York professor appointed to lead global Movember initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of boys and young men
Posted on Wednesday 16 September 2026
Professor Paul Galdas has been appointed as a Movember Institute Professorial Fellow, tasked with addressing the urgent challenges in emotional health, social connection and suicide prevention among boys and young men.
As part of the five-year global initiative, Professor Galdas will direct research in York and mentor four early-career postdoctoral researchers across the UK and Ireland.
The Discovery Research Programme is funded by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, the research arm of the global men’s health charity. The University of York is one of four universities participating globally, alongside Deakin University in Australia, the University of Michigan in the US and the University of British Columbia in Canada.
Professor Galdas’ appointment comes following the release of new data from Movember’s Real Face of Men’s Health England Report earlier this month revealing that 47% of Britons believe that the overall wellbeing of men has actively declined over the past decade. More than one in three men in England die prematurely before the age of 75 and male suicide rates in England have risen by nearly 11 per cent over the past ten years.
Improve men's lives
Professor Paul Galdas from York’s Department of Health Sciences said: “This is an opportunity to build something much bigger than an individual research project. Men’s health research is still a relatively small field. We need more people, more capacity and better evidence about what actually improves men’s lives.
“The initial work will focus on boys’ and men’s emotional and relational health, including the effects of early adversity, loneliness and fatherhood. I am particularly interested in moving beyond research that simply asks why men do not seek help. We need to look more closely at the services, workplaces, relationships and wider conditions that shape men’s health and whether support reaches them early enough.
“Teaming up with Fellows in Canada, Australia and the US offers a fantastic opportunity to learn from each other by looking at many of the same problems across different cultures, communities and health systems.”
Social connection
The research programme focuses on young men aged 12 to 35 across three key areas:
- Social connection: How relationships with peers, partners, family and community affect emotional health.
- Coping and consumption: How young men manage stress and trauma, including the influence of alcohol, other drugs, gambling and pornography.
- Early fatherhood: Supporting mental health and family well-being during early parenthood.
Outstanding
Dr Rebecca Jenkinson, Discovery Research Programme Director with the Movember Institute said, “What set Paul apart was his breadth of experience. He is an internationally recognised researcher, a leader in men's health, and an outstanding mentor to early career researchers.
“We're delighted to have him lead this work across the UK and Ireland, supporting a new generation of researchers focused on boys' and men's emotional and relational health.”
Support and mentorship
The wider initiative by the Movember Institute of Men's Health offers 11 discovery fellowships across five countries. The positions provide five years of funding, research support and mentorship for postdoctoral researchers who completed their doctorates in the past five years. Applications open on 16 September and close on 19 November 2026.
Movember is one of the world’s leading global men’s health communities. Since 2003, the organisation has raised over £790m and funded more than 1,320 men’s health projects globally.
Before entering academic research, Professor Galdas worked as a registered nurse in coronary care. He currently chairs the National Men’s Health Academic Network, providing independent advice to the Department of Health and Social Care in support of England’s Men’s Health Strategy.
Find out more about the Discovery Research Fellowships here.
