Universities join forces on health issues

EDINBURGH University is combining its expertise with four other Scottish institutions to investigate health issues including alcohol abuse, smoking and obesity.

The universities - Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews and Glasgow - have formed the Scottish School of Public Health Research and are supported by a 445,000 investment from the Scottish Funding Council.

Their research will focus on gaining a better understanding of why people take up smoking and drinking, drinking cultures and the acceptability of heavy drinking, and effective ways to intervene and raise awareness of the chronic health problems caused by smoking, drinking, and eating to excess.

The universities will work with healthcare providers and public health officers and organisations who will provide input at the early stages to define the research.

The results of the research will be used by healthcare providers to inform better patient care and practice, plan public health campaigns to help Scotland's population live longer and healthier lives, and reduce healthcare costs.