Year of Health
A Year of Health: building a fairer, healthier future.
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A Year of Health: building a fairer, healthier future.
Year of Health
We believe that health is a right, not a privilege.
In 2025, we’ve dedicated a Year of Health to innovate health education, advocate for equitable policies, invest in community-focused care and leverage technology to push the boundaries of healthcare innovation.
We’re committed to driving equitable access to healthcare, recognising that true equity doesn’t come from a one-size-fits-all approach. Diverse communities have diverse needs, and effective solutions must reflect that reality.
Inequality isn't healthy.
Shorter life.
In Newham, healthy life expectancy is over a decade lower than the rest of London.
Less access.
North-east London has the highest number of patients per GP in the capital.
Worse start.
20 per cent of children aged 2-2.5 in east London are below their expected level of development.
That’s why, in 2025, the University of East London is launching our Year of Health - a bold initiative to tackle health disparities and rethink what health means for our students, our communities, and the world.
Embedded in Newham - a borough facing some of the UK’s most pressing health disparities - UEL is uniquely positioned to make a difference. Through targeted investment and innovative partnerships, UEL is working to create a healthier, fairer future for east London and beyond.
Our health news and updates
Read the latest health themed news from the University of East London. Catch up with the latest in the Year of Health research, teaching, and learning.
- 23 April 2025: Health takes centre stage at our Summer Festival
- 14 April 2025: UEL recognised as an Olympic Studies Centre
- 4 April 2025: Rethinking mental health
- 11 March 2025: UEL and Newham AI centre nominated for prestigious award
- 10 March 2025: Urgent action needed to protect children in the Metaverse
- 10 March 2025: Health Advice Centre launch success
- 31 January 2025: UEL supports new research to identify fake vaccines
- 26 September 2024: BASES Laboratory Accreditation Success
- 25 September 2024: UEL hosts pioneering HealthTech roundtable
- 5 September 2024: Malaria treatment pioneer awarded honorary doctorate
- 17 July 2024: UEL among the best in UK for health studies
UEL is revolutionising healthcare
At the University of East London, we are dedicated to advancing healthcare both within our communities and beyond. Through innovative approaches and a £350M investment in our Health campus, we are driving change and equipping a future-ready workforce for our NHS.
Health at UEL in numbers
The University of East London is making a measurable impact on healthcare education, workforce development, and community health.
A holistic approach to health
Our Year of Health focus embraces mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing alongside physical care. By tailoring support to individual and community needs, we strive for a more inclusive and impactful healthcare system.
Think it can't be done?
Stratford Health Campus: innovation in community care
The Stratford Health Campus will be a hub for community care, cutting-edge research, and NHS career preparation. Doubling UEL’s health community, it will feature state-of-the-art facilities, eco-friendly design, and green spaces. Collaboration with local partners will drive solutions to health inequalities, laying the foundation for a new medical school by 2027.
Early years and youth: foundations for lifelong health
We are dedicated to empowering young people in some of the UK’s most diverse and vulnerable communities.
BabyDevLab
Led by developmental cognitive neuroscientist, Dr Sam Wass, the lab investigates how early stress affects attention and development in infants.
Visit BabyDevLab
Online safeguarding
Led by Professor Julia Davidson OBE, we’re looking at online harms, advising on policy and tackling the risks of online harassment and grooming in the emerging metaverse.
Read more about Julia’s work
Sport in Your Futures
We’re leveraging sport to inspire healthier lifestyles and open pathways to higher education.
Learn more about SIYFSustainability as a Health Determinant
At UEL, sustainability is a core driver of health and wellbeing, from clean air and water to sustainable housing and energy solutions.
Sugarcrete®
We’ve developed a low-carbon building material made from sugarcane waste, reducing the carbon footprint of construction.
Read more about Sugarcrete®
Restoring Peatlands
We’re leading on the restoration of damaged UK peatlands to cut carbon emissions and protect ecosystems.
Our work in the Peatlands
Pollution Pods
Dr Michael Pinsky has been using immersive art to educate international audiences about the health risks of global pollution and climate change.
Learn more about SIYF
Robotic construction
We are working on developing modular, zero-carbon housing in partnership with UK and Chinese universities.
See our work on robotic constructionHospital to community: bridging the gap
We’re shifting care from hospitals to the heart of communities, ensuring health support is accessible and equitable.
Dignity in menstruation
Dr Meera Tiwari has been working alongside a team of researchers in improving menstrual health outcomes with dignity and cultural sensitivity in India, Nepal, and the UK.
Meera’s work in women’s health
Health determinants research
Collaborating on the £5M THIRST project to combat health inequalities in Tower Hamlets.
Social Prescribing
Our Institute for Connected Communities has expanded the social prescription network, training more than 1,000 link workers.
Find out more about the ICCRethinking healthcare: from illness to prevention
We are driving innovation to prevent illness and promote long-term health.
Home-based depression treatment
We worked alongside King’s College London and UTHealth Houston on research funded by Flow Neuroscience, which confirms brain stimulation devices are safe and effective for treating depression at home
Health determinants research
Dr Sally Cutler is professor in medical microbiology and her research continues to inform policy and practise in tackling infectious diseases in Europe and Africa.
See Dr Sally Cutler's workFrom analogue to digital: revolutionising care
We are harnessing technology to improve access to healthcare and enhance patient outcomes.
Digital social prescribing
Exploring online platforms to deliver community-based wellbeing activities, led by Ian Tucker.
AI-driven health predictions
Using AI to enhance early detection and treatment outcomes in serious illnesses like cancer.
Celebrate a year of health with us
Upcoming events