September 2008
Health is a success story for Wales
The healthcare sector in Wales is amongst the nation’s greatest success stories: a thriving cluster of businesses from globally renowned companies through to university spin outs; between them researching, testing, developing and manufacturing products that are helping to shape healthcare worldwide.
As ever university expertise is at the heart of the significant success in medicine, healthcare and related subjects. Across Wales higher education centres of excellence and expertise include:
One of the UK’s largest research universities was created when the University of Wales College of Medicine merged with Cardiff University in 2004. The School of Medicine is now one of the largest in the UK with over 2,100 students enrolled. Students at undergraduate level can study Medicine and Biomedical Science (Pharmacology). At postgraduate level the research areas include: Cardiovascular Sciences; Cancer Studies; Clinical Epidemology; Infection; Infection, Immunity and Inflammation; Metabolism Repair and Regeneration and Neuroscience and Mental Health;
The Wales Gene Park in Cardiff brings together genetics, life sciences and clinical expertise from across Wales, creating a new centre for research of national and international importance. It has already maximised opportunities for healthcare, education and commercial exploitation by linking related research activities at Aberystwyth University, Bangor University and Swansea University.
The Welsh School of Pharmacy has cultivated a powerful tradition of innovative scientific research and pharmaceutical education and is ranked as one of the top UK schools of pharmacy;
The Institute of Life Sciences which opened in 2007 is a new £50 million facility investment which is home to international acclaimed scientists working at the intersection of bio-nanotechnologies, deep computing and informatics. The interdisciplinary ethos at ILS can work together seamlessly on complex medical problems that have both biological and social impacts such as diabetes and mental health disorders.
Other centres of excellence and expertise include Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair, Cardiff University Brain and Repair Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Institute of Bioelectronic and Molecular Microsystems, Institute of Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the Wound Healing Research Unit.
The range of research expertise offers a wealth of courses in medicine, healthcare sciences and related subjects.
Bangor University’s Healthcare School was voted the top Healthcare School in Wales in 2007 and 2008, it was also listed Top 11 in the UK in the most recent Guardian University Guide. The School of Medical Sciences was opened in 2007 and is currently developing a range of post graduate programmes for 2009 which include Medical Management, Medical Science, Molecular Science for Medicine and Medical Stimulation and Training.
Glyndwr University, which is part of the North Wales Clinical School with Bangor University and Cardiff University, offers courses in Chinese Medicine and Complimentary Medicine.
The principal activities of Swansea University’s School of Medicine are Biomedical and Health research and it offers a four year “fast track” graduate medical degree.
Elsewhere in Wales, UWIC offers courses in Podiatry and Biomedical Sciences, whilst Healthcare Studies are offered at Swansea Metropolitan University, University of Glamorgan and University of Wales Newport.
Nursing and Midwifery is taught at Bangor, Cardiff, Glyndwr, Swansea and Glamorgan universities.