The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:
1. The Department of Public Health and Primary Care's overall research objective is to provide evidence to inform the prevention of premature death and disability and the enablement of function and wellbeing, particularly in relation to common chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and metabolic disease, common cancers, neuro-psychiatric diseases, and diseases of ageing. The epidemiological work of the Department focuses on identifying the genetic and environmental determinants of disease in long-term studies. It includes more than a dozen senior academic members several of whom are personally supported by prestigious awards from the MRC, Wellcome Trust, CRUK, and other bodies. The Department is currently planning a bid for a UK Clinical Research Collaboration Public Health Centre of Excellence which will be enhanced by the applied work of the General Practice and Primary Care Research Unit at the population/primary care interface. The Department has teaching responsibilities in Public Health, Epidemiology, Sociology as applied to Medicine, and Primary Care and General Practice.
2. The General Practice and Primary Care Research Unit aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of preventive and clinical care in the community by research and its translation into practice. Its research at the interface between the population and the individual draws on the disciplines of clinical, epidemiological, and social science; the focus is on understanding health-related behaviour and its determinants and translating knowledge about behavioural mechanisms into preventive strategies for chronic diseases, particularly in relation to risk communication and behaviour change. The Unit was set up within the Department of Public Health and Primary Care in 1997 under the leadership of the Professor of General Practice, Ann-Louise Kinmonth. Over its first ten years it has evolved from a small teaching-based group to a significant academic contributor, becoming one of the UK's strongest research groupings in behavioural science and primary care, and one of only four departments of general practice in the UK awarded a 5* in the last Research Assessment Exercise. As such it has become a founder member of the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research. The Unit is now at a crucial point in its development and seeks to secure its position of international research excellence for the future by strengthening its clinical research leadership.
3. The Department of Public Health and Primary Care has therefore put forward the case for the establishment, for one tenure, of a Professorship of Primary Care Research. This has been endorsed by the Council of the School of Clinical Medicine. The person appointed will be expected to offer clinical research leadership in translational research in the Clinical School, and as part of the new National School for Primary Care Research (referred to in paragraph 2), and to participate in the teaching and research in Primary Care that is undertaken in the Department.
4. The School have confirmed that the full costs, at Honorary Consultant level, would be met by the redeployment of NHS recurrent funds, following the suppression of the University Lectureship vacated by Dr S. J. Griffin in April 2005. The Council of the School of Clinical Medicine have agreed to meet any shortfall in funding. The General Board have accepted the proposal for the establishment of the Professorship on this basis. They have accordingly agreed that, if the recommendations of this Report are approved, they will suppress the aforementioned University Lectureship.
5. The Board are satisfied that an appointment at this level will be likely to attract a strong field of applicants. They are assured that suitable accommodation is available in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care for the Professor and the Department have undertaken to provide the necessary support and facilities. The Board have agreed that election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors and that candidature should be open to all persons whose work falls within the title of the Professorship.
6. The General Board recommend:
That a Professorship of Primary Care Research be established, for one tenure, in the University from 1 July 2007, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Public Health and Primary Care.
| 7 February 2007 | ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor | WILLIAM BROWN | D. W. B. MACDONALD |
| NICK BAMPOS | PHILIP FORD | MELVEENA MCKENDRICK | |
| G. BARKER | RICHARD FRIEND | KAMIAR MOHADDES | |
| JOHN BELL | JACOB HEAD | PATRICK SISSONS | |
| TOM BLUNDELL | RICHARD HUNTER | I. H. WHITE |