UCL Institute of Child Health
| UCL Institute of Child Health | |
|---|---|
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| Established | 1946 |
| Director | Professor Andrew Copp |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| Website | UCL Institute of Child Health |
The UCL Institute of Child Health is an academic department of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of University College London (UCL) located in London, United Kingdom. It is a leading biomedical research centre and has a history in children's medical research which dates back to its founding.
ICH represents the largest concentration of child health professionals in Europe.[1][2] Current research focusses on broad biomedical topics, ranging from immunology to epidemiology.
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History [edit]
The Institute of Child Health was founded in 1946 by professor Alan Moncrieff with the funding of a chair in child health by the Nuffield Foundation.[3][4] It acted as a postgraduate school of preventive and therapeutic paediatrics of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the University of London.[5] Moncrieff served as director until 1964.[4][5]
Research Overview [edit]
ICH sets out its mission to improve the health and wellbeing of children through research and public engagement.[2] To further this agenda, ICH joined the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at University College London in 2006. The research is internationally recognised, with the ICH gaining Grade 5*A in the Higher Education Funding Council for England ratings.[6] The institute also won the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education in 2000.
Through the enabling of various funding bodies such as the Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council, the ICH annually trains doctoral students, medical students and other postgraduates.[7]
Research themes [edit]
There are eight research themes in the Institute:[2]
- Cancer
- Cardiorespiratory Sciences
- General and Adolescent Paediatrics
- Genes, Development and Disease
- Infection and Immunity
- Neurosciences and Mental Health
- Nutritional and Surgical Sciences
- Population Health Sciences
Future Aims [edit]
With the publication of the Times Higher Education global university rankings in 2009 placing UCL 4th in the world, UCL Partners research centres have formed a research alliance with Yale University in the United States. The two universities aim to share their biomedical expertise in tackling global health challenges such as cardiovascular disease. The joint initiative will consist of a combined team of Yale and UCL scientists from ICH, working to identify genes involved in congenital heart disease. The partnership deal was overseen by former British prime minister Tony Blair.[8]
Notable faculty [edit]
- Professor Carol Dezateux CBE, who was recognised in Queen Elizabeth II New Year honours for her contribution to paediatric epidemiology[9]
- Professor Terence Stephenson, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
- Professor Sir Cyril Chantler, received a knighthood for his services to medicine in 1996, and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Great Ormond Street Hospital and ICH.
- Professor John Martin, Vice President of the European Society of Cardiology and chairman of the Expert Cardiovascular Committee in DG XII at the European Commission. Awarded the Gold Medal of the European Society of Cardiology.
- Professor Catherine Peckham, CBE
- Professor Agostino Pierro, Nuffield Professor of Paediatric Surgery, won the 2008 tribute from the medical charity SPARKS.
References [edit]
- ^ University College London: Institute of Child Health. Opusdc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ a b c UCL Home
- ^ Clark, Ronald Sydney (1972). A biography of the Nuffield Foundation. London: Longmans. pp. 37–38. ISBN 0-582-36487-6.
- ^ a b Tanner, James G. (2010). A History of the Study of Human Growth. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-13402-1.
- ^ a b "Sir Alan Moncrieff C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.O.G". Br Med J 3 (5769): 311–2. 1971. doi:10.1136/bmj.3.5769.311. PMC 1799078. PMID 4934048.
- ^ rae 2008 : submissions : ra5a. Rae.ac.uk. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ What's On In Camden - Venue: UCL Institute of Child Health. Whatson.camden.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ Yale Forges Transatlantic Research Alliance with University College London. Opa.yale.edu (2009-10-07). Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ New Year honours list: DBEs and CBEs | UK news | guardian.co.uk. Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- Moncrieff, A. (1962) The Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street, London. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 4: 92–93. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.1962.tb03109.x
