In our latest blog Maria Kett, Professor of Humanitarianism and Social Inclusion, shares reflections on working across countries and Institutions to improve the lives of marginalised groups in Türkiye: blogs.ucl.ac.uk/iehc/2026/08...

In this special live episode of Public Health Disrupted for UCL200, we explore the disagreements, activism and resistance that have shaped public health over the past 200 years. youtu.be/p9XVCFElfAc?...

The history of public health is messier than you think: Live for UCL200

YouTube video by UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences

youtu.be

"The help and knowledge in the toolkit has given me confidence to manage" A toolkit is now publicly available for people with Parkinson’s and their carers, providing a trusted source of information that boosts confidence in managing #Parkinson’s day-to-day. www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...

“UCL Live Well With Parkinson's” Toolkit launched

A self-management toolkit is now publicly available for people with Parkinson’s and their carers.

ucl.ac.uk

In this spotlight Ayeshah Emon (UCL IEHC Lecturer in Public Health) chats about fostering creative learning, doing what you love for a living, and how a parakeet can take you back in time... 🦜 www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/ju...

Spotlight on... Ayeshah Emon

ucl.ac.uk

** New Editorial in The BMJ on physical punishment and the part it plays in childhood ** New research finds no evidence that physical punishment is effective for discipline - but there is evidence of harms. www.bmj.com/content/394/...

Physical punishment of children: ineffective and harmful

Ban this counterproductive form of discipline Physical, or corporal, punishment—euphemistically known as smacking, spanking, and slapping—involves hitting or otherwise hurting children to modify thei...

bmj.com

In June we had the pleasure of spending a week in Edinburgh for our flagship Arts Health Research Intensive! You can now read all about it on our blog: sbbresearch.org/arts-health-... A big thanks to our hosts, @stcolumbashospice.bsky.social, partners & our wonderful cohort!

.@anjaheilmann.bsky.social, a core member of The UCL Dental Public Health Group has been promoted to Professor. Congratulations, Anja!

A new report from UCL and the LGA sets out how England's devolved authorities can tackle health inequalities by placing communities at the centre of decision-making, strengthening cross-sector collaboration and embedding health equity across all areas of policy. www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

New report sets out how devolution can drive health equity across England

ucl.ac.uk

Participants Wanted: Gambling Experiences Study Are you aged 18–24, living in the UK, and gamble at least once per month? We're looking for volunteers to take part in a 30-minute interview exploring young adults' experiences with gambling. As a thank-you for your time, you'll receive a £10 voucher.

Congratulations to Dr Ruchika Jain, who has been awarded Mental Health & Wellbeing Catalyst funding from UCL Grand Challenges for the project "Co-Designing a Community-Based Mental Health Intervention for Young Second-Generation South Asian Women in the UK". www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

Successful ECR Catalyst Grant Projects awarded Mental Health & Wellbeing Catalyst funding

We’re excited to announce eight successful ECR Catalyst Grant Projects awarded by UCL Grand Challenges.

ucl.ac.uk

Did you know that taking salsa classes can improve your mental health? Dr Daniel Hayes (UCL IEHC) explains the importance of social contact in wellbeing in this article. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Taking salsa classes can improve mental health, Oxford study suggests

Researchers find dance reduced depressive symptoms and social anxiety in young people in eight-week trial

theguardian.com

We are delighted to see that the dedication of staff across our institute has been recognised through UCL’s Promotions process. The promotions reflect excellent contributions to teaching, research, development of others and real-world impact. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/ju...

Senior Academic, Research and Teaching Promotions 2025–26

We are delighted to celebrate the success of colleagues recognised through UCL’s Senior Academic, Research and Teaching Promotions process for 2025–26.

ucl.ac.uk

“When we regularly engage in the arts it’s a low-intensity psychological therapy, it increases neurotransmitters like dopamine that are involved in happiness, and reduces stress hormones like cortisol.” - Professor Daisy Fancourt www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07...

Daily dose of art as important to health as 5-a-day

Research show art engagement not only slows down ageing but it is a ‘human necessity’

telegraph.co.uk

“2 out of 3 smokers will die from a smoking-related illness if they don’t quit...We know that e-cigarettes are a really effective way for helping smokers to stop, so it’s important for them to have these misperceptions corrected.” - Prof Jamie Brown www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Majority of UK smokers wrongly believe vaping is as harmful as cigarettes, experts find

Analysis shows public understanding about vaping, which is far less harmful than smoking, has plummeted in past decade

theguardian.com

Our @bmj.com editorial sums up why physical punishment should be outlawed everywhere: decades of research shows it harms children in numerous ways, it increases the risk of physical abuse, and it violates children’s human rights. There are no benefits. @ucliehc.bsky.social @nuffieldfoundation.org

The BMJ@bmj.com · 3w ago

"Physical punishment is universally harmful to children and ineffective as discipline." Children should have the same legal protection from assault as adults www.bmj.com/content/394/...

