About us
The Centre for Health, Law, and Society was launched in 2017 as a transdisciplinary centre of research and teaching excellence. Our work combines rigorous inquiry across diverse scholarly approaches, with a commitment to engaged, real-world application. We examine differing roles for law and governance as mechanisms to address health and well-being. Fundamental questions and themes in law, social justice, and applied ethics are at the heart of our research and impact work, which informs our teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Our research and teaching span broad-ranging topics, including reproductive justice, mental health and well-being, health and climate change, organ donation, the development and governance of new technologies, and public and global health. Members of CHLS illuminate legal understanding through methods and approaches from areas including economics, history, regulation, feminist theory, law and race, philosophy, and politics
The Centre is based in the Law School and includes leading academics who combine internationally-recognised research profiles with a wealth of experience working with organisations that are responsible for policy-development, professional regulation and social advocacy. Many members have senior editorial and board responsibilities for leading journals in health law and ethics.
Part of the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences, the Centre offers excellent support for research and research-related activities, and actively cultivates an inter-school, inter-disciplinary ethos. The Centre enjoys close links with the Law School's Human Rights Implementation Centre, where members of the team are involved in providing guidance/advice to a range of bodies responsible for monitoring institutions, including those where individuals are deprived of their liberty in the context of mental health.
Health is a strategic priority for the University of Bristol, with the Vice Chancellor for Health having a specific remit to deliver greater impact in health research, innovation and outcomes in medical and health education.