The study found that the PBoC uses its financial tools in very practical ways to support China鈥檚 green industries. For example, it offers cheaper loans for renewable energy projects and allows banks to borrow more easily when they invest in approved green sectors. Since 2021, one programme alone has supported more than 拢120 billion in green lending.

By contrast, the Bank of England and European Central Bank have focused mainly on encouraging banks to think about climate risk, rather than shifting financial markets directly. The researchers describe this as an 鈥渋ndirect鈥� approach that has little real-world impact.

What makes the Chinese case unique is how the government sets the direction - such as its pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 - and then expects the central bank to help deliver it. The PBoC still has technical freedom to design its own tools, but its mission is clear. One PBoC staff member told the researchers: 鈥淭he government sets the goal. We decide how to get there.鈥�

Dr Jackson says this offers an important lesson for the climate era. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not saying countries should copy China鈥檚 political system, but we are saying that central banks around the world may need to rethink how they work with governments. In order to tackle climate change and adapt to its impacts, we need financial systems that can move quickly - not slowly.鈥�

The report is based on extensive research and evidence from over 200 experts, practitioners, policymakers, academics and community representatives. 

Professor Pilkington鈥檚 remit was to scrutinise the evidence around the Government鈥檚 Prevent programme - which aims to identify and rehabilitate people at risk of radicalisation - drawing on her research expertise in youth engagement and the societal drivers of extremism.  

Referrals to Prevent increased markedly after 2015, when it became a legal duty for teachers, social workers, nurses and other frontline professionals to report people they believed to be at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extremism. Referrals jumped from a few hundred a year before 2015, to an average of 6,458 per year since 2015 and to a record number of 8,517 in 2024-25. 

More than two thirds of these referrals were for concerns that had no - or no clear - ideological dimension, meaning that a counter-terrorism intervention was not an appropriate response.  Almost half of referrals were for children aged 11-17, and a third had at least one mental health or neurodivergence condition.  

鈥淚t should constitute one element of a broader, more holistic and better resourced multi-agency safeguarding approach that addresses diverse drivers of violence and to which individuals are referred via a 鈥榖ig front door鈥�,鈥� Hilary added.

The Commission sets out 113 recommendations to modernise the UK鈥檚 counter-terrorism framework and strengthen its fairness, focus and accountability. 

The report concludes that while the UK鈥檚 counter-terrorism system remains world-leading, it has grown complex and overbroad. Key reforms are needed to ensure it remains effective, proportionate, and rooted in democratic values. As well as the recommendations concerning the Prevent programme, it also recommends that the government: 

• Narrow the legal definition of terrorism, ensuring clarity and proportionality.  

• Reform proscription powers, introducing time-limited reviews and stronger parliamentary and judicial oversight.

• Tighten terrorism offences, ensuring prosecutions are fair, proportionate, and grounded in clear intent.  

• Restore equality in citizenship law, limiting deprivation powers and ensuring fair treatment under the law.  

• Invest in social cohesion, recognising that inclusion and trust are vital to long-term security. 

The visit was made possible by alumnus and Blackpool FC owner, Simon Sadler, whose 拢1.5 million philanthropic gift has enabled the University to launch a transformative bursary programme for care-experienced students.

The Sadler Bursary provides an annual grant of 拢10,000 to up to 36 undergraduate students who have left care. The initiative addresses the significant barriers faced by care leavers in accessing and thriving in higher education. Nationally, only 14% of care leavers progress to university, compared to 47% of students from state-funded schools.

In recognition of these barriers, The University of 野狼社区 offers extensive support for care leavers. Each student has a named contact who helps them settle into university life and provides advice around subjects such as housing and finance. The University also makes 52-week accommodation in halls available, and can act as a guarantor to private landlords.

Financial support, of which the Sadler Bursary is an important part, also covers living costs, access to sports and recreation, and an offer of becoming a paid student ambassador.

The Scholars were invited to Blackpool FC to enjoy full hospitality in the club鈥檚 boardroom, meet players and staff, and walk through the players鈥� tunnel onto the pitch prior to kick-off.

Simon Sadler, Owner of Blackpool FC, commented: 鈥淚t was deeply moving to welcome the Scholars and to see them enjoying all that our wonderful club has to offer. These young people have overcome more challenges than many and the bursary is about giving them the support and encouragement they may need to pursue their ambitions with confidence.鈥�

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of 野狼社区, commented: 鈥�Thanks to Simon's generosity, the Sadler Bursary is a shining example of how philanthropy can help change lives by making education more accessible and inclusive. This visit to Blackpool FC was a celebration of that spirit and that mission. These students deserve every opportunity to thrive, and we鈥檙e proud to be supporting them throughout their journey.鈥�

Daniel, one of the Sadler Scholars, added: 鈥淕rowing up, my life felt contained in a dark tunnel, boundless and solitary. Now, as I step out of the Bloomfield Road tunnel, the future shines so bright. On this journey I am no longer alone.鈥�

The Sadler Bursary forms part of the University鈥檚 broader commitment to supporting care-experienced and estranged students. In addition to financial support, students benefit from tailored guidance, accommodation grants, and opportunities to work as Student Ambassadors.

Led by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator Professor Kevin Munro, the research team surveyed a representative sample of over 2,000 adults in the UK about their willingness to test their own hearing at home and use pre-programmed or self-fit hearing aids.

Almost 9 in every 10 adults surveyed said they would be willing to test their own hearing at home if recommended by the NHS.

The majority also said they would be willing to try a hearing aid that was sent to them by the NHS either ready programmed or which required them to programme it for themselves.  

The current NHS pathway involves GPs making a referral for a face-to-face appointment with an NHS audiologist in a hospital or high street setting. The uptake of hearing care is low and slow and current waiting times are very long.

However, policymakers are encouraging self-monitoring of health, and for health services to make greater use of digital technology as well as provide care closer to home.

The findings are a positive indication that such an approach would be welcomed by at least a proportion of adults.   

A variety of apps and online tests are available for people to assess their hearing at home using their smartphone or tablet, and there are hearing aids that are available without the need to involve a hearing professional. However, these vary in quality, and not all have been properly evaluated.

The findings are published in the International Journal of Audiology.

The study was funded by an NIHR Senior Investigator award to Prof Munro and was supported by the NIHR 野狼社区 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Prof Kevin Munro said: 鈥淚f evaluated and shown to be successful for adults who prefer this option, DIY ear care has the potential to increase patient choice and shift care closer to home. It will also free up audiologists鈥� time to spend with adults who most need their help.鈥�

However, Prof Munro cautions that more work is needed before the findings are rolled out into practice: 鈥淲e have yet to evaluate whether this willingness will translate into reality or whether audiologists would be comfortable with this approach. We would also need to determine what support the NHS should provide to adults who opt to use these new pathways.鈥�

Professor Gabrielle Saunders from The University of 野狼社区 and Hearing Health Co-Theme Lead at the NIHR 野狼社区 BRC, a co-author of the study said: 鈥淭he main benefits reported in the survey include convenience, immediacy (not needing to wait for an appointment) and savings for the NHS. However, respondents raised genuine concerns that will need to be addressed including uncertainty about trusting the test results and feeling confident that they did the testing properly in the absence of face-to-face support.鈥� 

Claire Benton, President of the British Academy of Audiology, said:   鈥淭he profession is keen to foster a culture of continuous improvement, and these findings are very interesting. It is clear there is a need to provide a variety of solutions to resolve the current pressures. If the benefit to patients is not inferior to current practice, this provides additional options that are potentially sustainable solution for the NHS.鈥�

However, Benton went on to note: 鈥淭hese low-touch digital solutions will not be suitable for everyone. Also, we need to be reassured that we will not miss anyone with ear disease that requires medical attention.鈥�

Professor De wet Swanepoel, editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Audiology said: "Traditional models of hearing care can no longer meet the near-universal demand among older adults. This study highlights that adults themselves recognise the need for more accessible, self-directed models of care 鈥� a shift that is both necessary and transformative for healthy ageing.鈥�

According to RNID, 1 in 3 adults in the UK have some sort of hearing disorder, which is a total of over 18 million people. The prevalence increases significantly with age, with over half of people aged 55 or more having hearing loss. The number is projected to rise, with estimates suggesting 14.2 million adults will have hearing loss by 2035.

