Health across the life course

Our Health across the life course research theme tackles the stalling progress in healthy life expectancy in high income countries. We focus on the deep-rooted inequalities in health and lifespan between the least and most advantaged populations.

Early-life trajectories of poor physical and mental health shape adult health and wellbeing, and influence societal productivity. Moreover, the role of biological sex in determining health outcomes, particularly in non-communicable diseases, is under-studied and poorly understood. Identifying the drivers of ill health and tackling the life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest in our society will not only improve quality of life, but also have significant economic benefits relating to wealth and productivity.

Key aims

Identify the early life factors which reduce healthy lifespan

A healthy start in life is essential to a healthy lifespan, but we still still don't understand precisely which factors in early life are major determinants of lifelong well-being. Our research focuses on both early life determinants, and the role of biological sex in determining adult disease.
Address complex diseases of later life

As we age, we are more likely to develop major diseases which have an impact on healthspan. Having more than one long term health condition not only shortens healthspan but places a significant burden on individuals, care-providers, as well as the NHS. We're building on our expertise to effectively treat and/or prevent disorders that are significant causes of ill-health in middle and later life.
Reduce health inequalities

We're unpicking the pathways that lead to inequalities across the life course. By understanding the major psychological, behavioural, environmental, social, situational and biological challenges faced by societies and individuals, we aim to reveal how they contribute to poor ageing and premature mortality.

Centres of Excellence

Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL)

Tackling global health challenges with civic data and technology while driving positive change for the people of the Liverpool City Region.

Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children (EATC4C)

Delivering translational biomedical research, from early lab-based studies to clinical trials, in childhood arthritis and related musculoskeletal disorders.

Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Centre (LINC)

Bringing together brain and mind research to tackle some of the world's most pressing neurological, psychiatric, and brain health challenges.

NIHR Applied Health Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC)

Improving health and care outcomes for everyone by bringing together academics, health and social care providers, the public, universities and local authorities.

Case studies

Mother and Father sitting on a couch with their baby

The Children Growing Up in Liverpool (C-GULL) study

The C-GULL study is a new longitudinal birth cohort focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children and their families within the Liverpool City Region and other similar regions within the UK. The study aims to reduce health inequalities by collecting data from 10,000 families to provide valuable insights into how we can improve health outcomes for children.

Unhealthy food advertising to children

University of Liverpool research showed that a 9pm watershed on unhealthy food advertising would reduce childhood obesity, improve health outcomes and deliver substantial health cost benefits.

A photo of a selection of fruits and vegetables

Food policies and disease prevention

Our researchers have developed computational models to quantify and compare different prevention policies, successfully advancing food policies such as the UK dietary salt reduction targets and the sugary drinks tax.