Newsroom University of Ұ��

Ұ�� leads global study to set graphene quality standard

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:20:43 +0000

Graphene could transform everything from electric cars to smartphones, but only if we can guarantee its quality. The University of Ұ�� has led the world’s largest study to set a new global benchmark for testing graphene’s single-atom thickness. Working with the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and 15 leading research institutes worldwide, the team has developed a reliable method using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that will underpin future industrial standards.

Researchers at The University of Ұ��, working with the UK’s National Physical Laboratory and 15 international partners, have developed a robust protocol using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results, published in , will underpin a new ISO technical specification for graphene.

“To incorporate graphene and other 2D materials into industrial applications, from light-weight vehicles to sports equipment, touch screens, sensors and electronics, you need to know you’re working with the right material. This study sets a global benchmark that industry can trust,” said , who worked on the research during his PhD.

“Electron diffraction has long been used to distinguish monolayer from few‑layer graphene, but it’s often applied without a full treatment of uncertainties. By collaborating across 15 leading labs. including the original pioneers, we’ve mapped the pitfalls and shown how to get reliable results” added Dr Evan Tillotson.

“We’ve designed this protocol so it works in real labs, not just in specialist centres. And for organisations without TEM capability, we can provide measurements commercially through our partnership with the ,” said , Professor of Materials.

The findings are used directly within the international standard, currently in press and expected to be published in 2026. “This work builds on the NPL Good Practice Guide 145 'Characterisation of the Structure of Graphene’ developed in partnership with the University of Ұ��, and one of NPL's most downloaded guides.", notes , Principal Scientist of the Surface Technology Group and Advanced Materials Strategy Lead at NPL.

This research was published in the journal 2D Materials.

Full title:

DOI: 10.1088/2053-1583/ae2ca1

Professor Sarah Haigh is available for interview on request.

Ұ�� research reveals how global laws can give workers real power

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A new study in the has revealed that European ‘due diligence’ laws designed to make multinational companies accountable for labour and environmental abuses are beginning to give a voice to some of the world’s most vulnerable workers.

Focusing on South Africa’s wine industry, the research - led by Professor Matthew Alford from The University of Ұ��’s Alliance Ұ�� Business School, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Cape Town, University of Wurzburg and TIE Germany - found that farm workers and local unions are using Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act to push for better working conditions and corporate accountability.

The 2023 law requires German companies to ensure human rights are respected throughout their global supply chains - from vineyards in the Western Cape, to supermarket shelves in Berlin.

The research team discovered that South African trade unions and community organisations have started invoking this legislation to open direct talks with farm owners and European retailers. In one case, the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU) used the new law to press a local wine farm to address dangerous working conditions.

“Workers were suffering back injuries, lacked clean drinking water and were exposed to pesticides,” said Dr Alford. “By referencing the new German law, local organisers were able to secure regular meetings with management - something that hadn’t happened before - and win concrete improvements.”

These changes included safer equipment, better sanitation and running water for workers’ homes. According to one union organiser interviewed for the study, “For many of the workers, it is the first time ever that they sat at the table and had a discussion with a white person…in the beginning, the workers were a bit shy but once they saw that the management would actually listen to them and even respond to their demands, they got very confident.”

The research also highlights how South African campaigners are using the same laws to challenge European chemical companies which export pesticides to the country that are banned in the EU. The Women on Farms Project has joined forces with German partners, including Oxfam Germany, to explore using the legislation to seek compensation and push for stricter oversight.

The study demonstrates that the laws are opening up new possibilities for workers thousands of miles away from Europe to hold powerful companies to account, but it also shows how their effectiveness depends on awareness, solidarity and cross-border cooperation. It also warns that while Europe’s new regulations hold promise, they are still at an early stage and risk being weakened by political pushback.

Higher daylight exposure improves cognitive performance, study finds

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:17:00 +0000

A real world led by University of Ұ�� neuroscientists has shown that higher daytime light exposure positively influences different aspects of cognition.

The first study of its kind, published in the journal Communications Psychology and funded by Wellcome Trust, also showed that stable light exposure across a week and uninterrupted exposure during a day had similar effects.

Participants in the study experienced improved subjective sleepiness, the ability to maintain focused attention and 7-10% faster reaction speeds under bright light when compared to recent dim conditions.

Compared with their peers who went to bed later, participants with earlier bedtimes tended to be both more reliably wakeful under bright morning light - and sleepy under dimmer evening -light.

Lead author Dr Altug Didikoglu from The University of Ұ�� said: “Our findings show that outside controlled laboratory conditions, where participants continue their daily routines, both recent and long-term light exposure positively influences cognitive performance.

“The beneficial effects were associated with short-term bright light and habitual light exposure patterns characterized by brighter daytimes, earlier bedtimes, and higher consistency in light exposure.”

“These improvements in cognitive performance may have practical implications for health, safety, and work efficiency, particularly in low-light workplaces, during extended work hours, or night shifts.”

Being exposed to bright, stable daytime light was linked to enhanced and more sustained attention in a visual search task in which participant were asked to find a specific target on a page.

Higher daytime light exposure and less switches between light and dark were linked to improved cognitive.

And higher daytime light exposure and earlier estimated bedtimes were also associated with stronger relationships between recent light exposure and subjective sleepiness.

However, neither the time of day nor time awake significantly impacted cognitive performance; the effect of light was stronger than the effect of time of day.

The effects, argue the scientists, are likely initiated by activation of the ipRGC system in the thin layer of light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into signals we interpret as vision, known as the retina.

Special photosensitive retinal cells in the ipRGC system containing the photopigment melanopsin are particularly sensitive to blue-green light and are responsible for non-image-forming functions, such as regulating circadian rhythms, the pupillary light reflex, and mood.

The effects of personal ambient light exposure were measured in a sample of 58 adults over seven days of daily life.

The participants wore a special daylight exposure monitor on their wrists which effectively told the scientists how well light exposure influenced their internal body clock.

In addition, a smartphone app called Brightertime, developed at the University of Ұ��, provided data on human cognitive performance compared to light exposure in their everyday life.

Forty-one of the participants also attended a lab session which investigated how their eye pupils responded to light and compared actual light levels and their perception of light. However, this does not directly predict how light affects cognitive performance in everyday life

Dr Altug added:“Light is a fundamental environmental cue that governs numerous biological processes in humans, including body clocks, sleep, and cognition

“However, despite substantial findings from controlled laboratory studies, little is known about how these effects translate to real-world environments, where light exposure is dynamic and intertwined with daily routines.

“We think this study is an important addition to our understanding of this area of research.

” Scientists already know that exposure to electrical light at night is known to disrupt sleep quality and delays the biological clock.

“Our new study paper now shows that bright daytime light is also critical by supporting cognitive function.”

The paper Relationships between light exposure and aspects of cognitive function in everyday life published in Communications Psychology is available . DOI:
The study authors previously led a on recommended healthy lighting levels: bright light during the day, dim light before sleep, and darkness at night. They also previously that meeting recommended light levels support our sleep .The current results align with these recommendations and suggest that following them long-term may also support cognitive performance.

The Open Research Fellowship Programme at The University of Ұ��

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:56:33 +0000

is pleased to announce our newly appointed as part of the at The University of Ұ��.

What Is the Open Research Fellowship Programme? The Fellowship Programme is funded via the University's and is part of the University's commitment to enhancing . This initiative seeks to champion open and reproducible research practices and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive community at our University. The Programme offers financial support covering salary costs, this year for one day a week for up to 7 months, allowing Fellows to focus on their own Open Research interests.

Goals and Benefits: The Fellowship Programme aims to cultivate a new generation of Open Research champions at the University. Fellows become part of a network of champions and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in Open Research within their disciplines and across the University.

Introducing the 2025/2026 Open Research Fellows and their projects:

Ashma Krishan, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health: IMproving the usefulness and impact of research Pre-REGistration (IMPREG).

Danna Gifford, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health: Building capacity for open research with large-scale microbial genomics data.

Guilherme Fians, Faculty of Humanities: Recognising wiki contributions as co-produced research outputs: A toolkit for open scholarship.

Phil Reed, Faculty of Science and Engineering: Continuing digital research technical professional (dRTP) career development at Ұ��, nationally and beyond.

Ramiro Bravo, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health: Enhancing Collaboration in Research Projects and Data Management.

Zewen Lu, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health: INSPECT-JR: A tool to check trustworthiness of randomised controlled trials in journal reviewing process.

Zuzanna Zagrodzka, Faculty of Science and Engineering: Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) as Catalysts for Open Research.

