Health, education and wellbeing
We have had a major impact on improving policy on health, education and wellbeing for a fairer, safer and more caring society.
Our researchers have been awarded grants from the National Institute for Health Research to explore improvements in patient safety and to combat childhood obesity.
We are home to DECIPHer, the Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement, one of five UKCRC Centres of Public Health Research Excellence coordinated by the Medical Research Council.
Our health expertise has been recognised externally: Professor Mark Drakeford is currently Minister for Health in the Welsh Government, and Professor Andrew Pithouse is a policy adviser to the Welsh Assembly.
Research informs improvements in the lives of both the young and the elderly.
The newly established Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) consolidates research strength in children' s social care, bringing together over £1.35 million of research grants to support social care providers, practitioners, policy makers and service users groups. Funders include the ESRC, Nuffield, Welsh Government, Big Lottery, NSPCC, and Action for Children.
As the world adapts to accommodate an ageing population, researchers at Cardiff University Ageing Science and Older People Network are examining both the biology of ageing and its social, cultural and ethical implications, and how older people are both engaged and excluded by society.
The law relating to social care for disabled and elderly adults is under review by both Westminster and the National Assembly for Wales for the first time in 60 years, following a sustained period of research, publication and Parliamentary action by the Law School's Luke Clements. A separate ESRC funded study has led to better compensation damages awarded to injured claimants who were previously undercompensated for injuries.
We make practical improvements to education practice.
The Welsh Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) led an evaluation of the Welsh Government's Foundation Phase of education for three to seven year olds, and is now leading flexibility pilots to ensure that the Phase is successful in improving early years education.
WISERD is also leading a £1m project, supported by HEFCW, to strengthen educational research in Wales. A combination of cohort studies and a programme of data integration research will create the evidence base for future educational policy in Wales.