Research conducted by our Faculty Members and students focus on issues of public health importance. These encompasses a broad range of scientific inquiries aimed at improving the health and well-being of populations. This type of research is critical because it helps to understand, prevent, and manage health problems that affect large groups of people.

Key aspects of research with public health importance include:

Epidemiological Studies: Research that investigates the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specific populations, and the application of this study to control health problems. It includes the study of epidemics and other health-related events.
Disease Prevention and Control: This involves research into the development and evaluation of interventions to prevent or control diseases, including vaccines, health education programs, and public policy initiatives.
Environmental Health: Research in this area focuses on the impact of environmental factors (like air and water quality) on health. It aims to understand and mitigate the health risks associated with environmental hazards.
Occupational Health: Research in this area focuses on the assessing the impact work and workplace hazards on the health and wellbeing of the workers.
Health Services Research: This examines how people access health care services, the costs of those services, and the outcomes. It often includes the study of health care policies, systems, and reforms.
Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: This area explores how behavior and social structures impact health. It can include studies on health behaviors, social determinants of health, and mental health.
Global Health Research: This addresses health issues that transcend national boundaries and governments and calls for actions on the global forces that determine the health of people.
Health Promotion and Education: Research in this field aims to understand and facilitate the processes through which individuals, communities, and societies increase control over and improve their health.
Nutritional Sciences: This encompasses studies on the relationship between diet, health, and disease, including the impact of nutritional deficiencies and dietary interventions on health outcomes.
Biostatistics and Health Informatics: These are the tools and techniques for analyzing health data, which are essential for making informed public health decisions.

Research in public health is typically multidisciplinary, involving collaboration between various scientific disciplines and the integration of multiple methodologies to address complex health issues. The ultimate goal is to provide evidence-based knowledge that can be used to improve the health of populations, reduce health disparities, and enhance the quality of life.

The Department houses two Universiti Malaya Research Centres, the Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice (CEBP) and the Centre for Population Health (CePH) which is under the Health and Wellbeing Research Cluster of the Universiti Malaya. The centres provide support for our faculty members and postgraduate students.

Article written by Victor Hoe