Health, health care and social care

An international collaboration to prevent premature birth

Researchers from the University of Sheffield are collaborating with hospitals and universities across the globe to find practical, affordable ways to reduce the number of premature births around the world.

PRIME

Bridging cultures in mental health

1 in 4 people will experience struggles with their mental health in the course of a year. But cultural sensitivities and language differences put up barriers for many patients. Sheffield researchers have developed a training course to deepen the cultural understanding of healthcare professionals.

Improving intercultural communication

Sex lives in the over 50s: Ending the stigma

The sex lives of the over 50s have long been ignored. Sheffield’s new cafes and Sexual rights charter are bringing the conversation back to the table.

Sexual rights for older adults

Cancer research driven by patient needs

In Yorkshire, cancer is often diagnosed later than elsewhere in England. Following the successful development of three cancer drugs by the University of Sheffield, our researchers are working to improve early diagnosis, as well as prevention and treatments in our region and beyond.

A multi-million pound cancer research strategy

Changing support practises for adults with experience of childhood trauma

*Trigger warning: this article includes content relating to childhood sexual abuse*

Flow: the film

Allocating scarce global health resources

How do you compare the value of treatments for different conditions? Sheffield researchers have developed an algorithm to inform global health care decisions that takes account of people’s preferences for different aspects of health.

The SF-6D framework

Killing cancer cells with a Trojan horse

Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. Led by three female co-founders, our proposed venture has found a way to kill cancer cells while reducing stress on the immune system. Like a Trojan horse, the coatings hide the virus from the body.

Targeting tumours

A turning point for motor neurone disease

An investigational drug has shown promising signs of slowing the progression of a type of motor neurone disease. The results of a Phase 3 clinical trial showed significant improvements in patients’ symptoms, with one patient in a wheelchair later able to walk without sticks.

A milestone treatment

Uniting experts to address infertility in The Gambia and beyond

Societal expectations of becoming a parent soon after marriage are high in The Gambia, but thousands of couples face involuntary childlessness, or infertility. Our international research collaboration is improving fertility awareness, guiding policy and transforming practice.

Fertility care in the Global South

Pioneering detailed lung MRI scans without radiation

We've developed a novel type of MRI scan that produces unique images of the lungs. The safe scan uses inhaled hyperpolarised xenon gas to pick up on lung abnormalities previously undetected with routine tests.

Hyperpolarized xenon gas

Giving a voice to the migrant community of Samos

Forgotten by the rest of Europe, Samos is a Greek island facing a humanitarian crisis. Dr Anna Gordon led a collaborative project that used data to amplify the conditions of the camp and lobby for improvements.

Giving a voice back to refugees

Reshaping the UK’s mental health care with technology

Dr Jaime Delgadillo is at the forefront of developing new technologies to help mental health practitioners make decisions. His tools use artificial intelligence to get patients the right treatment at the right time.

Data informed decisions

Safely reducing trips to A&E

Our research has shown that paramedics with extended skills can leave older patients safely at home with potential cost savings to the NHS of over £50 million, reducing unnecessary journeys to the hospital.

Reducing hospital transfers

A cost-effective therapy to reduce NHS waiting times

*Trigger warning: this article includes content relating to eating disorders*

A new approach to CBT

The Head Up collar

Everyone values their independence. But motor neurone disease takes it from over 2,000 of us a year in the UK. Professor Chris McDermott and his team wanted to transform the lives of their patients by giving them some independence back.

Getting independence back

Help! I'm scared of the dentist

Many people are scared of the dentist. For children, it can appear to be a strange environment full of unusual tools and unfamiliar smells. Our research gives children control during dental procedures to reduce anxiety.

Ending dental anxiety

Psychosocial stress associated with skin conditions

A third of people living with long term skin conditions may experience some form of distress and stigmatisation. How can we ensure that the right support is in place to address this?

Psychological interventions

Changing the conversation about ageing

The University of Sheffield Healthy Lifespan Institute is the first institute in the UK focussed on preventing age-related illness throughout a person’s life, not just at the very end.

Preventing age-related illness

Repairing nerves with 3D printing

Patients who experience nerve injury report severe numbness and pain. Researchers at our School of Clinical Dentistry are using a unique library of human tissue to prevent this to improve patient treatment and quality of life.

3D printing

Surviving a heart attack: How ticagrelor saves lives

Ticagrelor has saved the lives of thousands of heart attack patients around the world. Its journey from discovery over twenty years ago to world-wide treatment was the product of one of the largest clinical trials in the world.

Saving thousands of lives

How we remodelled England's National Ambulance Service

England's National Ambulance Service provides care for millions of people every year. However, too often patients have been left waiting hours for care. But the University of Sheffield has helped to change all that.

Remodelling England's Ambulance Service

patient in hospital being carried on a stretcher

Reducing hospital admissions for suspected heart attacks

350,000 people are admitted to hospital each year suspected of having had a heart attack. We've improved how clinicians test suspected heart attack patients to create huge economic savings.

Reducing hospital admissions

Using radio to tackle Covid-19 misinformation in Burkina Faso

Attacked by extremist groups and enduring climate disasters, Burkina Faso is dealing with a humanitarian emergency that has been worsened by Covid-19. Our methodology prevents the spread of misinformation in communities.

Cutting through the noise

Does minimum unit pricing affect all alcohol? The biggest alcohol policy myths busted

Heavy drinking contributes to a strain on the NHS and society as a whole. But a new minimum unit pricing policy could be a solution. Colin Angus' research looks at answering new policy questions, both in the UK and internationally.

The Minimum Unit Pricing Policy

maze with pathway and arrow pointing to center

The undercover geographer

Our research is transforming employment health support. Adam Whitworth is a geographer attempting to map a new way through employment and health support for those most in need. His approach? ‘Go native’...

Better social policy

Freeing up patient information for research

How do we safely balance our need for privacy with the need to advance medical treatments? Dr Vicky Chico's research has influenced healthcare data policies and NHS guidance.

Maintaining public trust

Saving lives one word at a time

When a member of the public approached University of Sheffield researcher Martin Thornhill, the two of them instigated a small but potentially life-saving change to UK dental practice.

A single word

Using regenerative medicine to cure blindness

Treatment for blindness in developing countries is often expensive and restricted. Regenerative medical techniques developed at The University of Sheffield could provide a solution to this.

Making treatments for eyesight simple

teenager wearing face mask represented with digital pixels

A digital mental health intervention

According to YoungMinds, 80 per cent of young people felt that the pandemic made their mental health worse. Research by psychologist Dr Liat Levita is at the heart of an award-winning interactive show to support secondary school pupils with their wellbeing.

On The Level

The deceptive hormone essential for health

Pancreatic cancer is one of the world’s most aggressive cancers. But what if the hormone that allows it to grow is the key to stopping it in its tracks?

Improving patient outcomes in a range of cancer types