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Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation

Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care

Symptom Led Research

Traditionally medical research is often disease focused, yet, symptoms and problems are often similar across diseases, and importantly the numbers of people with multiple illnesses is increasing, meaning that a siloed approach to diseases will not serve future populations. We research individual symptoms and symptom clusters in the context of the person’s holistic needs to relieve symptom-related suffering.

Our symptom led research includes systematic reviews, observational studies and trials to test new interventions and treatments, to manage symptoms more effectively and reduce symptom related suffering.

Research projects

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How people die remains in the memories of those who live on, and for them as for the patient we need to be aware of the nature and management of terminal pain and distress.
Cicely Saunders

Read about how we are making a difference

A patient lies in a hospital bed, their head is out of frame

24 June 2025

Half of UK adults worried about painful death

Almost half (47%) of UK adults are worried that they or their loved ones will have a painful or…

Woman holding up a white sheet for a patient in a hospital bed

22 May 2025

First-of-its-kind study demonstrates the efficacy of nurse-led palliative care for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Uganda

In the first randomised controlled trial to report the outcomes for nurse-led palliative care…

A man with a walking stick smiling

19 May 2025

National report calls for urgent overhaul of palliative care across the UK

King’s academics have been involved in a major new report calling for a national strategy to address…

A child holding a toy bear while two hospital staff talk in the background.

7 May 2025

New Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Palliative Care to be hosted at King's

It will lead research, education and training into this sensitive topic both nationally and…