The UK faces a wide range of complex health and care challenges. These include multi-morbidities, persistent and growing inequalities, and more recently responding to and tackling health protection threats. Public health is well placed to help address these challenges and is increasingly being recognised by public policy (the Prevention Green Paper, Improving the Health of the Public by 2040).
In order to address 21st century public health and care challenges, it is crucial to develop future research leaders from a wide range of professional backgrounds, disciplines and skill sets, with an understanding of the full range of determinants of health, as well as building research capacity with researchers who are able to span the academic and practice worlds, with the ability and skills to co-produce research that is more meaningful and relevant in order to better inform public health practice and policy.
The Public Health Incubator aims to stimulate and inspire those working in the public health academic/practice field to pursue academic research careers; and to enhance the opportunities for those pursuing academic careers through better sign-posting to funding opportunities and career support activities.
The Public Health Incubator has been created to:
- Raise awareness and enhance the opportunities for those pursuing, or wanting to pursue, academic careers in public health including better provision of, and sign-posting to, training and career development initiatives and showcasing public health research and career
- Engage and actively reach out to a range of professional groups/disciplines and 'wider public health' professions including architects, planners, environmental scientists, economists, helping them to establish academic careers and developing the next generation of public health researchers
- Engage with local authorities and relevant sectors, in order to help support researchers wishing to navigate and span the academic and practice worlds, with the ability and skills to co-produce research that is more meaningful and relevant in order to better inform public health practice and policy.
- Raise the profile of public health academic research careers and work with other funders of public health research and policy and practice organisations.
- Identify and remediate barriers to those working in public health who wish to pursue a career in research.
The Incubator community welcomes all those who wish to pursue academic careers in public health, as well as those who support and mentor aspirant researchers in the area.
For more information about the Public Health Incubator please contact:carolbraynepa@medschl.cam.ac.uk.