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Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Professorship of Behavioural Science

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. Understanding the processes underlying human behaviour, and how behavioural change may be implemented, is central to the prevention of disease and also of symptom progression amongst those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or coronary heart disease. Health-related behaviour change is a core theme in social and health psychology, both of which are new and rapidly developing branches of psychology, in which senior offices have been established in a number of universities and medical schools in Great Britain and North America. The Department of Public Health and Primary Care (previously the Department of Community Medicine, see Reporter, p. 361), has an established research programme on the prevention of chronic disease, including diabetes. Within the Department, the General Practice and Primary Care Research Unit has developed a strategic programme of translational research in primary care, which integrates closely with current strengths in the Institute of Public Health and the School of Clinical Medicine, in aetiological epidemiology, biostatistics, and clinical laboratory science. Accordingly, the Department is committed to developing the ability to mount strong intervention studies; both the provision of the requisite senior leadership and the strengthening of existing skills in behavioural science are considered fundamental to this development.

2. In 1996, a Professorship of General Practice was established in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care to provide leadership in research into quality and effectiveness of general practice based primary care, and the translation of the results of that research into practice. However, a senior appointment in behavioural science was identified as fundamental to the research policy of the General Practice and Primary Care Research Unit. The establishment of a Professorship in this field would strengthen the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, whose staff participate in a wide range of teaching activities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and offer tuition and supervision to students registered for various postgraduate degrees. This development would also facilitate greater levels of collaboration with other University institutions, including the Department of Social Anthropology, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and the School of the Biological Sciences, which have been initiated since the establishment of the Professorship of General Practice.

3. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine have accordingly represented to the General Board that it would now be opportune for a Professorship of Behavioural Science to be established in the Faculty of Clinical Medicine, for a single tenure, in order to complement the work of the Professor of General Practice and the work of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care more generally. The holder of the new Professorship would provide leadership in research and teaching and would be expected to interact closely in both these areas with cognate institutions throughout the University. This proposal has received support from the Faculty Boards of Archaeology and Anthropology, Social and Political Sciences, and Biology.

4. The General Board have accepted the case made by the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine. Funds to support the establishment of the Professorship have been made available by the Eastern Region NHS Research and Development Budget and the NHS Regional Academic Posts Budget. Should this NHS financial support cease prematurely, the cost of the office will be met by the Faculty Board ahead of any new developments or the filling of vacant offices, from within their existing resources. The General Board are assured that suitable accommodation for the Professor is available and that the necessary support and facilities can be provided. The Board are satisfied that an appointment at this level will be likely to attract a strong field of well-qualified candidates.

5. The General Board accordingly propose that a Professorship of Behavioural Science be established in the University from 1 October 2000, for one tenure, and assigned to the Department of Public Health and Primary Care. They have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine that the election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors, and that candidature should be open without limitation or preference to all persons whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office.

6. The General Board recommend:

That a Professorship of Behavioural Science be established for one tenure from 1 October 2000, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Public Health and Primary Care.

9 February 2000

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Cambridge University Reporter, 1 March 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.