Overview
Our research drives innovation across health care and health sciences, improving the way health professionals are trained, supported and enabled to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care.
We focus on developing people and practices that strengthen the quality and sustainability of health and care provision. We combine academic inquiry with real-world application, including studies conducted in our on-site clinics, where we test interventions, evaluate treatments, and develop evidence-based best practice.
This narrative brings together work that spans workforce development, health systems and services, pedagogy, clinical interventions, and technology. Our aim is to advance knowledge that supports professional excellence and evidence-informed decision-making, ensuring that health and care provision meets the evolving needs of patients, practitioners, and society.
Key research themes
Developing the Health and Care Workforce
Research focused on the education, professional development, and wellbeing of health and care professionals, particularly allied health professions. This includes pedagogy, leadership, and the use of technology and simulation in training, supported by practical, hands-on learning in our clinical facilities.
Strengthening Health Systems and Services
Evaluation and improvement of health and care systems, exploring how workforce, service design, and innovation interact to deliver effective, equitable, and sustainable care. Intervention studies conducted in our on-site clinics provide real-world evidence to inform policy and practice.
Advancing Clinical Practice and Research Methods
Applied research into clinical interventions, treatments, and models of care, alongside the development of robust and inclusive research methodologies. Our clinical facilities enable testing and validation of treatments under controlled conditions, ensuring research translates directly into improved patient outcomes.
Featured projects
Our research is applied, interdisciplinary, and focused on delivering meaningful improvements in health and care.
Explore a selection of current and recent projects below:
UK chiropractic workforce
This project aims to understand the chiropractic profession’s capacity to plan for future demand by assessing the current workforce capacity and determining how best to pipeline for future growth in registrant numbers.
UrGEnT
The Underrepresented Groups’ Experiences in Osteopathic Training (UrGEnT) project is a mixed methods study of equality, diversity, inclusivity and sense of belonging.
OsMoSys
The planned Osteopathic Models Synthesis (OsMoSys) project will be a ground-breaking international collaboration focused on exploring and enhancing osteopathic education.
OsteoTAQ
This project aims to understand osteopathic practice worldwide, providing critical insights into the approaches and decisions of osteopaths.
PROcare
PROCare (Priorities in Research for Osteopathic Care) is an international survey project aiming to identify and prioritise research needs for osteopathic care.
Ready for oART
This project is a mixed-methods scoping study, investigating the educational needs of therapeutic radiographers in the UK region.
Research Centres
HSU Centre for Workforce Systems & Innovation (CWSI):
The Centre for Workforce & Systems Innovation (CWSI) is dedicated to driving positive change in healthcare systems by addressing workforce challenges through innovative approaches, evidence-based policies, and effective implementation strategies.
Latest Research News
Stay up to date with our discoveries, events and impact stories from across the HSU research community.
An innovation developed through HSU’s Centre for Osteopathic Research and Leadership (CORaL) has been selected by the World Health Organization as one of just 21 projects worldwide to feature at the WHO Global Summit.
In October, HSU was pleased to celebrate the publication of the Priorities for Osteopathic Care (PROCare) study in BMJ Open.
Earlier this week, we were pleased to welcome 13 new PhD students to Health Sciences University during our induction event.
We're proud to share exciting research from Professor Steven Vogel and Emeritus Professor Alan Breen at HSU, part of a unique longitudinal study examining how UK chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists manage low back pain.
The Chiropractic Research Council (CRC) has gifted its funds to the new National Centre for Chiropractic Research (NCCR) based at Health Sciences University (HSU) and in partnership with London South Bank University, McTimoney College, Teesside University, and the University of South Wales.
