Health in Fife and Tayside

The Universities of St Andrews and Dundee will host an event tonight (Thursday 26 April 2007) aimed at bringing together research-active health professionals from Tayside and Fife.

It is hoped that the meeting – an informal networking and fact- finding event – will serve to form new working relationships and partnerships between individuals with a special interest in the social, economic and cultural aspects of health.

It will be hosted by the Universities’ joint institute, SDHI (Social Dimensions of Health Institute) and held at the Fairmont St Andrew’s Bay Hotel in St Andrews. The SDHI brings together more than 80 researchers from both Universities to address the social, economic and cultural factors underpinning public health. Building on the long history of health-related research collaborations between the two Universities, the Institute was established in 2003.

Today’s event is the second of its kind following the launch of the collaborative research centre. Following the success of the initial event, resulting collaborations lead to research funding being awarded to the two universities. One of these, The Scottish Clinical Interactions Project – a project which is looking at digitally recording GP consultations – was awarded £100,000 by the Scottish Funding Council. The Principal Investigator, Dr Brian Williams (University of Dundee), met another key researcher on the project, Dr Gerry Humphris (University of St Andrews) at the last SDHI Research Showcase.

Designed to influence future national and international health policy and practice, the SDHI involves a large number of social scientists, medical researchers and practitioners making it a genuinely interdisciplinary research environment for tackling health issues of widespread public concern in Scotland and beyond.

More than 90 health professionals are expected to gather at tonight’s event, and will include representatives from both Universities as well as individuals from the NHS in Fife and Tayside and Dundee and Fife Councils. Displays are expected from the Alliance for Self Care Research, the Centre for Public Nutrition Research and the Dementia Research Group amongst others.

Research groups will display elements of their research and it is hoped that by raising awareness of health-related research expertise, the event will be a starting point for stimulating new research collaborations.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS EVENING’S EVENT ANY TIME BETWEEN 5- 7PM. CONTACT KAREN MUNRO ON 07890 935299.

Issued by Press Office, University of St Andrews

Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st- andrews.ac.uk

Ref: SDHI showcase 260407

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