Research

The School of Population Health comprises eight Centres and Units combining to provide a unique focus on population health, in areas such as urban health, indigenous health, mental health, and the links between genomics and public health. We utilise a rigorous scientific approach in both the quantitative and qualitative traditions. The School has considerable strengths in traditional health sciences and in social sciences, ethics, medical humanities, and in the newer molecular and genetic epidemiologic disciplines.

Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic (MEGA) Epidemiology

(formed in May 2005 by combining the former Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit)

The Centre’s aim is to develop, promote and consolidate epidemiologic research and teaching. Housing the Australian Twin Registry (www.twins.org.au), the Centre also has strong links to the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory based in the Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne.

The name, Centre for MEGA Epidemiology, reflects the rapid progression of science in the field of epidemiology especially in relation to disentangling Molecular and Genetic mechanisms from Environmental co-determinants of disease. The term Analytic is code for the biostatistical and other mathematical methods that underpin these developments. Environmental epidemiology includes communicable disease, social and clinical epidemiology.

The philosophy of the Centre is that 21st century epidemiology is multi-disciplinary, utilizes molecular and genetic technology as well as traditional approaches such as questionnaires, is built on sound design principles, and can involve very large sample sizes.

Key Research Programs

• Cancer (including breast, colorectal, melanoma, paediatric, prostate)
• Asthma, Allergy and Other Respiratory Disease
• Hereditary Haemochromatosis (HealthIron project)
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Australian Twin Registry (ATR)
• Statistical methods

For more information go to www.epi.unimelb.edu.au
or email epi-info@unimelb.edu.au

Key Centre for Women's Health in Society

The Key Centre for Women's Health in Society, since its foundation in 1988, has been at the forefront of thinking, researching, teaching and disseminating information about women's health. The Key Centre is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Women's Health  and aims to be the leading centre for research, education, knowledge transfer and advocacy in women's health, gender and society in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Key Centre's work recognises that women's health and wellbeing is integral to the health and wellbeing of their families and the whole community.

The Centre has a commitment to:

• Multi-method and multi-disciplinary research that contributes to the public health evidence-base
• Knowledge transfer
• Human rights for all

We have several research themes:

• Health services and technology
• Mental health & wellbeing
• Reproductive & sexual health
• Social & economic inequalities in health
• Additional research projects

Full details of all Key Centre research projects are available here: http://www.kcwh.unimelb.edu.au/research/

Centre for International Mental Health

The Centre for International Mental Health (CIMH) is dedicated to research, teaching and policy reform in the field of mental health, in Australia and the broader international community. The two main areas of work are in capacity development for mental health in low-income and post-conflict societies, and the development of mental health services for multicultural societies. A key CIMH program is the University of Melbourne- Harvard Medical School International Mental Health Leadership Program (iMHLP).

The teaching, research and policy development programs of CIMH are run in close collaboration with the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit (VTPU).

As part of the School of Population Health within the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, CIMH provides world-class teaching and research facilities fostering a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural understanding of mental health and wellbeing.

CIMH is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Mental Health and is working in close collaboration with WHO as part of the Mental Health Global Action Program (mhGAP).

Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics

The Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics (CHPPE) is a multidisciplinary group with expertise in health policy and program evaluation, health economics, epidemiology, clinical medicine, social sciences and research methodology. The CHPPE provides a major community service in evaluating health programs funded at both Commonwealth and State levels. The CHPPE has established itself as a national leader in evaluating public health programs of great diversity throughout Australia.

The CHPPE has three research streams: Primary Care and Health Promotion, Mental Health and Health Economics. The CHPPE offers teaching and training in health program evaluation and health economics, and provides opportunities for doctoral studies.

Centre for Health and Society

The Centre for Health and Society is a multidisciplinary research and teaching Centre that specializes in the application of knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to issues of health and health care. This is achieved through the education of health practitioners and policy makers, and the critical synthesis of existing knowledge on the social aspects of health and health care and the development of new knowledge through research. The Centre is a collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and incorporates the VicHealth Koori Health Research and Community Development Unit, the Johnston-Neede Medical History Unit and the Medical History Museum.

The CHS specialises in research and analytical methods derived from the social sciences and humanities, including qualitative research methods. In seeking to influence the development of health policy and practice, the CHS has developed knowledge links with the health system through its working collaborations with policy makers, practitioners and communities (including those confronting challenges of social disadvantage and related poor health).

McCaughey Centre: VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing

The McCaughey Centre: VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing is a policy research centre which builds knowledge about the social, economic and environmental determinants of mental health and wellbeing.

The Centre is supported by and works closely with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) which defines mental health as ‘the embodiment of social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Mental health provides individuals with the vitality necessary for active living, to achieve goals and to interact with one another in ways that are respectful and just’.

The McCaughey Centre undertakes policy research, teaching and research training and knowledge transfer with an initial focus on:

• Community wellbeing frameworks, policy directions and strategies
• Community wellbeing indicators, trends and outcomes
• Key determinants of mental health and community wellbeing
• Freedom from violence
• Freedom from discrimination
• Social inclusion and connectedness
• Economic participation and security
• Healthy and sustainable environments

The core values of the McCaughey Centre include a passionate commitment to

• Strengthening community wellbeing and reducing health inequalities;
• Creating a culture of rigorous, reflective and innovative intellectual inquiry;
• Maximising the policy and practice influence of our work;
• Working respectfully and collaboratively with our partners and colleagues; and
• Establishing and sustaining a healthy, supportive and rewarding workplace

Further details of the McCaughey Centre’s aims, staff and projects are available at www.mccaugheycentre.unimelb.edu.au

Sexual Health Unit

The Sexual Health Unit is co-located with the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC), Australia?s largest sexual clinic. Together with MSHC, the Sexual Health Unit takes a broad population health approach to the control of sexually transmitted infections and supports a high quality clinical service through innovative research, progressive teaching and training. The SHU conducts research in the treatment, prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. These include optimal screening strategies, clinical trials and epidemiologic studies related both to clinical practice and to public health.