UK: New Prevention Research Initiative
SPECTRUM, a new consortium for prevention research has been awarded £5.9 million funding from the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP).
The UKPRP is a group of twelve funders including charities, research councils and the government. The consortium awarded the funding to the SPECTRUM Consortium (Shaping Public hEalth poliCies To Reduce IneqUalities and harM). SPECTRUM builds on and expands the work of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies.
SPECTRUM research will focus on commercial determinants of health and health inequalities, considering alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food. Commercial determinants are strategies and approaches used by commercial companies to promote products and behavioral choices that are detrimental to health.
The SPECTRUM consortium consists of the Alcohol Health Alliance as well as the Obesity Health Alliance, Smokefree Action Coalition, as well as the NCD Alliance, together with 10 Universities in the UK and one in Australia that aim to improve health and reduce inequalities in the UK and internationally, along with Public Health England, Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and two independent companies specializing in statistical modelling and retail data.
