Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Name	Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Type	Faculty
Parent	University of Manchester
Established	2016
Location	Manchester
Country	United Kingdom

Contents

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health is a constituent faculty of University of Manchester formed by the merger of medical and biological schools to integrate clinical and basic science research. It combines traditions from historic institutions including Victoria University of Manchester, Manchester Medical School, and University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to deliver interdisciplinary programs across life sciences and clinical practice. The faculty engages with regional partners such as Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, national bodies like Medical Research Council, and international collaborators including World Health Organization, shaping research, education, and health policy.

History

The faculty traces roots to the merger of Victoria University of Manchester and University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and inherits legacies from Manchester Medical School, School of Biological Sciences, and Manchester Royal Infirmary clinical training collaborations. Institutional milestones include integration initiatives following proposals from Higher Education Funding Council for England and strategic plans aligned with grants from Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and National Institute for Health and Care Research. Historic figures associated with precursor institutions include links to achievements by researchers connected to Alexander Fleming, Joseph Lister, and administrative reform influenced by policies from Department for Education and reports like those by Robbins Committee. Recent developments were shaped by national research assessments such as the Research Excellence Framework and partnerships established with NHS England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and philanthropic support from Wellcome Trust.

Governance is structured under the University of Manchester council and faculty executive, with oversight by provosts and deans appointed through procedures similar to those used by Russell Group institutions. Committees coordinate with clinical partners including Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, educational regulators like General Medical Council, and funding agencies such as Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research. Strategic collaborations are formalized with regional bodies like Greater Manchester Combined Authority, international consortia including European Molecular Biology Laboratory, and charitable partners such as British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK. Academic leadership liaises with professional bodies including Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians, and Royal College of General Practitioners.

The faculty comprises units derived from historical schools: divisions reflecting Manchester Medical School, School of Biological Sciences, and specialized centers linked to School of Health Sciences. Departments cover subject areas with ties to institutions like Institute of Cancer Research, Wellcome Sanger Institute, and Babraham Institute. Subunits collaborate with clinical schools attached to Manchester Royal Infirmary, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, and community services coordinated with NHS England. Teaching and research groups maintain connections to professional organizations such as Royal Society of Biology, British Pharmacological Society, and international partners including Harvard Medical School and Karolinska Institute for exchange programs.

Research strengths align with translational priorities supported by bodies like Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and collaborative centres such as Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre. Themes span links to disease-focused institutes including Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK and thematic networks akin to European Research Council consortia. Research outputs and large-scale studies have interfaced with datasets from organizations like UK Biobank and initiatives influenced by standards set by World Health Organization and methodologies promoted by Cochrane. Translational partnerships engage industry collaborators modeled on relationships seen with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer.

Undergraduate and postgraduate programs reflect clinical and scientific pathways accredited or benchmarked by General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and professional standards from Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons. Degree offerings include links to frameworks used by Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and joint training schemes with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and regional trusts. Postgraduate research degrees are supervised under regulations comparable to those of Research Excellence Framework assessments and funded through fellowships from Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, and doctoral programs allied with European Molecular Biology Laboratory exchanges. Continuing professional development collaborates with organizations such as Health Education England and specialist societies including British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Facilities include clinical teaching sites at Manchester Royal Infirmary, research laboratories housed within buildings comparable to Core Technology Facility models, and specialized units like imaging centres with technologies paralleling those at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Biobanks and core services coordinate with national infrastructures such as UK Biobank and standards set by Human Tissue Authority. Library and learning resources integrate collections like those of John Rylands Library and digital services compatible with platforms from JSTOR and PubMed Central. Partnerships enable access to high-performance computing and bioinformatics resources similar to provision from National Centre for Universities and Business collaborations and cloud infrastructures used by European Bioinformatics Institute.

Notable associated figures include clinicians and researchers with careers connected to institutions like Royal College of Physicians, Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, and hospitals such as Manchester Royal Infirmary and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Alumni have progressed to roles at organizations including NHS England, World Health Organization, United Nations, and academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, Karolinska Institute, and Imperial College London. Faculty members have held fellowships from Royal Society, Academy of Medical Sciences, and grants from European Research Council and Wellcome Trust, contributing to collaborations with industry partners such as GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca.