Accessibility statement

What areas did we cover?

Encompassing illnesses and disabilities of infectious and non-infectious (including mental health) origin, the study of chronic diseases and disorders transcends the traditional boundaries of science and medicine. The research supported ranged from biological studies of disease mechanisms through translational work in vaccine and drug development, to health services, social science and environmentally-linked research. Explorations in medical history and the medical humanities were also supported as was work with creative media (e.g. art, music, poetry), contributing valuable new insights into the origins, understandings and impacts of disease.

How did we support this?

C2D2 served as an institution-wide 'virtual centre' for coordinating, supporting and maximizing the benefit of this exciting and rich body of inter-disciplinary research. Support was provided through priming new research and translational projects, funding key technical research services (e.g. bioinformatics and tissue-banking) and infrastructure and sponsoring the best early career researchers. An equally important part of C2D2's mission was to maximize the engagement of different publics, both younger and older, with this research.

How were we run?

C2D2 was funded by a Wellcome Trust ‘Institutional Strategic Support Fund’ (ISSF) award, and the University of York. It was led by a Steering Group which was chaired by the Director, Professor Alex Wade and included representation from all the major disciplinary areas as well as the central Research and Enterprise Directorate. The Steering Group also included the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Deborah Smith who is the institutional lead for the ISSF funding and the C2D2 Deputy Director, Dr Sandra Pauletto.

Steering Group Membership 2015/16

NameDepartmentRole/Remit
Professor Alex Wade Psychology Director and Chair
Dr Sandra Pauletto Theatre, Film & Television Deputy Director
Professor Deborah Smith Vice-Chancellor's ISSF Institutional Lead
Professor Kate Pickett Health Sciences Health Sciences
Professor Michael Brockhurst Biology Biomedical Sciences
Professor Sarah Nettleton Sociology Social Sciences
Dr Richard Ogden Language & Linguistics Arts & Humanities
Dr James Walsh Research & Enterprise Business Development
Dr Rachel Curwen Research & Enterprise Research Development for Health & Life Sciences
Dr Philip Kerrigan C2D2 Administrator, Outreach Coordinator & Secretary

What was our strategy?

Our strategy for success was driven forward by investment in four key areas:

Fostering interdisciplinarity

  • Funding innovative interdisciplinary research, translational and outreach projects
  • Introducing a discipline-hopping internship program, to equip our best young scientists for leading roles in inter-disciplinary research
  • Sponsoring interdisciplinary workshops and larger conferences

Innovation and translation

  • Research-priming funding - supporting higher risk innovative research across all disciplines
  • Translational funding - nurturing the uptake of new technologies into the clinic, influencing policy and practice
  • Public engagement funding - funding imaginative new projects that involve individuals beyond academia

Capacity building

  • Enhancing York's capacity for ‘omics’-based research on human populations, including the tools for research in stratified medicine
  • Investing in new facilities for biomedical research
  • Investing in new resources to pursue health-related research in the Social Sciences and the Arts and Humanities

Strength from partnership

  • Extending our regional partnerships
  • Expanding our engagement with global agencies and industry
  • Expanding our engagement with the public, school students and other stakeholders

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General enquiries

  • C2D2 Administrator
    Ron Cooke Hub RCH/109
    University of York
    York YO10 5GE

    +44 (0)1904 328876

    c2d2@york.ac.uk

Key contacts

Partners