Open Research at The University of Ұ��: Last year, Professor Duncan Ivison (President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Ұ��) was in conversation with Swara Patel (PhD student, Cancer Research UK Ұ�� Institute) and Dr Cathal Rogers (Research Culture and Assessment Manager, The University of Ұ��) regarding Open Research at The University of Ұ��. This video highlights how Open Research reflects our values as an institution, enhances the impact of our research and the importance of programmes such as the Open Research Fellows to progress Open Research at The University of Ұ��.

Stay Updated: We’ll share news and updates from our Open Research Fellows as they progress their projects. Subscribe to the and check out our blog to stay updated. If you have any questions, please email us at openresearch@manchester.ac.uk.

Regius Professor Philip Withers takes up joint appointment between the Universities of Ұ�� and Monash

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:13:30 +0000

Regius Professor Philip Withers FRS FREng has taken up a five-year joint appointment between The University of Ұ�� and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, strengthening strategic links between the two institutions.

The appointment, which began on 1 January 2026, follows a year-long sabbatical spent at Monash University and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, and reflects a shared ambition to deepen collaboration between the UK and Australia in advanced materials research and manufacturing.

In line with this, Professor Withers will also take up responsibility for identification and establishment of Strategic Research Partnerships at the .

Reflecting on the new role, said: “During my time in Melbourne, I saw enormous potential for deeper collaboration between UK and Australian universities, particularly in Advanced Materials Manufacturing. Working across these two world-class institutions, and more broadly between our two countries, offers significant opportunities for innovation and impact. Furthermore, this three-way appointment also allows me to build on the strong national platform that the Royce has established over its first decade, by helping to develop and sustain robust international academic and industrial partnerships.”

The University of Ұ�� is home to more than 700 materials experts whose research is revolutionising industries through the development of advanced materials that unlock new levels of performance, efficiency and sustainability. Supported by the University’s £885 million investment in its campus over the past decade, researchers are at the forefront of materials innovation, delivering game-changing solutions across sectors from healthcare to manufacturing, tackling global challenges and reinforcing the UK’s reputation as a technology ‘superpower’.

Over the next five years, Professor Withers’ joint appointment will support collaborative research programmes between Ұ�� and Monash, enable greater researcher and student exchange, and strengthen engagement with industry partners across both countries, particularly in the area of advanced materials manufacturing.

, Vice Dean and Head of School of Natural Sciences at The University of Ұ�� said: “This is an excellent opportunity to build on our existing links with Monash and the exciting future that this collaboration will deliver. Phil’s joint appointment will enable us to create multiple strands of activity across a wide range of materials science and engineering and beyond.”

Professor Mahmoud Mostafavi, Head of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University, added: “Regius Professor Withers, FRS is a world-renowned materials scientist and engineer and a leading international figure in key subjects. We are extremely delighted that he will be joining Monash at this critical time for Australia. In addition to his extraordinary research leadership, Professor Withers will be acting as a bridge between materials research in Australia and UK, Europe, and the rest of world, particularly through his affiliation with the Henry .”&�Բ��;

Professor Withers is the inaugural Regius Professor of Materials and his research focuses on understanding how engineering materials perform, particularly in demanding environments, and on developing new materials with improved durability and performance. He is internationally recognised for his pioneering use of X-ray imaging techniques to create three-dimensional images of materials, revealing their microstructure and identifying defects or damage in engineering components.

In recognition of this work, the Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility (HMXIF), established by Professor Withers, was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2014. The HIMXIF, has since grown into one of the most extensive suites of 3D X-ray imaging facilities in the world and now host the.

Professor Withers is a Fellow of both the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Academia Europea as well as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Indian National Science Academy. In 2012, he became the inaugural Director of the BP International Centre for Advanced Materials, which focuses on understanding and developing materials for the energy sector. As Chief Scientist at the Henry Royce Institute, he leads the development of the Institute’s research strategy - all expertise he will bring to his joint appointment with Monash University.

Researchers develop automatic tool to prevent hip dislocation in children with Cerebral Palsy

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Researchers from the Universities of Ұ�� and Liverpool, together with Ұ�� Imaging Ltd, (a local company that specialises in developing AI medical devices), have received a £1.2 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) ‘Invention for Innovation’ (i4i) programme, to build an automatic system for measuring hip displacement in cerebral palsy patients.

“AI will revolutionise the care we provide, enhance diagnostics and care pathways and free up time for our clinicians to do what they do best: caring for our children and young people. This is a great example - a practical tool directly focused on better care for children with cerebral palsy” – Lead Clinician, Professor Daniel Perry (surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and NIHR Research Professor).

Children with cerebral palsy are at high risk of developing hip problems, with the ball of the hip moving out of the socket. This movement can cause the child severe pain, problems sitting down, and difficulties with personal care. The dislocation, however, can be prevented through regular X-ray measurements and prompt intervention with reliable procedures if a problem is spotted.

The system, developed in conjuncture with clinicians at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, is intended to be integrated into the Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway (CPIP), the national framework used to monitor the musculoskeletal systems of children with cerebral palsy. CPIP involves affected children receiving regular assessment, physical examination and regular hip X-rays, which are then examined by medical experts in order to identify changes and predict risks.

This process, however, is not nationally standardised, and uptake differs between regions. Due to the large amount of clinician time it consumes, and the extra costs and delays involved, levels of CPIP uptake are often limited by the resources available to a particular region. This means that the standard of care for a child with cerebral palsy may be higher in one area of the country than another.

This new tool, however, will help to change that - by automating the process of hip x-ray interpretation, data capture and monitoring, enabling more patients to benefit from early detection and prevention as a result.

Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: "This project demonstrates the NIHR’s commitment to transforming healthcare for all of society, adults and children. We are already supporting research that embeds innovation directly into NHS services and tools like this automatic AI system have real potential to reduce waiting lists, improve long‑term outcomes for children with cerebral palsy, and help clinicians make better decisions at earlier stages of care.

Dr Claudia Lindner, who co-leads the project with Prof. Cootes, states, “This software can be used to ensure prompt and consistent diagnoses. We want to make sure that every child with cerebral palsy in the UK receives the same high level of care.”

The AI algorithm has been trained using thousands of X-ray images and is capable of automatically locating the outline of children’s hip bones, and is able to detect cases where the hips are just beginning to dislocate, through to full dislocation. The accuracy of the tool has been thoroughly tested and was found by researchers to be similar to that of human medical experts, while taking a fraction of the time to perform the analysis.

Ұ�� Imaging Ltd will take the AI algorithm developed at the University of Ұ�� and build a Medical Device that will be integrated into hospital systems, making it easy for clinicians to use.

The medical device will be used to monitor hip movement, picking out areas of concern in hip X-rays and flagging up areas where a serious problem is likely to occur, identifying when preventative intervention is likely to be needed.

The researchers say that by using the tool, clinicians will save significant amounts of time and will improve patient outcomes by speeding up the treatment process.

Professor Timothy Cootes, who works on the research, said this, “We hope that by automating this process, we can standardise our level of care across the board, and ensure that the CPIP can be fully integrated throughout the NHS.”

By using this tool to processes thousands of images across the country, X-ray image data will be automatically entered into the national CPIP database. This will enable new research to better understand the course of the disease and the benefits of monitoring.

Dr Steve Cooke, national orthopaedic lead for CPIP, remarks, “With nearly 14,000 children on CPIP there is a huge opportunity for ground-breaking research, but we need more and better data. An accurate, streamlined tool that automates what is currently a labour-intensive task will transform the way we monitor the hip in children with cerebral palsy.”

Dr Tom Williams, Chief Technical Officer at Ұ�� Imaging Ltd, commented, “We are excited to be furthering our working relationships with our esteemed academic and clinical colleagues. We look forward to bringing our expertise in translating leading-edge AI algorithms into devices that directly benefit patients, ensuring real-world impact from cutting-edge research.”

Announcing the launch of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Alliance Ұ�� Business School (AMBS) is delighted to announce the launch of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation (CTLI), a new hub dedicated to advancing educational excellence and innovation across our community.

Under the leadership of Professor Ali Owrak, the CTLI will serve as a catalyst for transformative education at AMBS, supporting both educators and learners through a wide range of services and opportunities. The Centre’s mission is to foster pedagogical excellence, drive innovation, and champion inclusive partnerships that empower our academic community.

Empowering Educators and Students

The CTLI offers practical support for academic staff seeking to enhance their teaching and student engagement. Services include tailored workshops, one-to-one consultations, and access to resources for course design, assessment strategies, and the effective use of digital tools in the classroom.

