About the Department
The Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health was established in January 2017 by the merging of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's Health Behaviour Research Centre and Psychobiology group, both formerly part of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.Ìý
The department sits within theÌýÌýand theÌý.ÌýÌýThe Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care holds an Athena SWAN Charter Silver Award in recognition of its commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. Ìý
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The mission of the Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health is to apply the whole range of behavioural sciences (including health, social and cognitive psychology, aetiological and health care epidemiology, psychobiology, exercise science, behaviour genetics, dietetics, communication sciences, and health services research) to a better understanding of disease prevention, early detection, and prognosis.ÌýÌý
Vision
Our vision is to carry out cutting-edge research and provide high quality teaching into the impact of behavioural and emotional processes on disease aetiology and health outcomes, and to implement this knowledge to reduce disease risk and improve the health of the population.
History of the Department
The Health Behaviour Research Centre emerged from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Health Behaviour Unit, established by Professor Michael Russell at the Institute of Psychiatry. Professor Jane Wardle joined the Unit in 1991 and became Director in 1996. She moved the Unit to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and expanded its remit beyond its traditional focus on smoking to include other health behaviours relevant to illness, including diet and physical activity, and cancer screening and prevention. It was renamed the Health Behaviour Research Centre, which was led by Jane Wardle until her death in October 2015, and Professor Robert West from October 2015 to December 2016.ÌýÌý
The Psychobiology group was formed by Professor Andrew Steptoe when he moved to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê in 2000. Funded primarily by the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council, the aim of the group was to understand the biological processes through which psychosocial risk factors influence physical disease risk.
Structure of the Department
Management | Ìý |
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Head of Department | |
Deputy Head of Department | Ìý |
Research Group Leads | Ìý |
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Behavioural Science and Early Diagnosis of Cancer | |
Energy Balance & Cancer | |
Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes | |
Obesity | |
Psychobiology | |
Social Biobehavioural ResearchÌý | |
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Tobacco & Alcohol ResearchÌý |
Administrative Staff | Ìý |
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Departmental Manager | Maria Kristensen |
Teaching | Ìý |
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MSc Health Psychology Programme Administrator | Sandra Soria Medina |
Postgraduate Taught Tutor | |
Postgraduate Research Tutors | & |
Job Vacancies
All vacancies within BSH can be found on theÌýIEHC jobs page.