Strategies for disease prevention and treatment
Government agencies are seeking solutions to serious lifestyle related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and mental illness. Our work on determinants underpins the second theme which involves the design, delivery and evaluation of physical activity and dietary interventions and strategies to prevent and treat disease.
Prevention research
For projects addressing prevention of disease we have developed partnerships with schools, primary health care and local authorities.
Research projects
1. Prevention of Type 2 diabetes in school children (2001 - 2006)
The US National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded a grant which is renewable annually.
Staff involved: Dr Russ Jago
2. Sharing Wisdom: The family-centred diabetes project (2002 - 2006)
The US National Institutes of Health awarded a grant for this project.
Staff involved: Professor Janice Thompson
3. Role of the mass media for promoting physical activity in cancer prevention (2005-2007)
The US National Institute of Cancer awarded a grant for this project.
Staff involved: Dr Melvyn Hillsdon
4. An appraisal of the evidence supporting new public health messages for the promotion of physical activity (2003-2005)
The Department of Health awarded a grant for this project.
Staff involved: Professor Ken Fox
Treatment research
Lifestyle related disease is striking millions of people and a large sector of our research is devoted to the application of activity and healthy eating to treat or improve life quality in people with existing disease. We have strong partnerships with primary care, psychiatry, oncology, diabetes and heart specialists to advance this area of research.
Research projects
1. Effect of exercise as a treatment for depression in primary care (Project TREAD, 2006-2011)
The NHS Health Technology Fund has awarded a grant for this project.
Staff involved: Professor Ken Fox and Dr Anne Haase.
2. A randomized controlled trial of the benefits of exercise early in the management of type 2 diabetes (Early ACTID, 2004 - 2009)
Diabetes UK have awarded a grant for this project.
Staff involved: Dr Ashley Cooper.
3. The effect of structured exercise training on quality of life, cardiac function and exercise capacity of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease (2003 - 2005)
The National Heart Research Fund have awarded a grant for this project.
Staff involved: Dr Ashley Cooper and Professor Ken Fox
4. Better ageing (2002-2005)
A three-year European Framework V Project was awarded a grant from the European Commission and is incollaboration with the universities in Milan, Burgundy, Brussels, King's London and Manchester Metropolitan University. The project is researching the effect of exercise training on the well-being and life quality of older adults.
Staff involved: Professor Ken Fox and Mark Davis.
5. Walking the way to health evaluation (2002-2005)
Bristol City Council awarded a grant for a three-year project.
Staff involved: Mark Davis.
6. Cancer Research UK PhD scholarship on exercise, well-being and life quality in cancer patients
A PhD studentship was awarded by Cancer Research UK.
Staff involved: Professor Ken Fox
7. Diet trials: A multicentre randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of commercial weight loss programmes (2002 - 2004)
The British Broadcasting Corporation funded this project.
Staff involved: Professor Ken Fox and Sue Baic.