Clinical and Biomedical Sciences - Our research
The department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences' research delivers direct benefit to patients, the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry. Its aim is to understand the underlying molecular and genetic basis of disease and to apply this knowledge in innovative ways that lead to improved treatment and a better quality of life for patients.
The Medical School's researchers and clinicians work closely together to ensure that our research is directly targeted to clinical need. Find out more about our precision medicine approach.
Explore our research groups
We work across the following research groups:
We work broadly across the following research groups:
Clinical Photobiology
Current research activities of the group involve studying the effects of ultraviolet radiation on human cellular DNA (in cultured cell lines and harvested leucocytes).
Cognitive Neurology Research Group
We research psychological aspects of brain function and neurological disorder using methods drawn from clinical neurology, neuropsychology and brain imaging.
Complex Disease Epigenetics Group
The Complex Diesease Epigenetics Group takes an integrated genomics approach to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in brain health and disease across the life-course.
Endothelial Cell Biology
The research of the Endothelial Cell Biology group focuses on the molecular basis of vascular/endothelial changes in pathological conditions such as diabetes and cancer metastasis.
Epidemiology and Public Health
The Epidemiology and Public Health Group conducts research on genetic and conventional risk factors for chronic conditions of ageing.
Exeter Applied Neurophysiology Group
The Applied Neurophysiology group's research focuses primarily on electrical signalling in the brain and how this is disrupted in disease.
Exeter Centre of Excellence for Diabetes Research (EXCEED)
EXCEED's unique expertise, pioneering research, and cutting-edge innovation in technology, is challenging the way scientists approach diabetes research and transforming patient care throughout the world.
Exeter IBD and Pharmacogenetics Research Group
The aims of the group are to raise the profile of inflammatory bowel disease, to increase research in this field and to help to improve the health outcomes and management of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Inflammation
This Inflammation research group studies the role of oxidative-nitrative stress in patients with inflammatory diseases.
Islet Biology
We aim to understand why people develop diabetes and to use this knowledge to either prevent or slow the progression of the illness in susceptible individuals.
Mireille Gillings Neuroimaging Centre
The Mireille Gillings Neuroimaging Centre provides state of the art PET-CT and MRI scanning facilities for research, clinical diagnosis and therapy. Its aim is to accelerate clinical research and clinical trials, across a range of conditions, to understand disease mechanisms and identify new treatments for patients
Molecular Genetics - Monogenic
The Monogenic research group works on defining the genetic cause of monogenic disorders, and uses information on the genetic defect to define future improvements in therapy and medical care and to give new scientific insights.
Molecular Genetics - Polygenic
Our Polygenic Molecular Genetics group has become internationally recognised as a leader in the genetics of common human traits and conditions. Our focus is on type 2 diabetes and related traits.
MRC Centre for Medical Mycology
The Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) is an internationally recognised world-leading centre of excellence in the field of fungal infections.
Neurodegeneration Imaging research group
The Neurodegeneration Imaging Group (NIG) is a world-leading academic group that performs clinical research on the causes and mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, using imaging tools such as Positron Emission tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
NIHR Global Health Research group
Improving outcomes in sub-Saharan African diabetes through better diagnosis and treatment
Obesity and adipose tissue biology
The Obesity Research Group is closely interlinked with the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at Wonford. A particular focus and expertise of the group is the molecular biology of adipose tissue.
PROTECT
The PROTECT Study will gather data and support innovative research to improve our understanding of the ageing brain and why people develop dementia.
RNA-mediated mechanisms of disease
The RNA-mediated mechanisms of disease group are working on how these processes may be moderated by genetic variation associated with common disease, environmental toxins or the human ageing process
Vascular Medicine
The University of Exeter Medical School is internationally renowned for its Vascular research. Particular strengths include clinical microvascular and macrovascular research in the diabetes and related disorders field, effects of dietary interventions, and the roles of small vessel disease in stroke.
Windows of Hope
Windows of Hope (WoH) is a non-profit research study which aims to define the genetic causes of inherited conditions within the Anabaptist communities to benefit patients, families and the wider community.