Educators can also benefit from interactive workshops, peer observation training, and the pedagogical innovation series. The voluntary peer observation scheme will provide a supportive environment for sharing feedback and learning from colleagues.

Values

At the heart of the CTLI are the values of Excellence, Partnership, Inclusivity, Curiosity, and Trustworthiness. The Centre is committed to developing equitable learning environments, accessible teaching practices, and forward-thinking approaches that support staff and students.

Professor Ali Owrak:

“This marks an exciting new chapter for AMBS. Our vision is to create a collaborative hub where colleagues can explore innovative approaches to teaching, share ideas, and engage in reflective practice. I look forward to welcoming colleagues and working together to shape the future of education at AMBS.”&�Բ��;

Professor Ken McPhail:

“At a time of rapid change, it is vital that we continue to innovate in how we teach, learn, and collaborate. The Centre will embody our commitment to educational excellence, inclusivity, and partnership—ensuring that our staff and students are equipped to thrive.”&�Բ��;

For more information, visit the CTLI page on the AMBS intranet or contact the team (based on the sixth floor at AMBS, room 6.030) or by emailing CTLI@manchester.ac.uk.

New Publication in Social Network Analysis and Mining

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:15:47 +0000

Philip Leifeld, Professor in Social Statistics at The University of Ұ��, together with Yuanyuan Shang, has published a new study in Social Network Analysis and Mining (2026): Applying a Panel Network Formation Model to Limited Partnership Matching in the Private Capital Market.

Abstract

In private capital investment, limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) frequently encounter the challenge of finding suitable counterparts amid limited information, a process often hindered by market inefficiencies. This article addresses this issue by exploring the micro-level mechanisms that shape private capital networks, employing temporal exponential random graph models. Our findings uncover activity and popularity effects, persistence mechanisms, and homophily in preferences concerning region, strategy, and industry. These factors jointly shape the dynamically evolving network structure across asset classes and the hybrid network with all asset classes, revealing a shared network formation process. This article offers practical insights into the matching problem within the private capital market.

Read the article in

Time of day link to heart surgery outcomes likely

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:01:00 +0000

Heart surgery beginning in the late morning is linked to a modest increase in cardiovascular mortality when compared to other times of the day, according to a study led by researchers at The University of Ұ��.

The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Ұ�� Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is published in the journal today

The findings, based on the analysis of four linked national datasets comprising over 24,000 patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, hold true even when accounting for the different complexities and durations of the surgery.

The data showed late-morning surgery was linked to an 18% higher risk of death - almost one fifth - from heart related causes compared with early-morning surgery.

And the most common surgical start time was 07:00–09:59- early morning - accounting for 47% of all surgeries.

Though complication rates and readmissions were unaffected by the time of day, the findings still pose questions about the best time to schedule heart surgery.

They also give an important insight into the potential influence of the body clock - a set of 24-hour biological cycles present in our cells and organs – on surgery as a whole.

Lead author is Dr Gareth Kitchen, Clinical Senior Lecturer at The University of Ұ��. He is also part of the Respiratory Theme and Co-Lead for Industry and Commercialisation at the NIHR Ұ�� BRC.

He said: “Given that over 25,000 heart operations are performed across the UK every year with around a 2.7% mortality, even small improvements in timing-related outcomes could have significant benefits to patients.

“This research shows a slightly higher risk of heart related mortality is likely to occur when heart surgery starts in in late morning.

“However, though the risk is statistically significant, it is relatively modest and patients can be reassured that most people will almost certainly be unaffected.

“It is though, our duty as clinicians to ensure the best possible outcomes, and moderating timings is a potentially inexpensive method to achieve that.”

The researchers compared four starting times for the 3 to 5 hour operations: early morning (07:00 to 09:59); late morning (10:00 to 11:59); early afternoon (12:00 to 13:59); and late afternoon (14:00 to 19:59).

The main outcomes they examined were hazard of death from cardiovascular disease and time to hospital readmission for heart attack or acute heart failure.

Secondary outcomes included duration of postoperative hospital stay, occurrence of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

The researchers accounted for potential bias by taking into account key mortality predictors such as age, sex, diabetes and urgency of surgery.

Dr Kitchen added: “Integrating body clock biology into the planning of heart surgery could support a more personalised, precision medicine approach.

“As some people’s body clock makes them early birds and others makes them night owls, it is worth exploring tailored operative times through further research.

“With more understanding of how body clock biology varies between individuals, precision and personalised scheduling of cardiac surgery may one day allow us to achieve better patient outcomes.”

The paper Time of Day and Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery in the UK: A Secondary Analysis of Linked National Datasets is available . doi.org/10.1111/anae.70125

Scientists develop stronger, longer-lasting perovskite solar cells

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:47 +0000

Scientists have found a way to make perovskite solar cells not only highly efficient but also remarkably stable, addressing one of the main challenges holding the technology back from widespread use.

Perovskite has long been hailed as a game-changer for the next generation of solar power. However, advances in material design are still needed to boost the efficiency and durability of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity.

Led by from The University of Ұ��, the research team achieved this by fine-tuning the molecules that coat the perovskite surfaces. They utilised specially designed small molecules, known as amidinium ligands, which act like a molecular “glue” to hold the perovskite structure together.

The study, published today in the journal , focuses on understanding how the chemical structure of the amidinium ligand controls the formation of the low-dimensional perovskite phase atop the conventional three-dimensional perovskite.

These highly ordered layers form a smooth, stable protective layer that prevents tiny defects from forming, allowing electrical charges to flow more efficiently and preventing the devices from degrading under heat or light.

Using this approach, the team developed solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 25.4%, while maintaining over 95% of performance after 1,100 hours of continuous operation at 85°C under full sunlight.

Professor Anthopoulos said: “Perovskite solar cells are seen as a cheaper, lightweight and flexible alternative to traditional silicon panels, but they have faced challenges with long-term stability. Current state-of-the-art perovskite materials are known to be unstable under heat or light, causing the cells to degrade faster. The amidinium ligands we’ve developed, and the new knowledge gained, allow the controlled growth of high-quality, stable perovskite layers. This could overcome one of the last major hurdles facing perovskite solar cell technology and ensure it lasts long enough for large-scale deployment.”&�Բ��;

This research was published in the journal Science

Full title: Multivalent ligands regulate dimensional engineering for inverted perovskite solar modules

DOI: 10.1126/science.aea0656

URL:

Test shows when safe to stop antibiotics in sepsis patients

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000

A simple blood test can tell doctors when it is safe to stop antibiotics in patients recovering from sepsis, a review led by University of Ұ�� researchers has found.

The review including 21 studies involving more than 6,000 patients who underwent blood tests for procalcitonin, a biomarker that becomes elevated during bacterial infections, is published in the journal today (9/01/26).

The analysis was undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Applied Research Collaboration Greater Ұ�� (ARC-GM), the NIHR Ұ�� HealthTech Research Centre in Emergency and Acute Care and the NIHR Ұ�� Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), in collaboration with The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Ұ�� University NHS Foundation Trust.

It revealed that health professionals who used procalcitonin tests as part of their decision making were able to safely stop antibiotics about two days earlier than when they were not used, without increasing risk of death.

The review findings suggest that more, higher-quality studies are still needed to determine whether another test, known as C-reactive protein is safe to use when deciding about antibiotic use in these patients.

The results are an important milestone in the care of sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s response to infection damages its own tissues, leading to organ failure and death.

Treatment for the condition, one of the leading causes of death worldwide, usually involves 7-10 days of antibiotics.

But using antibiotics for too long can cause serious problems, including antibiotic resistance, bacterial infections that no longer respond to medicine, a global health crisis which kills millions globally.

Reduction in antibiotic use could also provide significant cost savings to health systems and limit unwanted drug side-effects.

UK health authorities, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have not recommended routine use of these blood tests in hospitals because earlier evidence was limited and lacked UK trial data.

However, the review addresses the gap in knowledge and includes recent clinical trial data from the UK ADAPT-Sepsis trial, also led by University of Ұ�� researchers.

In their review, the researchers assessed randomised controlled trials which compared procalcitonin tests with standard care and C-reactive protein tests with standard care, where antibiotics are given according to international, national, or local clinical guidelines, without biomarker testing.

In patients with sepsis, the findings show that procalcitonin tests may help healthcare professionals stop antibiotics about two days earlier than standard care and may reduce the risk of death by 5%.

However, it is still unclear whether using procalcitonin tests prevents people from getting sick again or leads to longer hospital stays.