• The paper: DIY audiology at home: adults are interested in conducting self-administered hearing tests and trying fit-at-home hearing aids is published . The DOI of the paper is: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2576030.T

Friday, 21 November 2025 at 12.00 - 1.00pm, Department of Mathematics, Alan Turing Building, G.107.

Abstract: 
The study of conformal (angle-preserving) maps has a long history. Since the earth is curved, any geographical map has to distort either angles or sizes. For navigation, conformality - preserving angles - is usually more important. In 1569, Flemish geographer Gerardus Mercator introduced a famous method for drawing a conformally correct map of the earth (without its poles) on a cylinder. This Mercator projection became the standard method used in navigation and is still used in internet mapping services. An even older conformal projection, stereographic projection, was already used in antiquity to produce maps of the night sky. 

In 1965, Lee observed that one may draw an image of the earth conformally onto a tetrahedron - that is, we may draw a complete map on the earth on four equilateral triangles, fitting together along their edges, in such a way that angles are faithfully represented. We ask what happens when the sphere is replaced by another surface - when is it possible to make such an atlas consisting of equilateral triangles of equal sizes? 

When the surface is closed (such as a sphere or a torus - the surface of a donut), the question was posed in 1986 in the context of string theory. In this case, there is a beautiful answer, going back to work of Belyi from 1979: most surfaces cannot be "equilaterally triangulated", and those that can have a natural description. Such surfaces have found wide applications across diverse areas of mathematics. 

For open surfaces, the problem remained unsolved until we were able to solve it in recent joint work with Bishop (to appear in Inventiones Mathematicae). The answer is surprising: every such surface has a conformal representation on a (now infinite) collection of equilateral triangles. 

In this lecture, I will begin with a historical overview and then discuss the above question and our result, as well as its consequences, in further detail. The lecture will be accessible to a general scientific audience, and in particular to undergraduate and postgraduate students in mathematics.

Biography: 
Lasse Rempe studied mathematics and computer science in Kiel (Germany), Stony Brook (USA) and Orsay (France), and was awarded his doctoral degree in Mathematics by the University of Kiel in 2003. Prior to joining the University of 野狼社区, he held the Chair of Pure Mathematics (endowed 1882) at the University of Liverpool. Professor Rempe is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society; his research concerns the geometry, analysis and dynamics of functions of one complex variable, and has been recognised by an LMS Whitehead Prize and a Philip Leverhulme Prize.

Passionate about communicating mathematics to broader audiences, Professor Rempe has organised several exhibitions and public lectures connected to his research area; in particular he narrated a BBC audio slideshow in 2009. He is an amateur musician and has collaborated with composers at the RNCM's Centre for Practice and Research in Science & Music (PRiSM) who use mathematical ideas in their creative processes.

For any queries, please email Sue Tizini

During his visit to The University of 野狼社区 at Harwell (UoMaH), Professor Ivison met with the UoMaH Director, Deputy Director, and Head of Operations, as well as the UoMaH Core Team and Fellows, to learn more about our research, services, and facilities. Highlights included a tour of our and visits to key national facilities such as the , , and .

We extend our sincere thanks to the National Facility Directors鈥�, , , 鈥攁nd to for hosting the ISIS tour. It was a privilege to showcase the work we do and the impact that UoMaH is making. We were especially grateful to receive such positive feedback from Professor Ivison, who shared:

鈥淭hanks so much for the excellent visit today. Really enjoyed it and learned an enormous amount. Very impressive site!鈥�

This year鈥檚 UN climate summit (Cop30) in Bel茅m, Brazil, begins with a familiar dilemma: how can we tackle a highly political, long-term problem that involves every country of the world?

Governments, experts and activists have been trying to address since the early 1990s, yet global greenhouse gas emissions remain at .

Emissions growth may be slowing, but even pro-climate action strategies seem to be pulling in different 鈥� or even, antagonistic 鈥� directions. Our presents these antagonisms as a choice between 鈥渟tability鈥� and 鈥減oliticisation鈥� in climate governance.

According to those favouring stability, governments should lock in steady, long-term policies that place us on a predictable and gradual track to much lower emissions. Creating policies that commit us to a certain path should help businesses to invest in ways that meet this predictable trajectory.

However, if it is weakened and made inadequate by pro-fossil fuel lobbyists and governments, then the stable path can still meander into climate catastrophe. This is the course we are presently on.

On the other hand, for those pursuing the politicisation of climate action, it is better to encourage political conflict and protests that constantly create pressure for more significant and rapid policy change.

Such strategies can disrupt pro-fossil fuel lobbyists鈥� grip and expose strategies used by some political figures to dismantle the hard-fought climate goals already in place. But by encouraging increased politicisation of these issues, we may open the door to and others seeking to slow or stop climate policy action altogether.

Both schools of thought 鈥� stability or politicisation 鈥� have their supporters and detractors. Both have benefits and downsides. However, these have rarely been discussed in conversation with one another, until now.

At Cop30, these distinct strategies will be under the spotlight.

The stability or politicisation dilemma helps to explain why building a strategy that works over years and decades creates difficult questions, not only about policy design but approaches for different organisations and states. These challenges change according to which level of government, which country, and which economic sector is in play.

For instance, it is easier to push for politicisation and conflict when you鈥檙e not a member of a marginalised or racialised community already facing to political participation.

Conversely, it is hard to avoid having to engage in politicisation and conflict in areas where there are deep historical power structures that need to be challenged. For example, in the UK, land ownership concentration blocks 鈥� both because landowners want to keep peat moors dry to maximise their grouse shooting revenue, and because the land concentration means they are very powerful within the British state.

Tension between timeframes

Our traces these dynamics across a range of cases, from the fossil fuel industry in the US to strategies used by the and ; from to environmental justice ; and from arguments about to generation.

International relations expert previous UN climate summits have been shaped by this clash in strategies, right back to the Kyoto protocol, the 1997 agreement that set emissions targets for economically developed countries.

Whereas the EU was previously the driving force behind depoliticisation of negotiations, more recently, countries such as India and China are also pursuing such strategies. As Allan warns, this may delay the implementation of climate policies as more states debate how best to progress.

In Bel茅m at Cop30, similar dynamics will be at play. Efforts are ongoing to implement the 2015 agenda and process. Core issues remain on how to ensure regular reporting of emissions, alongside questions around who pays for the consequences of climate change.

At the same time, there will be a continued politicising push by certain countries and social movements. States such as the US, Saudi Arabia and their allies will be trying to politicise the negotiations to stymy progress. Meanwhile, social movements will be protesting to keep the pressure on negotiators and promote climate justice for those who are hardest hit by climate change.

, Senior Lecturer in Politics, ; , Professor of International Politics, , and , Professor of Global Governance & Human Security,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The study informs a process that takes place in many countries worldwide where women are overburdened with care responsibilities. As populations age and family structures change, how societies value and share care work may become one of the defining social issues of the century.

The authors also raise concerns over the discontinuation of the Thai national time-use survey by the National Statistical Office. They advocate for its urgent resumption, stressing that time-use data is critical for understanding gender inequality, strengthening the care economy, and helping the government monitor its progress toward the SDGs. Without such data, key dimensions of unpaid care work remain invisible in policy design and economic planning.

