Our research
The Department of Paediatrics a focal point for research for children and young people across Cambridge. Our research themes capture investigators both in the Department of Paediatrics and other departments and research institutes throughout Cambridge. Cambridge clinical investigators (Austin, Beardsall, Dunger, Pathan) recruit ~1000 children into NIHR portfolio clinical research studies per annum. The main site for clinical research on the Addenbrooke’s campus is the clinical research facility, which can accommodate primarily ambulatory subjects, and in-patient units themselves. Our laboratory-based research (Rowitch, Murray, Hovorka, Behjati and Zilbauer) takes place in various departments and institutes in and around Cambridge including the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Institute for Metabolic Science and Wellcome Sanger Institute. The Department of Paediatrics shares joint arrangements for salary support with NHS consultants and offers honorary or associate titles.
Currently research is focused in four main areas:
Neuroscience and Developmental Origins of Psychiatric Disease
Brain Injury, Neuroprotection and Psychiatry
Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology
Primary prevention and improved treatments for children
Genetics and pathophysiology of severe childhood obesity
Reproductive development and behavior
Genomics, Epidemiology and Population Science
Early Growth and puberty timing as predictors of disease risk
The POPS and Next Generation Children’s Projects: Early biomarker detection and long-term outcomes
Inflammatory bowel disease, allergy and gut barrier dysfunction
Paediatric Oncology
Genetics and development of paediatric cancers
The department also has close links with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s) Women’s and Children’s Division with collaborative research opportunities in a number of paediatric sub-speciality areas including intensive care, neurology, oncology, neonatology, gastroenterology and paediatric respiratory / allergy medicine. For more information go to Research Themes or Paediatric Research at Addenbrooke’s.
Research governance sets out principles, regulations and standards of good practice to deliver high quality research. All research undertaken at the Department of Paediatrics is expected to adhere to the Research Council UK guidelines . All health related research involving human participants has additional governance requirements which are set out in the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care (Adobe PDF). Researchers should also follow the principles laid out in the UUK concordat to support research integrity.