Healthier Lives

Every person has the right to live a healthy life, yet this is sadly still far from a reality. For many people, age, race, and class are barriers to good health and wellbeing.

An individual's health is not solely determined by their personal behaviours. External factors such as socioeconomic status, location, and characteristics such as race, sex or disability can also influence health outcomes. These factors can lead to disparities in life expectancy, years spent in good health, the quality of health and care, employment opportunities, and access to safe and affordable housing.

Health inequalities are avoidable, but require long-term, systematic action and collaboration between services and sectors. Tackling health inequalities at regional, national, and international levels is a priority for The University of Manchester, where we are investigating the root cause of these inequalities and applying effective solutions to resolve these challenges.

Spotlights

Two elderly people walking together away from the camera, along a path surrounded by trees.

Ageing

Promoting healthy ageing to benefit individuals, communities and society.
Two children at school in the yard, running toward the camera.

Children and Young People

Improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
Two women sat on the sofa, one using a laptop, laughing together.

Ethnicity and Racism

Addressing racism to improve health outcomes for people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Case studies

na

Inequalities in mental health

People of African and Caribbean backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, but less likely to access care.
Image of two medical professionals in medical scrubs, talking to patient who is lying on hospital bed.

Bringing proton beam therapy to the UK

Our research helped to bring proton beam therapy to the UK, enabling more patients access for some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
Group of women sitting around a table talking.

Getting gender on the devolution agenda

Research led by Professor Francesca Gains set out to improve equality and diversity within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Institutes, Centres and research beacons

Two people in discussion.

Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE)

The Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE) is the UK’s leading centre of research into ethnic, racial and religious inequalities.
Child sat in classroom writing at desk.

Global inequalities beacon

The University of Manchester is advancing our understanding of the world in which we live, addressing inequalities to improve lives.
Man on train looking out of door holding onto handrail.

The Global Development Institute

Addressing global inequalities in order to promote a socially-just world in which all people, including future generations, are able to enjoy a decent life.