Child physical punishment globally: ineffective & harmful. New @bmj.com #Editorial 129 countries, eg England, lack smacking bans. By @anjaheilmann.bsky.social @rebeccalacey.bsky.social @ucliehc.bsky.social LS Holland & ET Gershoff www.bmj.com/content/394/... #ChildHealth #EndCorporalPunishment

The proportion of UK smokers purchasing any cigarettes or tobacco from illicit sources has almost doubled since 2023, according to a new study led by researchers from @ucliehc.bsky.social www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/ju...

More smokers are buying tobacco from illicit sources

The proportion of UK smokers purchasing any cigarettes or tobacco from illicit sources has almost doubled since 2023, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

ucl.ac.uk

“There is a growing realisation that patient experience influences patient outcomes. Too often, the benefits of the arts in clinical settings have been undervalued.” - Professor Daisy Fancourt www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/m...

Health screenings: where hospitals’ T.L.C. includes a movie theatre

It's one of nine movie theaters run by the nonprofit MediCinema inside hospitals around Britain to give patients a chance to escape the stress

nytimes.com

Describing his experiences of working in humanitarian emergencies and conflict zones, Dr James Smith (UCL IEHC) said: “In Gaza, I was helping to treat ten patients at a time; many of them were unaccompanied children with severe injuries.” www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

Our NHS doctors on the front line: from A&E to war zones

British doctors and surgeons volunteer in some of the most dangerous places in the world, from Sierra Leone and Sudan to Ukraine and, most recently, Gaza.

thetimes.com

What’s love got to do with… public health? In the latest episode of Public Health Disrupted, @xandvt.bsky.social and @thewrittenro.bsky.social are joined by Laura Mucha and @rachelbenchekroun.bsky.social to explore love, care, connection and community as public health issues.

Research published last year concluded that adults are still likely to buy e-cigarettes sold in plain packs. The study, led by UCL and King’s College London researchers, involved 2,770 children and young people aged 11 to 18 and just under 4,000 adults. www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

Cola and Cotton Candy-flavoured vapes to be banned to protect children

New government proposals will also mean vape devices can only come in plain packaging

independent.co.uk

For the first time in its six-season history, Public Health Disrupted was recorded in front of a live audience as part of of #UCL200! @thewrittenro.bsky.social and @xandvt.bsky.social were joined by historian Dr Cristiano Turbil for a fascinating conversation about the history of public health.

New research published today! 📣 Our Wellbeing While Waiting study shows that #SocialPrescribing may help young people awaiting #MentalHealth care by improving their resilience, behaviour and relationships with others 📈 Blog: sbbresearch.org/social-presc... Paper: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

📢 New Paper Alert 📢 Recently publiushed in Social Science & Medicine: how did Scotland and Wales outlaw the physical punishment of children, and why have England and Northern Ireland not yet followed? Open access here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org

📚 What's on your summer reading list for #NationalYearOfReading2026? ⭐ We're delighted to see Prof Daisy Fancourt's book #ArtCure featured in @bookriot.bsky.social's roundup of the best books of 2026 so far! Explore the full list: bookriot.com/best-books-o... @literacytrust.org.uk

Best Books of 2026 (So Far)

These are our picks for the best books of 2026 so far, books published between January 1 and June 30 of this year.

bookriot.com

Social prescribing may help adolescents waiting for specialist mental health services by improving their resilience, behaviour and relationships with others, suggests a new study by a UCL team. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/ju...

Social prescribing may help young people awaiting mental health care

Social prescribing, which connects people to arts and exercise activities and other sources of support, may help adolescents waiting for specialist mental health services by improving their…

ucl.ac.uk

In this blog, Dr Jessica Sheringham outlines the research and collaboration needed to make sure that every family has space to grow and thrive. #socialhousing blogs.ucl.ac.uk/pcph-blog/20...

Beyond Bedrooms: Identifying and Supporting Overcrowded Households | UCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health Blog

UCL Homepage

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

⬇️ Check out this research study focusing on the acceptability of the use of silver diamine flouride (SDF) among care home residents. The study team is Ryan Grocock, @saifhuman.bsky.social and Georgios Tsakos #silverdiamineflouride #olderadults #research #oralhealth www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...

Silver Diamine Fluoride use for older adults in care homes

Stopping tooth decay with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF).

ucl.ac.uk

New on the UCL Primary Care & Population Health Blog: DrJessica Sheringham shares insights from the LE-HOMe study, highlighting how lived experience can help identify and better support families living in overcrowded homes. blogs.ucl.ac.uk/pcph-blog/?p...

Looking for some inspiration? #CreateWeek starts tomorrow! Explore 7 free creative activities from @createcharity.bsky.social across 7 days this July: createarts.org.uk/createweek/

Create Charity@createcharity.bsky.social · last mo.

🎨Professor Daisy Fancourt @ucl-sbb.bsky.social has spent years researching the relationship between the arts and wellbeing. Her conclusion is clear: creativity isn't a luxury; it's an essential part of living healthier, more connected lives.  🎉 Join us for #CreateWeek 1-7 July!