now the largest evaluation of prostate cancer treatments in the world. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes provide training and career development for undergraduate medical students, public health trainees, clinicians, and research staff. The postgraduate Short Course Programme is a popular source of intensive short courses in epidemiological and HSR research methods and skills. There is an active programme of research seminars in term-time. For the latest news from the Department, please see here.

Jenny Donovan, Head of Department.