The study in older animals  showed that the placentas of male but not female offspring had increased cell damage from a biological state called oxidative stress. 

Oxidative stress occurs when harmful molecules called free radicals build up faster than the body can clear them. 

It is associated with a range of pregnancy complications including fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia, both of which increase the risk of stillbirth. 

The study demonstrated reduced weight in both female and male fetuses in older mice, but the placental alterations were sex-specific. 

The scientists are conducting further studies in mice to confirm these findings  and also carrying out a parallel study to see if similar sex differentiated mechanisms exist in human placentas from mothers of advanced maternal age (AMA), defined as age 35 and over. 

The study, published in the journal Reproduction and funded by Tommy鈥檚 and the Medical Research Council, also discovered placental mitochondria -  the biological batteries that power cells-  were working at a reduced rate in the placentas of both male and female pups but that there were more of them. 

Mitochondria are a major source of free radicals. Reducing their rate of activity at the same time as increasing their numbers is a way they adapt to prevent further oxidative stress while maintaining the supply of energy needed for cells to work properly.

This could mean that the adaptation in placentas from females was more successful than in placentas from males because oxidative stress was not increased in placentas from females of older mice. 

Although scientists know AMA increases the risk of placental dysfunction leading to  fetal growth restriction and stillbirth, little is known about the mechanisms that cause it.

Lead author Dr Michelles Desforges from the University of 野狼社区  said: 鈥淪ome impacts of advanced maternal age appear common to both sexes but this data suggests some may be sex specific.

鈥淓vidence that sex differentiated placental dysfunction occurs in a range of risk groups -  including diabetes or obesity- has been around for some time.

鈥淭his, however, is amongst the few to delve into the sex differentiated processes which increase the risks of adverse pregnancy outcome in animals of advanced maternal age.

鈥淚n 1980, only around 6% of pregnant women in the UK were aged 35 and over. However this figure has now risen to 25%. This represents a massive societal shift and it is important that we understand the reasons why these pregnancies are more vulnerable to fetal growth restriction and stillbirth.

鈥淏ut it is important to stress, however, that though advanced maternal age comes with  increased risks for some women, the  majority of mums aged 35 and over have normal pregnancies and healthy babies.鈥�

Principle investigator Dr Mark Dilworth added: 鈥淪tudies in mice are particularly helpful as they allow us to compare male and female offspring in the same pregnancy. In addition, these studies provide an important basis for future studies intent on developing therapeutic strategies for preventing fetal growth restriction and stillbirth.鈥�

• Sex-specific alterations in placental mitochondria, oxidative damage and apoptosis in mice of advanced maternal age鈥� is available .DOI: 

Scientists have developed a simple, low-cost method to drive key chemical reactions, which could make large-scale drug manufacturing, faster, more accessible and affordable.

The new study, published in the journal today by The University of 野狼社区, describes how complex light or electricity-mediated methods currently used across modern chemistry could be replaced by those driven by a simpler technology - heat.

By heating two common, inexpensive chemicals together, the researchers triggered 鈥榚lectron transfer鈥� reactions that chemists use to make many of our everyday products and medicines.  

Lead researcher, , Lecturer in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at The University of 野狼社区, said: 鈥淥ur goal was to develop a broadly accessible and low-cost way to promote electron transfer reactions for industrial applications.

鈥淏y using something as simple as heat - something every chemistry lab already has - we鈥檝e created a process that can be scaled more easily and used by companies without the need for expensive, specialised equipment, opening up new possibilities for chemists all over the world.鈥�

Many modern chemical reactions rely on photochemical (light) or electrochemical (electricity) technologies to kick start 鈥榚lectron transfer reactions鈥� 鈥� a process that involves transferring electrons between molecules to make medicines, or other essential materials. Although these high-tech methods are powerful and effective, they can be difficult to scale up for industrial use as they require specialist reactors and costly infrastructure.

The 野狼社区 team鈥檚 new approach achieves the same result using only heat and two widely available chemicals - a type of azo compound and a formate salt. When heated together in a standard industrial reactor, these reagents naturally form a highly reactive molecule known as 鈥榗arbon dioxide radical anion鈥� - a simple yet powerful species capable of driving a wide range of chemical transformations.

Working with Dr James Douglas from AstraZeneca, the research team successfully demonstrated the scalability of the developed method  and tested it on a variety of other chemical reactions used in drug discovery.

, Lecturer in Computational & Theoretical Chemistry at The University of 野狼社区, added: 鈥淩adical chain chemistry underpins so many areas of science and manufacturing, so we hope this simple initiation method will be of wide use across both industry and academia. Beyond large-scale applications, it could also become a valuable tool for researchers studying new chemical reactions.鈥�

This research was published in the journal . 

DOI: 10.1038/s44160-025-00919-z

• Discover more details, including location and registration, of the .

Researchers at the 野狼社区 Breast Centre, based at The University of 野狼社区, found that blocking the effects of the hormone progesterone, using ulipristal acetate, a drug already used on the NHS, may reduce the risk of breast cancer developing in women before the menopause, with a strong family history of the disease.

Progesterone is a hormone that can drive breast cancer development. It promotes the growth of a type of breast cell, that has the potential to turn into breast cancer. It can also influence the environment inside the breast, making it easier for these healthy cells to transform into cancer cells.

Blocking these effects of progesterone could be a new way to stop breast cancer before it starts.

The study, published today in the journal Nature, found that taking ulipristal acetate helped block the growth of breast cells that can turn into cancer, called luminal progenitors. These cells are the starting point for triple negative breast cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease that is more common in younger women and black women. Previous research has shown that the risk of triple negative breast cancer coming back or spreading in the first few years after diagnosis, is higher than in other types of breast cancer.

Between 2016 and 2019, 24 women aged 34-44 with a family history of breast cancer took ulipristal acetate for a 12-week period. During the trial, they underwent breast biopsies, blood tests, and detailed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans before and after treatment.

The researchers were measuring changes in breast tissue to understand if the drug might have a protective effect against breast cancer development.

MRI scans showed that the breast tissue became less dense with treatment, which is important because higher breast density is known to increase risk of breast cancer. The team found that the treatment worked best in women who had high breast density before treatment started.

Researchers also observed dramatic changes in breast tissue.  They found that treatment significantly reduced the number and function of certain collagen proteins that normally help support breast tissue.  Overall, the breast tissue became less stiff, making the environment less favourable for cancers to develop and grow.

One protein in particular 鈥� collagen 6 鈥� showed the most noticeable decrease after treatment. Based on their findings, researchers now think that it may directly influence the behaviour of luminal progenitor cells, that can give rise to breast cancer. 

All these changes suggest that the drug alters breast tissue in a way that makes it harder for cancer cells to develop and grow, therefore reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Clinical lead author, Dr Sacha Howell, Clinical senior lecturer at The University of 野狼社区, Director of 野狼社区 Breast Centre and Consultant Oncologist at The Christie said: 鈥淲e are profoundly grateful to the women who volunteered for this study. Our research, with them, provides evidence that progesterone plays a critical role in breast cancer development in high-risk individuals. By targeting its action, ulipristal acetate and other anti-progestins show promise as preventive treatments for women at increased risk.

鈥淲hat makes this study particularly exciting is the combination of clinical imaging and biological analysis, which gives us a powerful tool to understand how prevention therapies work at both the tissue and molecular levels. These results lay important groundwork for larger trials to confirm the potential of anti-progestins in reducing breast cancer risk鈥�.

