The University of Glasgow
Creating spaces where research, collaboration and community come together
The School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow has always sought to address the greatest challenges facing society in the UK and around the world, and the Clarice Pears Building will help us tackle disease, improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities globally.Professor Jill Pell, Henry Mechan Chair / Professor of Public Health, University of Glasgow
The mission of the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing closely mirrors that of the Pears Foundation, to tackle key issues relating to the wellbeing of people and communities around the world. We are so proud that this vital work is taking place in a building that bears our mother’s name.Sir Trevor Pears
Partner since: 2015
Funding invested: £5.4million
- Capital: The Clarice Pears Building
- Project: The Clarice Pears Community Fund
Improving health depends not only on world-class research, but also on creating environments where researchers, practitioners, policymakers and communities can work together to tackle complex challenges. At Pears Foundation, we support places that bring people together, encourage collaboration and translate knowledge into practical improvements in people’s lives, including the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine and the Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People.
The Clarice Pears Building, which opened in 2023, is home to the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing. By bringing together academics previously based across ten different locations, it has created a vibrant centre for interdisciplinary research focused on improving health, reducing inequalities and addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges.
The School’s work spans public health, primary care, mental health, health economics, social sciences, clinical trials and health data science. Its research has shaped policy and practice in areas ranging from smoke-free legislation to tackling health inequalities, while its collaborative approach brings together researchers with the NHS, public bodies, community organisations and industry.
The building also reflects the School’s commitment to civic engagement. At its heart is the Byres Community Hub, a welcoming public space where local people, community organisations and researchers come together to learn from one another, share ideas and shape research. By ensuring that community perspectives inform teaching and research, the Hub helps increase the relevance and real-world impact of the University’s work.
Our partnership has continued to grow beyond the completion of the building. In 2026, Pears Foundation established the Clarice Pears Community Fund to support the continued development of the Byres Community Hub, helping it expand its programme of community engagement, exhibitions, volunteering and events. In its first year, the Hub welcomed more than 13,000 members of the public and hosted over 900 meetings, becoming a vibrant space where researchers, community organisations and local people continue to share knowledge, build relationships and improve health and wellbeing.