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Miss Karen Hughes

Behavioural Epidemiology

Head of Violence and Nightlife Research

e-mail Tel No: 0151 231 4522

My role in the Centre for Public Health is as Manager of Behavioural Epidemiology, leading a research team focusing on the two key areas of Violence Prevention and Club Health. The Centre for Public Health is a WHO collaborating centre for Violence Prevention and helps the World Health Organization Department of Violence and Injury Prevention develop the public health approach to violence prevention. This includes developing intelligence on the extent and impacts of violence, reviewing the evidence base for what works to prevent violence, and increasing access to the knowledge and skills required to implement effective violence prevention, including through the publication of fact sheets and policy briefings. We also conduct original research on violence, particularly youth violence in recreational settings (e.g. violence and substance use amongst holidaymakers to international nightlife resorts), and work with partner agencies to evaluate interventions (e.g. the use of polycarbonate glassware in bars in Lancashire) and support services (e.g. the Specialist Domestic Violence Court service).

My work on Club Health concerns the promotion and protection of health in nightclubs and the wider night-time environment, covering a broad range of issues including alcohol use, recreational drug use, violence, risky sexual behaviour and the environment. Working with colleagues in the UK and abroad, we conduct research into risk behaviour among young people in nightlife both at home and on holiday, and examine environmental factors that influence health in nightlife. For example, I am a member of the European research network IREFREA, which conducts research into nightlife behaviour and prevention throughout Europe. A key part of my work on nightlife health is also the organisation of the biennial international Club Health conferences on Nightlife, Substance Use and Related Health Issues (www.clubhealth.org.uk).