School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences

Academic psychiatry

We bring together clinical and non-clinical researchers to explore mental health problems. We conduct impactful work on research, education, policy and practice. We look to:

• enhance understanding of causes of mental health conditions
• increase their recognition
• evaluate potential treatments
• promote better evidence-based treatments and care pathways

Our research areas include:

• the mechanisms that cause anxiety disorders
• improving overall clinical outcomes in mood and anxiety disorders
• impulsive, compulsive, and behaviourally addictive disorders
• developing the evidence base for specialist management of patients with alcohol dependence 

We investigate the role of neurobiological and psychological factors in causing and maintaining illness. We aim to improve trial design by assessing the effectiveness and acceptability of treatment interventions in wider clinical practice. We also work to identify more accurately patient groups at particular risk of poor outcomes.

Allergy, immunity and respiratory

Our research interest across the section include:

• airways and lung diseases such as asthma (paediatric and adult)
• COPD
• alveolar health including the development of lung fibrosis
• primary ciliary dyskinesia
• infectious diseases such as influenza, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus
• toxicology of air pollutants, and their role in respiratory disease

Our research into allergy centres on allergies affecting the skin and airways, particularly:

• atopic dermatitis
• allergic rhinitis
• allergic asthma

Our dermatology research includes:

• skin cancer
• inflammatory skin diseases
• the effects of ultraviolet light on the skin

We are also interested in oxidative stress and redox balance, particularly in relation to perioperative and critical care.

Our staff collaborate with and have leadership roles in cross-University multidisciplinary institutes, including:

• Institute for Medical Innovation
• Institute for Life Sciences
• Sustainability and Resilience Institute
• Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute

In terms of education:
•    we develop and deliver the MSc Allergy course, one of the most prominent education offerings in the Faculty and a world-renowned opportunity for senior clinicians and other health professionals to develop expertise in allergy
•    we are a key component of the MRC iPhD Doctoral Training Programme
•    our staff deliver major components of pharmacology teaching on our BM courses

Child health

Our research spans across the life-course. We have a community of nationally and internationally leading researchers in each section who conduct research into child health.

We work in close collaboration with clinical researchers at Southampton Children’s Hospital, colleagues in other Schools in the Faculty and across the University. This collaboration allows us to address important research questions in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary way and ensures translation into clinical practice.

Clinical neurosciences

We investigate areas such as:

• the role of inflammation in neurological diseases
• medulloblastoma
• psychoneuroimmunology and neuropsychopharmacology
• hearing loss
• relationships between brain development and long-term neurodevelopmental function in different groups of children born "at-risk"
• influence of external factors including maternal diet on brain development and function

We develop and validate clinical and research tools. We want to increase understanding of disease pathways and vulnerability. We aim to improve existing clinical management and develop new treatments.

Infectious diseases

Our aims focus on:

• infection
• immunology
• inflammation

We want to understand how pathogens causes infectious diseases and use this information to design new vaccines, new antimicrobials and diagnostic assays. A particular strength is our global outreach, with many researchers sharing extensive international collaborations.  

Innate immunity

Our expertise includes:

• multiomics
• advanced cell culture models
• in vivo models
• translational studies

We investigate immune processes including infection and inflammation, alongside wound healing, cancer, metabolic and lung disease.