Study co-author, Professor Paul Dark, is Vice Dean for health and care partnerships at the University of Ұ�� and Professor of critical care medicine at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: "Our findings show that using a procalcitonin test can help healthcare professionals safely stop antibiotics for people with sepsis more quickly. This is exciting because it supports safe care whilst reducing the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections in the future.

“This will be better for patients, who will experience more limited side effects, and better for health care systems by providing significant cost savings.”

He added: “Our recent cost effectiveness that was part of the ADAPT-Sepsis trial also suggests that implementing daily procalcitonin measurement into routine NHS sepsis care would likely be cost effective.

“This approach supports the UK’s 10-Year Health Plan to tackle antibiotic resistance and could inform future NICE sepsis guidelines, paving the way for routine use of these blood tests in sepsis care.

The paper Clinical effectiveness of procalcitonin- or C-reactive protein-guided antibiotic discontinuation protocols for adult patients who are critically ill with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis is available

Third Eve fellowship to understand and prevent aggressive womb cancer announced

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The Eve appeal in partnership with North West Cancer Research, has awarded a third Fellowship to Dr Sarah Kitson, gynaecological cancer surgeon and researcher at the University of Ұ��.

Her three-year Fellowship will focus on understanding how the most aggressive type of womb cancer called p53-abnormal (p53abn) womb cancer, develops, who is most at risk, and whether early changes can be targeted to prevent it.

Womb cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer, and the fourth most common cancer in women. It affects 9,700 women and people with gynae organs each year in the UK. There are four main subtypes, and p53abn womb cancers are the most aggressive. They are more likely to spread, more likely to return after treatment, and have worse outcomes than other types of womb cancer. They are also more common in Black women.

Despite the impact these cancers have, we still don’t know what causes them to develop, whether early warning signs can be detected, or how we might prevent them. Dr Sarah Kitson hopes to change this. She aims to improve our understanding of how these cancers develop, find out whether the process is the same for all p53abn womb cancers, and learn about the risk factors that make someone more likely to develop it. Her hope is that this research will reveal ways to prevent these cancers from developing and help save lives.

To do this, Sarah will invite 50 women undergoing surgery for p53abn womb cancer to donate blood, womb tissue and a cervical screening sample. She will use these samples to look for the earliest gene changes that signal a cancer is forming, examine how the cancer grows and changes over time, and explore how the body’s own defence system responds during the early stages. She hopes this information could allow researchers to identify individuals at a high risk of p53abn womb cancer long before symptoms appear. This would hopefully open the door to future screening tests or ways to prevent it developing.

If successful, this project could point towards potential new drug treatments to try stop p53abn womb cancers from developing. The research team would then need to develop and test these treatments in the laboratory before moving on to clinical trials with people at a high risk of developing this type of womb cancer.

Dr Sarah Kitson, Eve Fellow and Principal Investigator said: “I am extremely honoured to have been awarded The Eve Appeal/North West Cancer Research Fund Fellowship to learn more about how p53abn womb cancers develop and to explore ways in which we could try and stop these aggressive cancers from forming. The two charities have contributed greatly to cancer research and gynaecological cancer prevention, and it will be a huge privilege to join their world-leading groups of researchers.”

Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal said: “p53-abnormal womb cancers are the most aggressive of the womb cancer subtypes, and we urgently need answers about how they develop and how we can prevent them. Sarah’s work will take us a step closer to reducing one of the biggest inequalities in gynaecological cancers, that Black women are twice as likely to die from womb cancer as their White peers. We are incredibly proud to support her, and we believe this project could help change the future of this aggressive form of womb cancer.”

Alastair Richards, CEO of North West Cancer Research said: “We are incredibly proud to once again partner with The Eve Appeal to co-fund another outstanding research Fellow. Together, our charities have now invested more than £1.2 million in pioneering gynaecological cancer research. In the North West, womb cancer rates continue to rise, and aggressive cases like p53abn cancers pose a real challenge for women in our region. Dr Kitson’s project is especially important because it seeks to understand how these cancers begin—and how we might stop them. This is exactly the kind of ambitious, high-impact research we are committed to supporting.”

Findings from Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Evaluation published today

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:55:57 +0000

An by researchers from University of Ұ�� and ICF International provided lessons learned from the evaluation in terms of clinical governance, clinical supervision, skill mix, digital infrastructure and funding model.

Principal Investigator Dr Imelda McDermott said: “Our evaluation shows how different independent prescribing models were expected to work (or not) and achieve their intended outcomes.”

Under the NHS 10 year health plan, community pharmacies will become better integrated with primary care and general practice; pharmacists are becoming increasingly clinically qualified, many with the ability to prescribe.

In anticipation of the change , NHS England is running the Independent Prescribing in Community Pharmacy Pathfinder , which was evaluated by the researchers.

The programme allows community pharmacist prescribers in around 200 ‘pathfinder’ sites to deliver prescribing models as part of integrated primary care clinical services.

Participating pharmacists reported significant increases in job satisfaction and many felt the programme "saved" them from leaving the sector by allowing them to use their full clinical skills.

The pathfinder sites tested three different clinical models to examine how pharmacist prescribing can be incorporated into community pharmacy clinical services:

Existing services, including acute minor illnesses and contraception
Long-term conditions, including prescribing for cardiovascular diseases (e.g. hypertension, lipid optimisation), respiratory diseases, and women's health.
Novel services, including reducing over prescribing, reviewing antidepressants and menopause

For the Long-term condition models, a ‘joint partner’ approach between the pharmacist prescriber and the local GP practice was fundamental, to ensure joined up collaboration for improved patient access and care.

However the implementation and long-term viability of an IP service were found to be dependent on five key areas as laid out by Stephen , Minister of State for Care: clinical governance, clinical supervision, optimal skill mix, digital infrastructure and a financially viable funding model.

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) - the regional NHS organisation in England responsible for planning and funding local health services - were instrumental in guiding sites through assurance processes, developing clinical governance, and fostering stronger relationships between GPs, community pharmacy and other stakeholders.

However, securing clear indemnity to deliver pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacy was challenging due to insurance companies’ lack of familiarity with the new model.

Clinical supervision, something which is traditionally scarce in community pharmacy, was usually provided by a GP through regular one-to-one sessions and was highly valued by pharmacist prescribers as it helped to build their confidence and GP’s trust.

The researchers also found:

Commissioning strategies were needed to generate predictable patient volumes to ensure a financially viable service
Having read-only access to patients’ medications and limited details of their medical histories made holistic patient care more challenging. Those IP pharmacists who had read/write access to patient records found it easier to collaborate in a timely fashion with GPs and other GP practice based healthcare professionals.
A good skill mix is needed across the wider pharmacy team to ensure pharmacist prescribers have the capacity to deliver the service.

Iran protests have put the country’s political system on trial

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:51:01 +0000

Protests that began in late December over rising prices and a collapsing currency have now spread to most of Iran’s 31 provinces, with demonstrators taking aim at the country’s rulers. The demonstrations signal a deep challenge to a political order that many Iranians see as incapable of delivering stability, dignity or a viable future.

The unrest poses the most serious challenge to since 2022. That year, nationwide protests erupted over the death of 22-year-old in police custody after she was arrested for violating hijab rules. Those were ultimately suppressed through force.

Iran’s political establishment has for decades defined itself through permanent confrontation on multiple fronts: with , the and what it sees as global imperialism. This posture has reshaped domestic life by subordinating the economy, governance and social stability to ideological resistance.

What the latest protests reveal is not simply frustration with the hardship that has accompanied this political stance. They seem to reflect a growing consensus among Iranians that this order into something functional and must therefore be replaced.

This has been apparent in the language used by the protesters. Many demonstrators have linked their daily hardships to the regime’s foreign policy priorities, expressed perhaps most clearly that has echoed through the streets of various Iranian cities in recent days: “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”

The slogan is a rejection of the regime’s official stance that sacrifice at home is necessary to fulfil ideological goals of “resistance” abroad. Iran has long pursued a policy of supporting militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to counter the influence of the US and Israel in the Middle East.

Chants of – a reference to Iran’s ageing supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – are yet more evidence of the broad rejection of the political order among the Iranian population. They signal that many Iranians now view their economic survival as inseparable from fundamental political change.

The protests have spread across wide sections of Iranian society. What began as strikes by bazaar merchants and shopkeepers in Iran’s capital, Tehran, quickly drew in students, professionals and business owners elsewhere in the country. Protests have in Qom and Mashhad, cities whose populations have traditionally been loyal to the state.