Laboratory lead author, Dr Bruno Sim玫es, research fellow at The University of 野狼社区 and Principal Investigator at the 野狼社区 Breast Centre said: 鈥淥ur team was intrigued by how anti-progestins reshaped the breast tissue environment at the molecular level, reducing the number of tumour-initiating cells. We observed clear reductions in collagen levels and organisation, giving us direct insight into how targeting progesterone signalling can create conditions that make it harder for cancers to develop.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal is to understand the biology underlying breast cancer risk factors so we can develop better strategies to reduce the number of women affected by the disease. This study is particularly exciting because it suggests that women with increased breast density, a well-established risk factor, may benefit most from preventive treatment with an anti-progestin drug.鈥�

Co-lead author, Rob Clarke, professor of breast biology at the University of 野狼社区, Principal Investigator and former Director of the 野狼社区 Breast Centre said: 鈥淭he biological research behind the clinical study was a great example of team science, a major collaboration between investigators in 野狼社区, Cambridge and Toronto coming

together to understand the breast tissue and cellular changes underlying this preventive treatment. The findings reveal biomarkers that could be used to gauge response to therapy and whether it will be effective in preventing breast cancer.鈥�

Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, which funded the research, said: 鈥淲e desperately need better risk-reducing treatments for women at high risk of breast cancer, that also protect their quality of life. And we need to explore all avenues, including existing drugs with the scope to be repurposed, to achieve this.

鈥淐urrently, these women have only two options to reduce their risk - surgery or long-term hormone therapy, both of which have a profound impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

鈥淭his research into ulipristal acetate is an important step forward, and aligns with our key strategic goal to accelerate the discovery of preventative treatments.  We now need larger, longer-term studies, so we can fully understand the potential of this drug to stop breast cancer developing.鈥�

Grace Burton, 27, from Bromley London, underwent a preventative double mastectomy last year after finding out she was at high risk of breast cancer due to an inherited BRCA1 gene change at the age of 21.

Grace says: 鈥淏reast cancer has had a huge impact on my family - both my mum and my aunt were diagnosed, and knowing I was at high risk was always in the back of my mind. Having later gone through preventative surgery myself, I know how heavy and difficult those decisions can feel. That鈥檚 why this new research into preventative medication is so exciting, it offers hope for other women who might one day have less invasive options to protect their health.

鈥淔or those of us with a strong family history, the possibility of preventing breast cancer before it starts is incredible. It gives me hope that future generations may not have to make the same tough choices and can grow up with more options and less fear around breast cancer.鈥�

Several of the authors were supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 野狼社区 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

The research is published in Nature and is  available

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09684-7   

Open Day events

If you鈥檇 like to know more about the CDT, we are involved in a number of open days and events where you can meet members of the team, chat to students and even tour the facilities.

• The Faculty of Science and Engineering will be holding its annual PGR Open Day on the afternoon of 5 November 2025.
• New for 2026 is the Virtual Open Day being hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering on 12 November 2025, when our Director Irina Grigorieva will be hosting a webinar to talk about our programme.

To register for either of these events, please see .

As our students progress through the program we鈥檒l share their stories, and their accomplishments on the page, so that you too can see their progress. And for prospective students, it鈥檚 an opportunity for you to learn more about what we do and who we are! 

• Connect with us on .
   

A series of inductions followed through the week, to enable the students to gain access to our innovative facilities, followed by a fun team building session to help create and cement relationships between the students who will now spend the next six months working together gaining technical skills, before they move on as a cohort to commence their PhD in their chosen research area.

Dr Yasmin hopes the findings will encourage international charities, donors and governments to rethink how they design and monitor conservation projects. 鈥淚f we want sustainable development,鈥� she said, 鈥渨e have to stop speaking for people and start listening to them - especially those who are most often ignored.鈥�

The annual list identifies the world鈥檚 most-cited researchers, offering an overview of the impact and influence of their work. This year, 551 野狼社区 academics feature in the rankings, underscoring the University鈥檚 leading international research presence.

The data reveals the breadth of 野狼社区鈥檚 research impact, with scholars contributing to diverse and interdisciplinary fields such as advanced materials, social sciences, global health, ecology, and physics.

The Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientist Rankings draw on data from Elsevier鈥檚 Scopus database, incorporating citations up to the end of 2024. The rankings evaluate researchers using a range of metrics, including, co-authorship-adjusted citations and a composite citation score鈥� providing a measure of influence beyond publication volume alone.

Developed by data scientists at Elsevier鈥檚 ICSR Lab in collaboration with Stanford University, the list鈥攏ow in its eighth edition鈥攈as become one of the most respected indicators of research excellence worldwide.

Professor Rosalie David and Dr Roger Forshaw show in their book, published by Liverpool University Press  in paperback this month, how Western medical practice owes a debt of thanks to the Ancient Egyptians. 

Though previous works have highlighted the diseases that affected the Egyptians thousands of years ago, this is the first to be written from the perspective of the ancient equivalent of doctors, patients and nurses. 

According to the authors, the system can be seen as a precursor to the healthcare of today: the equivalent of consultants 鈥� with different specialisms-    and GPs treated patients either at home in the community or in something resembling hospitals. 

Nurses cared for patients and midwives -  usually women - were highly respected and according to one account were paid more than the doctors. 

Student medics , who were often male relatives of existing doctors,  were trained in temples. Discoveries of mummies also showed that patients who lived with long term debilitating  illness were presumably cared  for by nurses and support workers during their lives. 

If they needed the ancient equivalent of hospital treatment, patients stayed in small cells attached to a temple -  such as at the temple of Denderah in upper Egypt-  where they would be looked after by priest-doctors. 

The care  was paid for either in kind by the patients themselves-  who donated food or other items to the temple - or some assistance was provided by the State for particular groups -  almost like the state healthcare of today. 

The system was so successful that if you made it past the first 5 years of life, your  life expectancy was similar to that of many British people  in Victorian times-  between 30 and  40. 

What the authors call 鈥榬ational鈥� treatments were given for problems that could be seen, such  as bandaging for broken bones. There was even a form of palliative care for the terminally ill. 

Balanites oil-   which is extracted from parts of the Desert Date tree  - was often successfully prescribed by community doctors to  treat bilharzia or Schistosomiasis-  a devastating disease caused by parasitic worms. The treatment was still used in modern medicine up to  50 years ago. 

However the less commonly used 鈥榠rrational鈥� treatments, where it wasn鈥檛 possible  to see the origin of the disease such as mental illness- involved the use of spells and magic.

Much of the information about ancient Egyptian healthcare was derived by the researchers from medical papyri discovered  in different locations across Egypt.

The papyri give details on disease, diagnosis, and treatments, including herbal remedies, surgery, and magical incantations.

Only 12 of these medical papyri are known today from over 3,000 years of history: others undoubtedly existed and may in future be discovered during excavations or identified in modern library collections of papyri.

The economically successful New Kingdom (1550 BCE 鈥� 1069 BCE)  and the Greco Roman Period  from around the beginning of the common era, were probably the high point for healthcare in ancient Egypt said Professor David, though it probably existed from at least around 3000 BC she added.

The book, called Medicine and Healing Practices in Ancient Egypt, shows how European, Arabic and ancient Greek medicine all  have a direct lineage to healthcare  practice that was common 3000 years ago.

Professor David said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted our book is available in paperback, which means the public, medics and Egyptology buffs will not just enjoy it, but learn about the important contribution of ancient Egyptian healthcare to our systems of today.鈥�

鈥淭hough punishments could be quite vicious if you transgressed the legal code, the perception that ancient Egypt was a violent and unpleasant  place is completely wrong.

