Research

Division of Global, Lifestyle and Metabolic Health

The University of Leicester’s Division of Global, Lifestyle and Metabolic Health works at the interface of academia and the NHS to develop, evaluate and implement innovative approaches for the prevention and management of long-term conditions, with a particular focus on diabetes, obesity and cardiometabolic multiple longer-term conditions.

The Division brings together expertise in clinical science, experimental medicine, lifestyle medicine, behavioural science, implementation science, data science and global health to improve clinical practice and population health outcomes. Its research spans prevention, early detection, structured education, 24-hour lifestyle behaviours (including diet, physical activity, exercise, sedentary behaviour and sleep), and novel pharmacotherapy, to support people across the life course and reduce health and care inequalities, thus addressing some of the most pressing healthcare challenges nationally and internationally.

Diabetes Research Centre

The Division is home to the Diabetes Research Centre, a nationally and internationally recognised hub for world-leading research into diabetes and related cardiometabolic conditions including obesity. The Centre’s work spans type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, alongside diabetes associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease and other multiple long-term conditions.

Research within the Centre focuses strongly on improving outcomes for diverse and high-risk populations at increased risk of health inequalities, including people with early-onset type 2 diabetes, individuals living with multiple long-term conditions, women during and after pregnancy, people of different ethnicities or with protected characteristics, and other under-represented communities.

The Centre leads major early- and later- phase clinical trials, pragmatic trials and those using innovative methodologies include adaptive platform designs, implementation studies and real-world evidence programmes, working closely with NHS partners to ensure that research findings are translated rapidly into everyday clinical practice. As one of Europe’s largest diabetes research facilities, it integrates academia, primary and community care and clinical services to drive improvements in treatment, reduce health inequalities, and shape national policy and clinical guidance.

Infrastructure and Research Environment

Hosted at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital, the Division sits within a highly integrated research and healthcare ecosystem, providing a seamless pathway from early phase studies through to large-scale effectiveness trials, real-world evaluation and commercial research. Its research infrastructure includes:

• NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Leicester
• NIHR Applied Research Collaboration: East Midlands
• NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Multiple Long-Term Conditions
• Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group (supported by Research England Expanding Excellence in England funding)
• The Leicester Real World Evidence Unit
• The Centre for Ethnic Health Research
• NIHR Multiple Long-Term Conditions Cross-NIHR Collaboration

  It is also co-located with further NIHR research delivery infrastructure hosted by the University of Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, including:

• NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre: Leicestershire and Northamptonshire
• NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre Network Leadership
• NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Leicester

Taken together this infrastructure creates a uniquely collaborative environment for translational research, innovation and implementation, supporting the Division’s mission to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities locally, nationally and globally.