The state’s initial response to the protests was muted. The government recognised the protests and to the “legitimate demands” of the demonstrators. However, despite a warning from US president Donald Trump of US intervention should security forces “kill peaceful protesters”, at least 36 people have . Over 2,000 more people have been detained.

Donald Trump posts on his Truth Social media platform in response to the protests in Iran.

Post-war paralysis

The protests come six months after Iran’s brief but destabilising war with Israel. This conflict severely strained the state’s capacity to govern, with Khamenei largely withdrawing from public view since then due to heightened fears over his safety. Major decisions in Iran require Khamenei’s approval, so his absence has slowed decision-making across the system.

The effects of this have been felt nationwide. Universities and schools have been hampered by repeated closures, shortened schedules and the sudden suspension of in-person classes. Transport networks have faced repeated disruption and economic planning has become nearly impossible.

Prices are . The official annual inflation rate stands at around 42%, with food inflation exceeding 70%. The prices of some basic goods have reportedly risen by more than 110% compared with a year ago, and are further in the coming weeks.

Iran’s authorities have also intermittently suspended routine daily and weekly activities since the end of the war, such as school days, public office hours, transport services and commercial operations. They , pollution or security concerns as the reasons for doing so.

Underlying these disruptions is a governing system braced for the possibility of renewed war, either with Israel or possibly the US. The regime is operating in a prolonged state of emergency, which has pushed Iranian society itself deeper into crisis.

Iran’s governing paralysis has been strained further by intensifying competition within the ruling elite. The war with Israel led to the deaths of several senior Iranian military and security figures, which has created gaps in networks of power.

With authority fragmented, rival political, military and security factions have sought to position themselves for influence in a post-Khamenei order. Networks associated with figures such as former president Hassan Rouhani, former foreign minister Javad Zarif and current president Masoud Pezeshkian are pursuing negotiations with western powers to address Iran’s foreign policy challenges.

But others appear to be engaging in talks aimed at securing backing from ideological allies such as Russia and China. These include people in security and intelligence circles, along with figures ideologically aligned with Khamenei like his second-eldest son Mojtaba, current speaker of parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and conservative clerics such as .

These rival strategies have not produced coherent governance. Instead, they have reinforced perceptions among the Iranian public that the system is preoccupied with survival rather than addressing everyday breakdowns in basic administration, public services and economic coordination.

Iran stands at a crossroads. One path leads toward deeper militarisation, elite infighting and prolonged paralysis. The other points towards a reckoning with a political order that large segments of Iranian society no longer believe can deliver stability or welfare.

The protests suggest that the central question for many Iranians is no longer whether the system can be repaired, but whether continuing to live under it is viable at all. What is clear is that Iran is at a critical political moment, with significant changes likely to unfold in the weeks and months ahead.

, Research Fellow at the Global Development Institute
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Interdisciplinarity&: 2026 Series

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:01:00 +0000

To discover how we can create a collaborative and supportive environment for interdisciplinary research the series aims to:

Discuss the challenges of interdisciplinary research
Showcase recent and ongoing research, and best practices
Highlight (and critique) existing support structures

To foster the development of ideas and relationships, we encourage attendees to participate in multiple workshops within the series. Attendance at previous workshops is not a prerequisite for joining subsequent sessions.

All sessions in this series will take place in person in GA.056, Ronson Blended Theatre, located by the café in the Nancy Rothwell Building, Booth St E, Ұ��, M13 (South Entrance). Summaries will be shared with all registrants after each event.

Leadership & Team Building: Challenge-Led Hackathon

2-4pm, Wednesday 11 February 2026

In a vast university setting, bringing together interdisciplinary researchers to tackle complex challenges is essential. These teams combine expertise from various fields, focusing on problems that cannot be solved through a single research lens. But how do you find colleagues with similar interests? How do you identify those willing to collaborate?

Join us to explore effective leadership and team building, build teams, support networks, and develop interdisciplinary research leaders, enhancing your research impact and collaboration opportunities.

Objectives

· Foster interdisciplinary collaboration through problem-solving.

· Develop leadership and teamwork skills, working towards larger funding bids.

· Generate innovative solutions to real-world research challenges.

Agenda

· Chair: - Leadership & Team building Welcome Address (10 mins)

· Challenge Briefing & Team Formation (10 mins)

· Ideation & Planning (25 mins)

· Prototyping & Development (25 mins)

· Pitch Preparation (10 mins)

· Team Presentations & Feedback (40 mins)

References

Jaskyte, K., Hunter, A., & Mell, A. C. (2024). . Innovative Higher Education, 49(1), 113–132.

Bloomquist, C. D., & Georges, L. (2022). . Journal of Leadership Education, 21(4), 1–18.

Courtney, S. J., Gunter, H., Niesche, R., & Trujillo, T. M. (2021). London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Harnessing Storytelling to Amplify Research

1.15-2.45pm, Wednesday 18 March 2026

How can we ensure our interdisciplinary research creates real-world benefits?

At The University of Ұ��, we recognise that transformative research requires not just technical expertise, but also strong collaborations across disciplines and authentic engagement with communities.

This workshop explores how we can co-create research narratives with diverse partners, forge lasting interdisciplinary relationships, and employ compelling storytelling to communicate the significance and societal value of our work. Drawing on real-world examples and shared experiences, we will identify practical strategies to measure, amplify, and sustain the reach and influence of research beyond traditional academic boundaries.

Join us to discover how your research can break silos, connect with multiple disciplines, and truly benefit the wider world.

Objectives

· Explain the societal value and ethical considerations of research.

· Create compelling narratives for non-specialist and cross-disciplinary audiences.

· Boost public engagement and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Agenda

· Chair: - Welcome & Introduction (10 mins)

· Storytelling Techniques & Case Studies (20 mins)

· Individual Story Drafting: Framing Your Research Narrative (20 mins)

· Peer Feedback (20 mins)

· Sharing Stories & Wrap-up (20 mins)

References

Davis, C., Matthews, A., Mihut, G., Mottershaw, S., ., Rivlin, P., & Matthews, B. (2024). Co-producing composite storytelling comics: (counter) narratives by academics of working-class heritage. Qualitative Research. E-pub ahead of print. Retrieved from

Lord, C., Ellsworth-Krebs, K., & . (2023). ‘Telling tales’: Communicating UK energy research through fairy tale characters. Energy Research & Social Science, 101, 103100. Retrieved from

(2024). Perspectives on Using Storytelling as a Means of Teaching and Learning: Reflections from Diverse Groups of Participants on the Theme “What’s in Your River?”. Education Sciences, 14(1), 18. Retrieved from

Co-Authorship: Rotating Roundtables

2.30-4.30pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026

Co-authoring can offer significant benefits in interdisciplinary research bringing together experts from various fields to produce impactful publications. How can we effectively manage co-authoring processes to ensure equitable contributions and recognition? What best practices can we adopt to enhance collaboration and productivity?

Join us to discuss the challenges and benefits of co-authoring in interdisciplinary research and explore ways to improve support structures.

Objectives

· Facilitate connections between researchers from different disciplines.

· Encourage discussions around shared values and authorship practices.

· Identify potential collaborators for future projects.

Agenda

· Chair: - Introduction & Table Themes (10 mins)

· Ketso Roundtable Discussions (15 mins x 3 rounds)

· Group Synthesis & Reporting Back (30 mins)

· Wrap-up & Reflections (10 mins)

References

Durose, C., Perry, B. & . (2022). Is co-production a “good” concept? Three responses. Futures, 142, Article 102999.

Vince-Myers, B., with co-leads Durose, C., Perry, B. & . (2025). . Universities of Liverpool, Ұ��, and Sheffield.

Long, H., Toomey, E., Stevenson, F., Brooks, J., ., & French, D. (Accepted/In press). Developing a Data Note reporting guideline for qualitative health and social care research datasets (the DeNOTE study): A study protocol. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine.

THE Campus (2024). THE Campus: Learn, Share, Connect, 12 August 2024. (Accessed: March 2025)

Research Ethos: Speed-Networking

2.30-4.30pm Wednesday 13 May 2026

Each research discipline has its own ethos—distinct ways of asking questions, applying methods, and communicating ideas. This diversity can sometimes feel like a barrier to collaboration, even within schools, let alone across the wider university.

As interdisciplinary research becomes increasingly vital—driven by complex societal challenges and evolving funding landscapes—how can we foster mutual understanding and smoother collaboration across disciplines?