鈥淭hey believed in an afterlife where there was no aging, or illness-  but to get there you had to be on the straight and narrow.鈥�

鈥淭hat might at least partially explain why, for most of the time, it was a well-organised society which cared for its people in a way which far exceeded anything else in the ancient world.鈥�

Images:

• The remains of a schistosome, the causative parasite for the disease Bilharzia, discovered in an Egyptian mummy. Parasite DNA was for the first time identified in this sample
• Sanatorium at Temple of Hathor at Denderah
• Cover of book: Medicine and Healing Practices in Ancient Egypt
• Statue of Sekhmet, lioness-headed goddess of medicine
• Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri where patients received medical treatment

One hundred years ago, a catastrophic flood carrying enormous boulders swept through part of Dolgarrog village, north Wales, destroying several homes, a bridge and the local chapel. Ten adults and six children lost their lives. The tragedy was widely and King George V sent a message of condolence.

This was not a natural . It was caused by the failure of two dams impounding the Eigiau and Coedty reservoirs on the Carneddau plateau, high above Dolgarrog, following a wet October. Overtopped by inflow from the Eigiau breach, the Coedty dam failed catastrophically, unleashing a flood of some 1.7 million cubic metres. There was no time to warn the village.

The Dolgarrog disaster followed a reservoir failure at , Scotland, in April 1925. Both brought attention to poor dam construction and inadequate maintenance practices, and led directly to the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act of 1930.

The act sought to ensure the structural safety of large reservoirs by introducing legal requirements for regular inspection and certification by qualified engineers. It was the first attempt in the UK to regulate the design, construction, and maintenance of reservoirs through statutory safety measures.

Since Dolgarrog, the UK has had an excellent reservoir safety record. But in late July 2019, the evacuation of more than downstream of Toddbrook reservoir in Derbyshire, England, was ordered. Toddbrook had received a month鈥檚 rain in just two days.

Swollen inflows overtopped the dam鈥檚 emergency spillway, undermining its concrete slabs. A large cavity appeared on the spillway, exposing the dam鈥檚 core, raising fears of a breach.

A dropped 400 tonnes of aggregate on the Toddbrook spillway to reinforce the damaged section, while fire services used high-capacity pumps to lower the water level and reduce pressure on the dam. After several days, engineers declared the Toddbrook dam stable enough to lift the evacuation order.

The Toddbrook incident was one of the most serious near failures of a dam in recent UK history. It showed how extreme rainfall events can living downstream. , the fire incident commander, said: 鈥淲e were in a situation where we had five times as much water going in than we could take out. We absolutely thought it could fail. It was a very, very tense night.鈥�

Following this scare, in April 2021, the UK government commissioned an into reservoir safety. A was issued to owners of all large, raised reservoirs, making the formulation of emergency a legal requirement to ensure that they are prepared for an eventuality that could result in an uncontrolled release of water.

The threat from climate change

As who work on river processes and landforms, we are researching the landscape-changing effects of such dam breach floods, but also how topography can amplify the hazard to communities.

As the Dolgarrog disaster showed so graphically, reservoirs that drain into steep and narrow upland valleys present a particular hazard, especially where flows increase in speed and pick up destructive boulders. All aspects of the landscape setting should be part of flood emergency planning.

While the Toddbrook reservoir was compliant with existing legislation and had been recently inspected, it suffered 鈥�.鈥� by local residents about how well it had been maintained. .

Most reservoirs in upland Britain were constructed in the 19th century under hydrological conditions that no longer hold. Embankment dams and older masonry dams can be especially vulnerable to erosion, seepage, slope instability or overtopping.

The most is overtopping where the spillway cannot cope with floodwaters. Reservoir safety may also be challenged by rapid or sustained water level lowering during droughts. As pore pressures change, and soils dry out and crack, embankment stability can be compromised.

Climate change is increasing in many parts of the UK posing a threat to reservoir safety. Climate models tell us that intense rainstorms that cause flash flooding will be five times more likely by 2080. Steep upland catchments in hard impermeable rocks are especially vulnerable to flash flooding, and this is where much of the UK鈥檚 water storage infrastructure is located.

The Dolgarrog disaster was the last time anyone was killed in the UK by a dam failure. But if intense storms and prolonged droughts are the new normal for our climate, the risk to ageing upland water storage infrastructure will likely increase.

, Professor of Physical Geography, ; , Professor in the Department of Geography, , and , Professor of Physical Geography,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

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To reserve your place, please register on .

The study by health economists at The University of 野狼社区 and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater 野狼社区 (ARC-GM), is published today in the journal Quality of Life Research.

The authors  also say that people from different ethnic groups with health conditions rated their quality of life differently, even when they reported similar prevalence of actual illness.

The findings bring us closer to confirming  what researchers have explored but where further empirical evidence was still needed .

Based on the data from General Practice Patient Survey in England 鈥� including 2.3 million White respondents, 160 thousand Asian, 70 thousand Black, 20 thousand of Mixed or Multiple background, and 60 thousand from Other ethnic groups 鈥� the findings have potential implications on the equitable design of health services and the way health outcomes are measured.

Though the survey data used in the study relies on self-reported long term health conditions to capture illness, the measure is thought to be more objective than other studies to date for England. It鈥檚 also the largest study to yet tackle differences in self-rating.

Lead author Dr Juan Marcelo Virdis from the University of 野狼社区 said: 鈥淥ur study found that certain black and Asian ethnic groups could be more likely to downplay different aspects of how health affects their lives.

鈥淭his is important because differences between perceived and actual health can affect how you seek healthcare health care and could, for example, delay a clinical consultation.

鈥淏ut understanding these differences is crucial for designing equitable health services and improving outcomes across diverse populations.鈥�

The researchers based their analysis on EQ-5D-5L, a standardized measurement tool developed by a group of European researchers called EuroQol Group (EQ) to measure health-related quality of life.

5D refers to five self-reported dimensions of health it assesses: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression.

And  the 5L refers to five levels of self-reported severity for each dimension: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, extreme problems/unable.

They analysed five distinct ethnic groups: White ethnic, mixed background, Asian, Black and Other who reported which  of  15 long term health conditions they had.

In some cases - such as Mobility for the Black and Other ethnic groups or Self-care for the Asian-  the tendency was to choose extreme categories. The study also explored differences within these broader ethnic groups, suggesting that heterogeneity may exist within them as well.

Though the reason why some ethnic groups report differently remain  unclear, some researchers speculate that we answer subjective questions on health by saying what is normal for us, influenced by our background and expectations.

Dr Virdis added: 鈥淥ur research provides a scenario for further studies using objectively measured health conditions, such as biological risk factors, or objective measures of physical health such as grip strength. In addition, we were not able to investigate the mechanisms at play, so this could be a focus for future qualitative research.鈥�

The paper Differences in rating of health related quality of life on the EQ-5D-5L between ethnic groups is published . DOI: 10.1007/s11136-025-04082-y 

The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) has approved the University鈥檚 Quality Mark, which signifies a university has demonstrated support for the inclusion and success of students with care experience or who are estranged.  

The Quality Mark has been renewed for another three years. The framework covers the student lifecycle, from outreach through to graduation and beyond, institutional culture and leadership, and commitment to continuous improvement and future plans.  

Melissa Jacobi, Head of Access And Student Success and Development at The University of 野狼社区, said: 鈥淭he NNECL renewal process was a fantastic way for us to capture, evidence and reflect on the many ways in which our University community cares and supports our diverse student body, and our many students who are navigating their university experience without family support, be they care experienced or estranged.  

This recognition is a reflection of how colleagues work tirelessly across The University of 野狼社区 with genuine care and compassion for the individuals we are supporting, to provide help and ensure our processes enable students to make the most out of their time at 野狼社区.鈥� 

University of Sanctuary status has also been reaccredited, with the panel commenting on the 鈥榖readth of the opportunities, community collaboration, and the various pathways that facilitate access to sanctuary seekers鈥� at The University of 野狼社区. A sanctuary seeker is an individual seeking refuge or protection, such as from war, violence or persecution. 

