Our Research

The Institute for Medical Humanities conducts interdisciplinary research into what we call 'hidden experience'. We investigate experiences of health and illness which are marginalised, difficult, unspeakable, unacknowledged or invisible.

We aim to transform knowledge within and beyond the critical medical humanities, improve health policy and practice, and benefit the lives of communities and individuals.

Explore our new research themes

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Medical research often starts at the clinic door - we start further back, with everyday experiences of health and illness, the emergence of symptoms, and the cultural contexts and constructs of health.

Professor Angela Woods

Director, Institute for Medical Humanities

A unique approach

Most of us are lucky enough to know what ‘healthy’ feels like. All of us have experienced some kind of illness, injury or environment which disrupts that feeling of wellness. But health, that feeling of being well or unwell, is subjective. It defies quantification and varies from day to day, let alone between people, environments, cultures and contexts. Our research uses an interdisciplinary approach to tease apart these experiences of health and illness, to build knowledge, transform understanding, inform healthcare practices and ultimately improve human health.