We invite researchers from across The University of Ұ�� to a speed networking session to share perspectives on research ethos, highlight what is working, and identify opportunities to strengthen interdisciplinary connections.

Objectives

· Explore diverse perspectives on research values and practices.

· Encourage open dialogue across disciplines.

· Identify shared principles and tensions in research culture.

Agenda

· Chair: - Welcome & Instructions (10 mins)

· Speed Networking Rounds (5 mins x 6-8 rounds)

· Group Reflection & Thematic Clustering (20 mins)

· Closing & Next Steps (10 mins)

References

., Gregson, N., Watson, M., Buckley, A., Chiles, P., Krzywoszynska, A., & Maywin, J. (2018). . disP - The Planning Review, 54(2), 77–93.

Finney, N., Clark, K., & *. (2018). JOURNAL OF ETHNIC AND MIGRATION STUDIES, 3173–3187.

Beebeejaun, Y., Durose, C., Rees, J., Richardson, J., & . (2014). ‘. Community Development Journal, 49(1), 37–53.

This series builds on the "" workshop held on September 10, 2024, which brought researchers together to discuss interdisciplinary research challenges, funding opportunities, and ethical requirements.

The events will bring together academics with experience of interdisciplinary research projects, teams across the university who provide support in specific areas, and the University Platforms. Formal presentations will be made available for colleagues to access on the research strategy StaffNet pages.

Each event will focus on a particular challenge relating to developing successful interdisciplinary partnerships. Where this is closely linked to particular business areas, the platforms will work with those areas to design a discussion that ties in with existing activities and priorities.

Our target audience includes UoM interdisciplinary researchers and those who have yet to engage in interdisciplinary activities, ensuring we reach and inspire the broader research community.

Do you have a case study related to this topic? Please contact Researchplatforms@manchester.ac.uk to discuss your participation, or for further information.

Making step counts count: how donating data can transform our understanding of knee replacement surgery

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:15:00 +0000

University of Ұ�� researchers are to trial the groundbreaking linkage of historical step counts from patients’ smart devices to their healthcare data in a bid to transform our understanding of how knee replacement surgery affects them.

Knee osteoarthritis - the most common reason for replacement surgery- affects around one in five people over 50 in the UK, with over 120,000 people having a knee replacement each year.

“Osteoarthritis causes pain and limits normal daily activities, like walking or climbing stairs. Knee replacement surgery is one of the only definitive treatments. But how much better does physical activity, like walking, get after a knee replacement?”, said Professor Will Dixon who is leading the research.

“To make informed decisions about whether to have surgery or not, we need to know this - yet the current evidence is patchy.”&�Բ��;

The Ұ�� research team are asking for the help of people who have already had a knee replacement to develop and test this way of conducting health research.

They want to make use of data that has already been collected, inside and outside of the health service, and piece it together.

Prof Dixon added: “All of the data needed to understand how activity improves after knee replacement surgery already exists.

“Millions of people in the UK routinely track their step count using their smartphone or fitness tracker. In fact, over 95% of adults now own a smartphone.

“By joining together step counts from people’s smartphones and wearables with information about their surgery, we can understand how much physical activity improves after knee replacement.”

The PAPrKA study (which stands for Physical Activity Patterns after Knee Arthroplasty) wants to recruit UK adults who had a knee replacement surgery between January 2017 and December 2023, and who used an iPhone, Apple Watch, Fitbit or Oura ring before and after their surgery.

Interested people can visit the study website at to donate their activity data, which will be securely transferred from the University to the National Joint Registry where it will be linked with data about their operation.

This will allow the researchers to examine how activity patterns change following surgery, including how this differs by levels of activity before surgery, types of operation, patient age and more.

Matt’s story

In November 2022, former Iron Man Triathlete Matt Barker had a partial knee replacement following years of increasing pain and reduced mobility. Before surgery, even standing became painful and his job as a teacher was getting progressively harder.

“Colleagues would worry about me and ask if I was alright” Matt recalls. “This was especially difficult as I still saw myself as fit and active, but the reality became impossible to ignore.”

Since having surgery, his physical activity improved dramatically - no longer experiencing the previous swelling and pain. He was able to resume much of the daily activity he was doing before his knee issues developed.

Matt concludes: “Most of us base our activity on what we have to do and what we feel able to do. The availability of data from our devices can really bring home the extent to which your mobility is changing. Post operation, they have been a great motivator to view improvement, as well as alerting me to my limits. My hope is that PAPrKA can give people like me a clearer understanding before surgery of how much better their activity is likely to get.”

The PAPrKA study is part of the Health Research from Home programme funded by the Medical Research Council [grant number MR/Y003624/1]

If you are eligible to take part and would like to contribute to this study or want more information, visit

Knighthood for HCRI co-founder in the New Year Honours List for 2026

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:42:34 +0000

The Humanitarian & Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) is delighted to announce that our co-founder, Professor Sir Tony Redmond, was awarded a Knighthood in this year’s . The New Year Honours recognise the achievements and service of extraordinatory people across the UK.

Sir Tony is a specialist in emergency medicine and has been involved in international humanitarian assistance for over 30 years, organising medical support to sites of natural disasters, major incidents, and complex emergencies throughout the world.

In 1994 Sir Tony founded the medical charity , which evolved from a group of volunteer medics who had responded to the 1988 Armenian earthquake and the Lockerbie air disaster. Since then, UK-Med has become a major international humanitarian organisation, responding to in 2025 alone, such as in Lebanon, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2008, Sir Tony co-founded HCRI at the University of Ұ��. is now a global centre for research and teaching on humanitarianism and conflict response, Global Health, international disaster management, and peacebuilding, with hundreds of students across undergraduate and postgraduate levels each year.

A short history of the founding of HCRI, and Sir Tony and UK-Med’s role, can be found on their website .

Sir Tony discussed his life’s work, from early years in the NHS to extreme challenges of international medical deployments, with .

Speaking about the Knighthood, Sir Tony said:

“For me it recognises the work of so many people over so many years. All those selfless volunteers who've joined UK-Med and made it into the international humanitarian organisation it is now and my colleagues at The University of Ұ�� who helped us establish HCRI to carry out research and teaching to continuously improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:

“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.”

From everyone at HCRI, congratulations and thank you to Professor Sir Tony Redmond.

For more on the history of HCRI, .
Sir Tony’s archives are held in HCRI’s

British Ambassador to China Opens Ұ�� Photo Exhibition in Zhengzhou

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:11:03 +0000

The exhibition displayed the 30 finalists in the 7^th annual UK-China International Photography Competition, founded and run by the University of Ұ��’s Ұ�� China Institute.

Ambassador Wilson thanked the He’nan University of Technology for hosting the exhibition and spoke glowingly of the Ұ�� China Institute as a truly remarkable beacon of excellence for its work promoting China studies in the UK, and mutual understanding between the British and Chinese peoples. He also spoke highly of the exhibition, emphasizing its ability to showcase the universal values of sportsmanship and teamwork that resonate across cultures.

Joining the event virtually, Professor Peter Gries, Director of the Ұ�� China Institute, delivered a speech in Mandarin to introduce the exhibition and the Institute’s vision. He highlighted how photographs can promote perspective taking and empathy, bridging linguistic and cultural divides, to remind Chinese and British audiences alike of our common humanity.

Other distinguished guests present at the opening ceremony included Professor Wu Zhishen, President and Vice Chancellor of He’nan University of Technology, Mr Dominic McAllister, the British Consul General in Wuhan, senior officials from the He’nan provincial government and Zhengzhou municipal government, underscoring the significance of this cultural event.

“The Spirit of Sports” exhibition uses the universal language of sports to promote dialogue and understanding between the peoples of Britain and China. Through powerful imagery, the exhibition celebrates shared human experiences—competition, collaboration, and resilience—while deepening appreciation of each other’s perspectives.

This initiative reflects the Ұ�� China Institute’s commitment to building meaningful connections through cultural exchange. The University of Ұ�� was the first - and remains the only - British university to set social responsibility as a core goal.

HydroGraph and GEIC expand collaboration to drive the graphene age

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:58:00 +0000

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) are strengthening their collaboration as HydroGraph moves from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 member. This milestone builds on a relationship forged in 2023 and reflects the remarkable progress achieved since then, underscoring Ұ��’s status as the Home of Graphene.

Over the past two years, HydroGraph and the GEIC have worked side by side to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact. Together, they have built an extensive library of case studies showing how HydroGraph’s pristine graphene improves performance in diverse applications. Their joint efforts have also generated a commercial pipeline of more than 75 projects commercialising graphene enhanced solutions across sectors such as medical devices, composites and coatings. These successes have been matched by advances in manufacturing: HydroGraph has scaled production from pilot quantities to about one ton per month and plans to scale output to full commercial scale as additional reactors and a new Texas facility come on stream.