Support ranges from financial aid, such as scholarships and tuition fee concessions, library study support and volunteering opportunities to help build transferrable skills. Awareness sessions are also run through the University鈥檚 partnership with 野狼社区 City of Sanctuary for staff and students, while activities are held in schools and the local community during Refugee Week. 

Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at The University of 野狼社区, who also chairs the University of Sanctuary Steering Group, reflected: 鈥淎t The University of 野狼社区, being values-led and socially responsible is at the heart of everything we do. This is powerfully demonstrated by our renewed status as a University of Sanctuary, which recognises our deep commitment to supporting those seeking refuge 鈥� whether in our city region, our student body, or through our research and humanitarian work in the UK and beyond. 

Our reaccreditation reflects the collective efforts of our community: from extensive student volunteering with sanctuary seekers in 野狼社区, to scholarships and bursaries that break down barriers to education, and the impactful research undertaken by our colleagues. We are grateful to City of Sanctuary UK for this recognition and look forward to building on this work in the years ahead.鈥� 

To find out more about the support offered for students who are care experienced, estranged or sanctuary seeking at The University of 野狼社区, email wecare@manchester.ac.uk  

Based in the , Prof. Liddle works across many areas of lanthanide and actinide chemistry, but in particular he researches the chemistry of metal-ligand multiple bonding, metal-metal bonding, small molecule activation and catalysis, and transuranium science. Earlier this year Prof. Liddle was elected to the in recognition of his work.

On 15-17 September, over 30 leading experts in synthetic biology, mirror biochemistry, sociology, ethics, and tech governance gathered outside of 野狼社区, U.K. for technical workshops co-hosted by of the University of 野狼社区 and the Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund, a non-profit dedicated to understanding and addressing risks posed by mirror organisms.

Concerns about mirror organisms have been discussed at several recent scientific meetings. A at the Institut Pasteur 鈥� detailed in a subsequent 鈥� explored how mirror organisms could plausibly evade many mechanisms of immunity and natural ecological controls and pose potentially significant risks to humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems.

Participants at the 野狼社区 workshop examined four key precursor technologies that could contribute to the creation of mirror organisms. They evaluated the potential benefits of each technology, the extent to which its development would lower barriers to the creation of mirror life, and possibilities for its governance. The technologies examined were:

1. Protein synthesis Using Recombinant Elements (PURE) systems using natural-chirality proteins;
2. Mirror ribosomes;
3. 鈥淐rossover鈥� translation systems that enable natural-chirality transcription-translation machinery to produce mirror-image proteins; and
4. The 鈥渂ooting-up鈥� of fully synthetic natural-chirality cells.

鈥淎ny governance framework for mirror-image organisms should explicitly preserve beneficial mirror biomolecule research, particularly chemical synthesis of mirror biomolecules,鈥� said Jonathan T. Sczepanski, Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. 鈥淢irror biomolecules are promising candidates for treating diseases that current therapies can鈥檛 address effectively. Workshop discussions underscored the importance of drawing boundaries against high-risk applications like creating mirror life, while ensuring that therapeutic and other valuable research can progress.鈥�

No firm conclusions on research boundaries were reached at 野狼社区, though international discussions on mirror life are ongoing 鈥� for example, recent discussions at the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine explored mirror life, and further engagement is planned at the National University of Singapore in 2026.

鈥淭he discussions at 野狼社区 highlighted how creating mirror life would require major technological advances, but also that researchers are making progress on the underlying technologies,鈥� said Kate Adamala, Associate Professor of Synthetic Biology at the University of Minnesota. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still in a position where it鈥檚 possible to stop mirror life from being made, but as these technologies mature, our options for intervention will become more limited.鈥�

鈥淭he interdisciplinary nature of these challenges became clear through our discussions,鈥� said Joy Zhang, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. 鈥淩ed lines alone aren鈥檛 sufficient 鈥� we need a portfolio of governance approaches, including red lines, safety nets, and incentives, that account for the social and ethical dimensions of this technology.鈥�

The Engineering and Safeguarding Synthetic Life (ESSL) on 18 September also featured discussions about mirror organisms. The conference included talks on synthetic cells, genome engineering, and convergence with AI and robotics. Several presentations and a panel discussion examined historical examples of red lines in scientific development; technical and ethical questions about mirror organisms; and scientific discussions since the December 2024 publication of a Science and that first presented the risks of mirror organisms in detail.

鈥淭he discussions at 野狼社区 showed the importance of scientific input and careful analysis in any decision-making around guardrails on research,鈥� said James Smith, Deputy Director of the Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund and adjunct faculty at the J. Craig Venter Institute.

"As this conversation moves to Singapore next year, I鈥檓 excited to invite diverse stakeholders from Asia and around the world to join this critical discussion,鈥� said Matthew Chang, Executive Director of the National Centre for Engineering Biology, Singapore, and Professor at the National University of Singapore.

Aurore Hochard, Director at MEC, brought Startup Weekend to the University of 野狼社区 in 2024, shortly after joining the team. Following the huge success of the very first Startup Weekend initiative, it has since become a flagship event at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, championing entrepreneurship among students across the university. 

This year鈥檚 event, organised by Joana Carneiro (Enterprise Innovation Administrator at MEC) and Izzy Paton (Operations Administrator at MEC), brought together industry experts, speakers, and mentors to spark and celebrate entrepreneurship, showcasing both emerging and established talent. 

Across the weekend, participants pitched ideas, formed teams, and developed startup concepts with guidance from experienced mentors and industry leaders, wrapping up the weekend with a live pitch event in front of a panel of expert judges.

The event opened with inspiring talks from Aurore Hochard and Farah Frikha, Founder of Vesta Capsules and MEC alumna, followed by rapid-fire 30-second pitches and team formations. 

Throughout the weekend, participants learned how to identify customer needs, validate business concepts, and apply entrepreneurial thinking to solve real-world problems. 

Saturday focused on turning ideas into viable products and business models, with hands-on workshops including 鈥淏uilding the Startup Team鈥� led by Dr Rob Martin, Lecturer in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at MEC. 

Tom Parson, Founder of Big Echo, led 鈥淏lank Page to Big Idea: Unlock Startup Ideas with AI鈥�, a session on using AI to spark creativity and accelerate the ideation process, helping students transform concepts into viable business ideas. 

Jorge Servert, Founder of Sensium, led 鈥淒eveloping the Right Product or Service鈥�, a practical session guiding students to define and build their product or service based on real market needs, while also creating their first business plan using MEC鈥檚 startup template. 

On Sunday, teams perfected their business ideas through sessions like 鈥淢arketing & Acquiring Customers鈥� with Eleni Chiarapini, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at MEC, and 鈥淧ersonal Branding for Startups鈥� with Coralie Watson, Founder of Theme Socials. 

Lastly, students worked on their pitches in 鈥淧itch Perfect鈥� with Julia Spencer, Acceleration Manager at NatWest Corporate Banking. Julia shared industry experience and insight on what investors are really looking for in a pitch and how to make an idea stand out. 

The weekend wrapped up with final presentations to a judging panel featuring Professor Lee Pugalis (Deputy Director of MEC), Travis Ralph-Donaldson (Innovation Discovery Manager at the University鈥檚 Innovation Factory), Stephen Sankson (Regional Director at NatWest Corporate Banking), and Jenny Oliver (CEO and Founder of Biora Nature Tech). 

The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognising the top-performing teams and their innovative ideas:

First place went to Veila, a clothing brand redefining modest fashion, led by Sabrinel Takheroubt (AMBS, Faculty of Humanities) alongside Nishita Chatlani, Yutong Song, Danna Casta帽eda, and Eleanor Alphonso (all AMBS and Faculty of Humanities students). The team received 拢3,000 to continue their journey to market, focusing on direct-to-consumer growth and online marketing. 

