{"id":2154,"date":"2025-09-29T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T09:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/coeh\/?page_id=2154"},"modified":"2025-09-29T14:24:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T13:24:09","slug":"80-years","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/coeh\/about-us\/80-years\/","title":{"rendered":"80 years of excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”dark” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”||0px|” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#ffffff”][et_pb_row allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_margin=”||0px|” custom_padding=”||0px|” module_class=”breadcrumbs-row” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Breadcrumbs (do not remove)” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”breadcrumbs” custom_css_main_element=”border-bottom: 1px solid #ececed;” module_alignment=”left” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\nCentre for Occupational and Environmental Health<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=”Left Nav Sidebar” area=”et_pb_widget_area_1″ orientation=”left” remove_border=”on” background_layout=”light” module_id=”left-nav-menu” show_border=”off” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” module_alignment=”left” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

80 Years of Excellence<\/h1>\n

On 1 October the University\u2019s\u00a0Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health<\/a>\u00a0(COEH) will mark its 80th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary with a celebratory afternoon of talks and discussion that will incorporate this year\u2019s Lane Lecture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Established in 1945, COEH is the UK\u2019s oldest and one of the world’s earliest centres for occupational health research and education. Its foundation lies in Manchester’s industrial history, particularly the cotton industry, with early studies addressing respiratory diseases and lead exposure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The annual\u00a0Lane Lecture<\/a>\u00a0honours\u00a0Professor Ronald Lane<\/a>, the first Professor of Occupational Medicine (1945\u20131964). The Centre\u2019s subsequent leaders have each contributed to its growth and enduring reputation: Tommy Scott focussed on research on bladder cancer and hearing loss; Tim Lee broadened the scope to areas such as occupational asthma and lead poisoning, and introduced distance learning; Nicola Cherry expanded the department further with research into neurotoxicity and Gulf War Syndrome, launching the Occupational Disease Ascertainment Network (ODIN) network; and Raymond Agius strengthened environmental health research and online education, securing long term funding for the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Current lead, Professor Martie van Tongeren, has transformed the Centre into an interdisciplinary centre offering innovative undergraduate and postgraduate training, attracting students from around the world. Working in collaboration with\u00a0Thomas Ashton Institute<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Manchester Environmental Research Institute<\/a>, COEH\u2019s research spans global occupational and environmental health, health inequalities, climate change and health, digitalization and AI, as well as traditional occupational hazards. The Centre is also actively engaged with regulatory bodies, and its balance of basic and translational research supports policy makers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As COEH enters its ninth decade, the centre continues to build on its founders\u2019 pioneering work while adopting new approaches to train practitioners and address emerging challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with partners COEH remains committed to social responsibility and reducing health inequalities both in the UK and worldwide, continuing to make a significant impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Professor van Tongeren commented: \u201cI am proud and honoured to be part of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, continuing the legacy begun by Prof Ronald Lane 80 years ago. As new challenges like AI emerge and longstanding ones like silicosis persist, our mission to protect worker health through research and teaching remains vital. I\u2019m confident COEH will continue to lead the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I am proud and honoured to be part of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, continuing the legacy begun by Prof Ronald Lane 80 years ago<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Professor Martie van Tongeren<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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80th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary event\u00a0<\/h3>\n

COEH invites colleagues and guests to commemorate 80 years of pioneering research and education at The University of Manchester on the afternoon of 1 October. The event will bring together past and present staff, students, and guests to honour the Centre\u2019s legacy and explore future progress in occupational health. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The programme will include:\u00a0<\/p>\n