The move to Tier 1 status opens a new chapter for the partnership. HydroGraph will establish a dedicated laboratory within the GEIC and gain broader access to the centre’s world-class facilities and technical expertise. This will allow more joint projects to move swiftly from laboratory validation to industrial trials, shorten time to market, and integrate Ұ��’s capabilities with HydroGraph’s expanding production footprint. It will also support deeper collaboration with strategic partners such as the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), building on initial engagements in Ұ�� to explore new opportunities in North America.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Ұ��, welcomed the development. “We are thrilled that through our partnership with HydroGraph we are growing our activities in the United States alongside the ARL. From an initial engagement here in Ұ�� we are now seeing real opportunities and traction in the U.S. market. This demonstrates the power of the GEIC to leverage collaboration across our Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners. With this Tier 1 extension HydroGraph will be able to tap into our full range of capabilities – from composites and energy storage to printing and coatings – while enjoying a dedicated laboratory in the GEIC and access to the broader resources of the University of Ұ��.”

Kjirstin Breure, Chief Executive Officer of HydroGraph, added: “Over the past two years as a Tier 2 member, our collaboration with the GEIC has turned promising ideas into real world applications and industrial trials. Elevating to Tier 1 is the natural next step. It provides deeper access to facilities and expertise, speeds up our innovation cycles, and supports closer collaboration with partners such as ARL. We are excited about what this upgrade will enable for HydroGraph, for Ұ�� and for our customers.”

By strengthening their partnership, HydroGraph and the GEIC are reaffirming Ұ��’s position at the forefront of graphene innovation. Together they will continue to pioneer sustainable, high-performance graphene applications that deliver benefits across industry and society.

The GEIC operates a partnership model, offering a variety of engagement options tailored to the scope, scale, duration and complexity of development projects. for more information and to get in touch.

New book highlights human toll of the Kenyan property boom

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:28:37 +0000

As Nairobi’s skyline climbs ever higher, life for those living on the city’s edges is being transformed - and not always for the better.

In a powerful new book, , Dr Peter Lockwood of The University of Ұ�� tells the human stories behind Kenya’s rapid urban expansion and the families being left behind.

Based on years of living and working alongside residents in Kiambu County - an area just north of Nairobi where farmland is giving way to housing estates and shopping malls - Lockwood’s book captures a quiet but profound social upheaval. It reveals how fathers, once proud smallholders, are selling off ancestral plots of land, leaving their sons landless and adrift in a volatile economy.

“Land in Kiambu has become unimaginably valuable,” says Lockwood. “For some families, it’s a ticket out of hardship. For others, selling land means losing not only their home but their history.”

Through vivid portraits of everyday lives - farmers, young jobseekers, mothers struggling to make ends meet - Peasants to Paupers explores what happens when the dream of a stable, middle-class future collides with the harsh realities of unemployment, soaring land prices and changing family values.

The book opens with Mwaura, a young man watching his father sell their family’s land to a private developer. What follows is both a personal tragedy and a reflection of a wider trend: as land becomes a commodity, generations of Kenyans are being cut off from the security that once defined rural life.

The book tells a deeply human story of hope and heartbreak. It shows how moral ideas about family, work and responsibility are being tested as young people face shrinking opportunities and elders grapple with impossible choices between survival and legacy.

Lockwood, a Hallsworth Research Fellow in Political Economy at Ұ��, brings a journalist’s eye for storytelling to his anthropological research. His work has previously been published in leading journals, and he co-curated Nairobi Becoming (2024), an ethnographic portrait of the Kenyan capital.

Peasants to Paupers is published by Cambridge University Press as part of the prestigious International African Library series and is freely available online under open access, ensuring that readers in Kenya and around the world can engage with its findings.

Novel analysis shows promise for revealing early ovarian cancer signals

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:13:00 +0000

University of Ұ�� researchers have shown that analysis of fluid flushed through a fallopian tube holds promise for providing insights into molecular changes linked to early ovarian cancer development.

The analysis – featured in the journal Clinical and translational medicine – revealed molecular signals that in one case prompted re-examination of archived fallopian tube tissue and led to the retrospective identification of a pre-invasive or very early cancerous lesion.

“This is important as it is now known most ovarian cancers don’t start in the ovary itself. Instead, they start from pre-cancer lesions which develop in the fallopian tube before spreading to the ovary and beyond,” said Dr Christine Schmidt, Senior Lecturer at The University of Ұ��’s Division of Cancer Sciences.

The findings from the study could in the longer term form the basis for future approaches aimed at informing ovarian cancer risk assessment and contributinge to less invasive interventions for some high-risk women.

Surgery to remove the tubes and ovaries is often currently used to reduce risk for high-risk women.

However, the study raises the prospect of delaying risk-reducing surgery for some women, preserving their fertility.

This could be particularly beneficial for the women in the UK who are at high genetic risk of ovarian cancer because they carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.

Though uncommon in women with an average risk, existing shows that roughly half to three-quarters of women with a high genetic risk of ovarian cancer currently choose surgical removal of the ovaries.

Despite evidence suggesting a prolonged window between pre-cancer lesions inside the fallopian tube and more serious cancer in the ovaries and other tissues, there are currently no clinical tests available to help detect these early pre-cancer changes without invasive surgery.

However, the team in Ұ�� have shown that fluid washed through the inside of the fallopian tube could be used to test for broad patterns of molecular changes associated with early tumour development using a technique known as proteomic analysis.

The researchers used the approach in an exploratory study of the fallopian tubes of 27 women who had had them surgically removed.

The women were divided into different groups. The first group were either high-risk BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation carriers or they had an abnormal ovarian growth. A second group had other gynaecological conditions unrelated to ovarian cancer.

The researchers took the samples from the soft, frilly, finger-like edge at the open end of the tube next to the ovary known as the fimbriae.

They were able to detect different patterns of proteins in the washes from high-risk fallopian tubes and tubes associated with ovarian cancer compared to normal.

Some of these proteins overlap with previously proposed biomarkers for advanced disease stages and some may form the basis for future exploratory studies to identify potential targets for ovarian cancer prevention.

Dr Schmidt added: “While further exploration and validation in larger cohorts is needed, our findings point to a promising direction for less invasive ovarian cancer risk management strategies that could – in the longer term – help reduce reliance on invasive prophylactic surgeries while preserving fertility in some high-risk women.”

“We look forward to taking this novel approach forwards and hope that one day the findings can contribute to the development of an approach that cmight eventuallyan be used in the clinic.”

The study was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) programme.
The paper, Fallopian tube lavage sampling towards early detection of pre-invasive ovarian cancer, is available

Open Access funds update – January 2026

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:02:14 +0000

As we start the new year, we’re providing an update on current Open Access (OA) funding available to help you prepare for submission and publication of your research in 2026.

Wellcome

Wellcome (formerly The Wellcome Trust) has renewed its institutional Open Access block grant for 2026. If your work acknowledges funding from Wellcome, you can request funding to publish your research articles Gold Open Access via our . OA publishing for Wellcome-funded monographs is managed directly with the funder – please see our for more information.

The Library facilitated just over £40k of OA payments for Wellcome-funded articles last year. In addition, we made strategic use of the Wellcome block grant to support several initiatives exploring more sustainable options for OA publication, and to increase access to research collections of potential strategic and research importance to the University. These include:

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Institutions are awaiting confirmation from UKRI on OA funding provision once the current institutional block grant closes in March 2026. For now, UKRI-funded authors can continue to request funds for Gold OA publication via our

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University community recognised in King’s New Year Honours

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:39:05 +0000

Four Professors from The University of Ұ�� have been recognised in this year’s King’s New Year Honours.

Professor Sarah Sharples has been made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to transportation, manufacturing research and equality, diversity and inclusion; Professor Fiona Rayment has been awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to nuclear engineering; has been made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Bioscience; and Professor Tony Redmond OBE is made a Knight Commander in the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for services to Humanitarian Medical Assistance.

Sarah is Vice-President and Dean of Science and Engineering at the University, having joined in September from the Department for Transport where she had been Chief Scientific Adviser since 2021.

She is an international expert in the field of human factors and its application to engineering problems. Human factors is a scientific discipline which uses an understanding of human capabilities and limitations to design systems to support human performance, wellbeing and safety.