Second place was awarded to DecoRent, a decoration rental service for short-term stays in 野狼社区. The team, Stella Zhuoyue Ji Chen (AMBS), Mollie Levitt (School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Humanities), Benya Irlam (AMBS), Yaowen (Stephen) Hu (AMBS), and Chaerin (Devon) Son received 拢2,000 to help expand their mission of bringing cosy, functional spaces to students across the city. 

Highly Commended went to isitUp, a speculative market app for investing in people鈥檚 relationships, led by Isaac Batho (School of Engineering).

In total, 20 new business ideas were formed over the weekend, showcasing the entrepreneurial energy of 野狼社区鈥檚 student community and representing students from across all three faculties, Humanities; Science and Engineering; and Biology, Medicine and Health. 

Throughout the weekend, participants were supported by a dedicated group of mentors offering one-to-one advice and feedback, including Oladabola Babalola (Babz), Fernando Torres, Harry Panter, Sergio Gutierrez, Luke Marden, Jonghun Lee, Rick Watson, Ramin Esmaeilzadeh, Huw James, and Leigh Wharton. 

About the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre:  

The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) is the University of 野狼社区鈥檚 focal point for enterprise and entrepreneurship teaching, learning, and startup support. MEC helps students, researchers, and alumni turn ideas into real-world impact through workshops, mentorship, and venture programmes.  

Learn more at:  

Part of the Greater 野狼社区 Civic University Agreement (CUA), the priorities were unveiled this week at a special event at the Royal Northern College of Music, attended by civic leaders, university partners, members of the Greater 野狼社区 Citizens鈥� Panel and Councillor Eamonn O鈥橞rien, leader of Bury Council.

Developed in collaboration with the Greater 野狼社区 Combined Authority (GMCA) and shaped by the Citizens鈥� Panel, the new priorities ensure the universities鈥� civic mission remains grounded in the needs of residents while also supporting Greater 野狼社区鈥檚 long-term vision of becoming 鈥榓 thriving city region where everyone can live a good life鈥�.

The Greater 野狼社区 Civic University Agreement (CUA), launched in 2021, brings together the University of Greater 野狼社区, 野狼社区 Metropolitan University, the University of 野狼社区, the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Salford, alongside the the Greater 野狼社区 Combined Authority, in a shared commitment to align the strengths of the universities with the needs of the city-region, with a shared goal of improving the lives of people across Greater 野狼社区.

Professor Jennie Henley, Chair of the Civic University Board, highlighted the importance of this partnership: 鈥淥ur universities are not separate from Greater 野狼社区; they are part of its fabric. These refreshed priorities are about reaffirming our long-term commitment to the people of this city-region. By working in partnership, we can achieve more together than any of us could alone, helping to build a Greater 野狼社区 that is fairer, healthier, greener, and full of opportunity.鈥�

The four new priorities focus on areas where the universities can make the biggest collective difference:

• Opportunity & Prosperity 鈥� widening access to education, creating lifelong learning pathways, supporting innovation, and helping people secure good jobs.
• Health & Wellbeing 鈥� training the next generation of doctors, nurses and social care professionals, supporting mental health initiatives, tackling health inequalities, and using research and expertise to put prevention at the heart of the region鈥檚 health strategy.
• Culture 鈥� celebrating Greater 野狼社区鈥檚 cultural strengths, making arts and creativity accessible to everyone, and building the skills that keep the city region鈥檚 creative economy thriving.
• Environment 鈥� helping Greater 野狼社区 reach net zero by promoting sustainability in learning and research, creating greener places to live, and preparing people for the jobs of the future.

Greater 野狼社区鈥檚 universities already contribute over 拢4 billion to the local economy each year, educate more than 100,000 students and welcome millions of residents to concerts, lectures and public events. They also train the region鈥檚 future workforce, including an estimated 9,500 nurses, 3,500 doctors, and 8,500 teachers between 2022 and 2027.

Mayor of Greater 野狼社区 Andy Burnham said: 鈥淕reater 野狼社区鈥檚 universities make a massive contribution to our city region, one that goes far beyond educating students. These refreshed civic priorities reflect the breadth of our universities鈥� impact across our society and economy, from creating jobs and supporting business innovation to enriching our culture. We recently set out our vision for Greater 野狼社区鈥檚 next decade of growth and we know our universities have a vital role to play in our continued success.鈥�

By refreshing their priorities, the universities have renewed their pledge to work with civic partners and communities to make Greater 野狼社区 a place where everyone can thrive. Explore our shared priorities for Greater 野狼社区.

•  for Greater 野狼社区

This list coincides with the publication of the Home Office鈥檚 report on the statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain in 2024. 

The ten listed organisations were responsible for 1,379,399 procedures, 54% (more than half) of the 2,637,578 procedures carried out on animals for scientific research in Great Britain in 2024*. Of these 1,379,399 procedures, more than 99% were carried out on mice, fish, rats, and birds and 82% were classified as causing pain equivalent to, or less than, an injection. 

The ten organisations are listed below alongside the total number of procedures they carried out in 2024. Each organisation鈥檚 name links to its animal research webpage, which includes more detailed statistics. Case studies explaining how animal research has been used in recent medical research are also provided in the Notes to Editors section. This is the tenth consecutive year that organisations have come together to publicise their collective statistics and examples of their research.

Seventy-two organisations have proactively published their 2024 animal research statistics

UAR has also produced a list (see appendix) of 72 organisations in the UK that have publicly shared their 2024 animal research statistics. This includes organisations that carry out or fund animal research.

All organisations are committed to the ethical framework called the 鈥�3Rs鈥� of replacement, reduction and refinement. This means avoiding or replacing the use of animals where possible, minimising the number of animals used per experiment and optimising the experience of the animals to improve animal welfare. However, as institutions expand and conduct more research, the total number of animals used can rise even if fewer animals are used per study. 

All organisations listed are signatories to the , which commits them to being more open about the use of animals in scientific, medical and veterinary research in the UK. More than 130 organisations have signed the Concordat, including UK universities, medical research charities, research funders, learned societies and commercial research organisations.

Wendy Jarrett, Chief Executive of Understanding Animal Research, which developed the Concordat on Openness, said: 鈥淎nimal research remains a small but vital part of the quest for new medicines, vaccines and treatments for humans and animals. Alternative methods are increasingly being phased in, but, until we have sufficient reliable alternatives available, it is important that organisations that use animals in research maintain the public鈥檚 trust in them. By providing this level of information about the numbers of animals used, and the experience of those animals, as well as details of the medical breakthroughs that derive from this research, these Concordat signatories are helping the public to make up their own minds about how they feel about the use of animals in scientific research in Great Britain.鈥� 

Dr. Maria Kamper, Director of the Biological Services Facility at The University of 野狼社区, said:

"Scientific research involving animals remains essential in advancing our understanding of health and disease, and is fundamental to developing new medicines and medical technologies.

"At our institution, we prioritize transparency in animal research alongside a culture of exceptional care among our staff. Our approach is founded on collaboration and superior animal husbandry standards. We are dedicated to cultivating a sustainable environment where animal welfare, staff wellbeing, scientific excellence, and open communication with both stakeholders and the public are our highest priorities.

鈥淭his dedication aligns with the University of 野狼社区's broader mission to enhance education, knowledge, and wisdom for society's benefit.鈥�

Case study:

Clotbuster drug is new hope for stroke treatment

A new clotbusting drug tested on mice has been shown by University of 野狼社区 scientists to be significantly better at treating ischemic stroke than existing therapies.

The compound, developed by the scientists and known as caADAMTS13, could be a breakthrough for patients who have brain blood clots with an overabundance of platelets- the tiny cell fragments that help form clots and are often not treatable by existing therapies.

• One in 12 pupils (8.3%) reported being placed in isolation at least once a week
• The average time spent in isolation was 8.5 hours a week 鈥� more than a full school day
• Even after accounting for behavioural difficulties:
  -    Children with recognised special educational needs (an Education, Health and Care plan) were more than twice as likely to be in isolation
  -    Children on Free School Meals were more than one and a half times more likely to be in isolation
  -    Children who identified as LGBTQ+ were nearly twice as likely to be in isolation
  -    Black, Asian and mixed heritage children were more likely to be in isolation than their White British peers
• Isolated pupils reported reduced belonging, poorer relationships with teachers, and (for girls) lower levels of mental wellbeing than a very closely matched sample of their non-isolated peers.
• Schools with higher rates of suspensions also tended to isolate more pupils, undermining the idea that internal exclusion prevents more serious sanctions.

鈥淚nternal exclusion is happening every day in classrooms across England, yet it is largely hidden from view,鈥� said lead author Dr Emma Thornton. 鈥淲e know that it can provide an effective short-term solution for teachers dealing with disruption in their class, who want to create the conditions for all pupils to thrive. But our findings show that it is disproportionately applied to young people most in need of support, and leads to lost learning, weaker connections with teachers, and in some cases poorer mental health.鈥�

#BeeWell is one of 40 organisations calling for a government definition of inclusion as measurable through data on the amount of lost learning - time spent away from the classroom through isolation, suspension and absence - and through pupil experience data, such as the #BeeWell data used in this study. The Inclusion for All campaign asks that the upcoming Schools White Paper should provide guidance and support schools to continuously improve and reduce the amount of time spent away from classrooms and peers.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 needed is more research and practice-sharing on effective ways to set up internal spaces that are diagnostic, supportive and get children back to class as soon as possible,鈥� said Kiran Gill, CEO of charity The Difference charity. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why The Difference is working with schools across the country to better measure inclusion, and to set up spaces internally to support young people in crisis before their challenges escalate.  We鈥檙e excited to bring some of those school leaders together with #BeeWell and others at our annual conference IncludED in January to share strategies that are working, as measured by pupils鈥� own experiences.鈥�

The research is part of the , a major study of young people鈥檚 wellbeing in Greater 野狼社区, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, funded by The University of 野狼社区 and partners including The National Lottery Community Fund.

The study also reflects a global concern. As house prices rise faster than wages in cities across the world, young people from 野狼社区 to Nairobi are being told that property is their route to security. Yet many find themselves excluded from ownership or holding assets they cannot make use of.

鈥淭his research shows how property has become both a promise and a trap,鈥� Dr Lockwood added. 鈥淚t offers the illusion of escape from precarious work - but for many young people, it never delivers.鈥�

The findings shed new light on how land, property and housing shape the futures of young people in rapidly urbanising regions, and they raise urgent questions about inequality, opportunity and the future of work worldwide.

A team from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, working with industry partner Q-Sustain Limited, an engineering consultant based in 野狼社区, is designing innovative vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) that capture airflow generated by trains moving through tunnels 鈥� known as the piston effect.

The project, which begins with the Transpennine Route Upgrade project, will explore how this untapped energy source can be integrated into transport infrastructure, providing clean electricity and supporting the UK鈥檚 decarbonisation goals.

Early feasibility studies have already confirmed the potential of tunnel airflow, and the team has developed a bespoke techno-economic analysis (TEA) toolkit to evaluate performance and commercial viability of such designs. Available through , the software offers a practical platform for assessing renewable energy projects, with potential applications beyond just rail.

The project, funded under EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and under the remit of 鈥榮ustainable engineering and transport systems鈥�, could transform how transport infrastructure is designed and operated in the future.

Academic Lead of the project at The University of 野狼社区, said: 鈥淥ur VerXis toolkit represents a leap forward in renewable energy research. By turning minimal tunnel geometry and schedule data into bank-level economic indicators in minutes, we're bridging the gap between academic innovation and real-world deployment, making piston-wind VAWTs not just technically viable, but genuinely investable.鈥�

Mr Azhar Quaiyoom, Director of industrial partner Q-Sustain Limited, added: 鈥淲hat excites us most about VerXis is its ability to rapidly test and scale turbine designs tailored to each tunnel environment. This toolkit enables smarter, data-driven decisions, helping us deploy sustainable solutions in railway infrastructure that align with the UK's net-zero ambitions and calculates the return on investment for our clients鈥�

The next stage will see prototype turbines tested in real-world tunnel environments, alongside further development of the VerXis toolkit, with the ambition of influencing future rail energy standards.

If successful, the approach could be applied not only to rail but also to other transport networks, providing a scalable model for integrating renewable energy into infrastructure across the UK and beyond.

野狼社区鈥檚 Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno celebrated when she heard the Government had decided of the 2014 Children Act, which said involvement of both parents would improve their children鈥檚 welfare, creating unsafe contact arrangements 

The decision follows years of advocacy and research and acknowledges the devastating impact the presumption had on victims:  the mothers and their children.

 Further changes put forward will also automatically restrict parents convicted of rape resulting in the birth of a child and for those convicted of serious sexual offences against any child鈥攏ot just their own- from having access to children. 

And parents convicted of abuse can no longer make decisions about a child鈥檚 schooling, medical care, or travel, removing the burden on survivors to apply through the family courts to provide immediate protection post-sentencing. 

Dr Dalgarno is also the Director and Founder of a collective of multidisciplinary professionals working in health, human rights, law, finance, social care and domestic abuse researchers. 

Her research  highlighted the urgent need for systemic reform, and included a study of the shocking impact of family courts on women鈥檚 health.

Another study, reported in the , revealed how nine dads accused of child sex abuse won parental access.

She said: 鈥淲e are overwhelmed with the extraordinary news that the presumption of parental involvement is to be revoked.

鈥淭his marks a historic and long-awaited moment of justice for victims of domestic abuse across the country.

鈥淲e would like to send our deepest gratitude to the many researchers and professionals - and the wider academic and survivor communities - whose tireless efforts have illuminated the harms and helped build the case for reform.鈥�

鈥淟ed by Claire Throssell, who turned unimaginable personal tragedy鈥攖he loss of her sons Jack and Paul鈥攊nto powerful advocacy that has shaped national policy.鈥�

She added: 鈥淚 also pay tribute to SHERA founder members, especially Natalie Page of The Court Said, Survivor Family Network, and Eight Street LLP, who have dedicated over a decade of their lives to this cause.

鈥淭he Victims and Courts Bill amendments follow a long-standing campaign led by Natalie Fleet MP, Baroness Harman, and Jess Asato MP.

鈥淎nd we also recognise the unwavering commitment of Dr Adrienne Barnett of Brunel University and Dr Charlotte Proudman of Right to Equality, whose legal and academic leadership has been instrumental.

鈥淎bove all, we thank the victim-survivors who have shared their stories, fought for justice, and dedicated their lives to this cause. There is much more work to be done, but this victory should be celebrated and belongs to you.鈥�

Dr Dalgarno also thanked Professor Arpana Verma, Alex Davies-Jones MP, Josh Barbarinde MP, Dr Marie Tidball MP,  Josh Fenton-Glynn MP, Alison Hume MP and Jess Phillips MP, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, the London Victims鈥� Commissioner, Women鈥檚 Aid, Profs Birchall, Hester, Kelly and Choudhry, CWA, Kaleidoscopic, PEEPSA, Rights of Women, FiLia Hague Mothers and all those across the VAWG sector who have long advocated for these changes.