Sarah has previously held the roles the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and People (2018-2021) and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange (Engineering) (2015-2018) at the University of Nottingham.

She said: “I’m quite overwhelmed to have received this award. I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with some amazing teams in all areas of my career and had incredible support from my family and friends.

“I would particularly like to thank those members from under-represented and disadvantaged groups who have been very generous with their time and guidance over many years in supporting my leadership of equality, diversity and inclusion.

“This award also demonstrates the value of taking a multidisciplinary approach to many of the engineering and societal challenges that we face today, and I’m delighted that my work and that of my colleagues has been recognised in this way.”&�Բ��;

Professor Rayment is a Visiting Professor in Nuclear Policy and Capability at The University of Ұ��’s Dalton Nuclear Institute Policy Group, where she provides input into key policy papers, provides visiting lectures on nuclear energy and mentors students and university personnel engaged in nuclear engineering and science.

She has more than 30 years’ experience across nuclear policy, strategy, technology, and operations in both the UK and internationally. Her distinguished career in the nuclear industry began with a research role at British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) and she has since held many senior leadership roles including Chief Science and Technology Officer at the National Nuclear Laboratory, Executive Director of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office and serves on multiple Government and company boards and nuclear advisory committees.

She is currently President of the Nuclear Institute and is widely recognised for strengthening the UK’s nuclear capability and leadership. She has applied her expertise to solving complex nuclear engineering challenges, from chemical and radiological separations to waste management and fuel manufacture, and is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion.

Fiona was previously awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2017.

Professor Rayment said: “It is a huge privilege for me to receive this honour. My family and I are immensely proud that my work has been recognised in this way.

“My career as an engineer in the nuclear industry has enabled me to work on so many interesting projects and meet countless wonderful people, both in the UK and internationally. Nuclear provides clean and reliable energy and as an engineer working on such worthwhile projects I continue to engage on both exciting and rewarding opportunities.

“I’m especially honoured that those opportunities include the chance to play a leading role in driving inclusion throughout our sector. I've seen first-hand how that enables more agile decision making, creates better outcomes and embraces more rigorous challenge.”&�Բ��;

has worked at The University of Ұ�� since 1988. He held a series of research fellowships from the Wellcome Trust from 1988-2008, co-founded the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research in 1995, and served as its Director from 2000-2009. From 2008-2016, he was Vice-President & Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Martin is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society of Biology, and a member of Academia Europaea. He has served as Chair of the Biochemical Society, Vice-President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and Senior Independent Member and Chair of BBSRC Council. While at the Academy of Medical Sciences, he led the creation of the Springboard career establishment and FLIER cross-sector leadership programmes.

The long-term aim of the research conducted in Martin’s laboratory is to understand how the behaviour of cells is regulated by their surrounding environment. Much of the human body consists of a fibrous, deformable material known as the extracellular matrix, within which cells are embedded. Interactions between cells and this matrix profoundly influence cell migration, multiplication, and gene expression. These processes are especially significant in cancer, where the extracellular matrix is typically abnormally stiff. Such stiffness contributes to the enhanced growth and invasive spread that characterise tumours. By elucidating how the cellular environment controls these behaviours, Martin aims to identify ways in which key aspects of tumour biology might be normalised.

Professor Humphries said: “The life of an academic is a wonderful blend of ego and altruism – in my case, the ego is fed by a drive to push forward our knowledge of biology, while the altruism is fed by providing an environment within which other egos can thrive. I am indebted to the numerous talented people who have worked in my lab for their contributions to our discoveries – they have played a vital role. I also thank those who have variously helped me construct science buildings, establish leadership schemes, build research facilities and, most important of all, recruit and manage staff of the highest calibre. I am delighted to receive this honour on their behalf.”

Professor Tony Redmond is Founder of UK-Med and Professor Emeritus of International Emergency Medicine at The University of Ұ��. He is recognised for his exceptional and long-term contributions to healthcare and humanitarian response, both in the UK and internationally. As a world-leading specialist in emergency medicine and the founder of UK-Med, he has played a pivotal role in coordinating the deployment of UK health workers to international crises, saving countless lives and revolutionising emergency medical care globally. His contribution, over many years, has had significant and life-saving impact on vulnerable people in many parts of the world, also improving emergency medical care and response strategies worldwide.

UK-Med originally evolved from the South Ұ�� Accident Rescue Team, which he also founded. His early emergency response work included leading a team during the 1988 Armenian earthquake and the Lockerbie air disaster and UK-Med’s work continues to this day in many of the major crises, including Ukraine and Gaza.

Professor Redmond also co-founded the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at The University of Ұ�� and remains an active ambassador for UK-Med, sharing his expertise to further advance global emergency medicine.

He said: “For me it recognises the work of so many people over so many years. All those selfless volunteers who've joined UKMED and made it into the international humanitarian organisation it is now and my colleagues at The University of Ұ�� who helped us establish the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute to carry out research and teaching to continuously improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”

University alumni, supporters and affiliates

University alumni and partners were also recognised in the King’s New Year Honours. Among them was alumna Meera Syal CBE, award-winning Comedian, Writer and Actor, who is a key figure on the University’s Bicentenary Way. She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to Literature, to Drama and to Charity.

Bev Craig, Leader of Ұ�� City Council, who is also an alumna of the University, was made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Local Government.

Elizabeth Brooks was made CBE for her services to philanthropy. Elizabeth, along with her husband Rory are significant and valued supporters of the University, notably of .

Board of Governors member, Anna Dawe was made OBE for services to further education. Her current role is CEO/Principal at Wigan and Leigh College

Craig Bennett, an honorary professor at Alliance Ұ�� Business School, was also made OBE for services to the environment. Craig is Chief Executive Officer, The Wildlife Trusts.

The University will be celebrating the full list of alumni and supporters recognised in the King’s New Year Honours in the New Year.

Konger FC: How Football Is Helping Ұ��’s Hong Kong Community Find Home and Voice

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:17:25 +0000

A Saturday morning football club in Ұ�� is doing more than just scoring goals - it’s helping a community rebuild its identity.

Founded in 2021, Konger FC is a football team made up of Hong Kongers who have relocated to Ұ��, many on British National (Overseas) passports. Their move was prompted by increasing restrictions on activism and cultural expression in Hong Kong. Now, through football, they’re finding new ways to connect, integrate, and express themselves.

The club is at the heart of a new research project which received Community Partnership funding from the , led by University of Ұ�� academics, from the and from . The project, which includes short films and a multimedia documents the 2024/25 season of Konger FC and lays the foundation for a full documentary film.

But this is more than just a sports story. The researchers have embedded themselves in the club’s activities - attending matches, training sessions, and interviewing players, sponsors, and fans. Their goal is to amplify the voices of Hong Kongers in Ұ��, showcasing how they preserve their culture, build community networks, and contribute to civic life.

The project also taps into resources at the University of Ұ��’s , offering the Konger FC community tools and expertise to share their story with wider audiences.

Through everyday activities like football, the Hong Kong diaspora in Ұ�� is practising a quiet form of activism - championing democratic values and human rights while resisting the pressures of political repression back home. The upcoming documentary and website aim to shine a light on their journey, highlighting both the challenges and triumphs of starting anew in Britain.

Konger FC is proving that football can be more than a game—it can be a lifeline, a platform, and a powerful way to say, “We’re still here.”

Using AI to accelerate analysis of the effectiveness and risks of promising CO₂ removal methods

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:27:28 +0000

Can we find ways to lock away carbon at the scale needed to fight climate change? There are lots of promising ideas which can make significant impacts at scale, such as ocean fertilisation, ocean alkalinity enhancement, enhanced rock weathering with croplands – but field trials at scale are slow, expensive and come with potential environmental risks.

Now, Ұ�� researchers are turning to physics-informed AI, to model how the global carbon cycle behaves and to test the potential of different carbon removal strategies virtually. Their approach offers more flexible predictions than traditional numerical models and can estimate uncertainties where data is missing.

Crucially, these AI models also deliver results far faster and with a lower computational burden. As project lead Dr Peyman Babakhani explains: “Field experiments, especially for ideas such as ocean fertilisation, are costly and slow. With the advent of physics-informed AI, we can replace or facilitate such experimental campaigns with predictive models that can incorporate a more accurate representation of physical processes than common numerical models and are also faster. This enables us to study proposed CO₂ removal methods at scale.”

One theory the team are exploring is the use of engineered nanoparticles to make ocean fertilisation more effective. Studies suggest that nanoparticles of iron, silica or aluminium could boost plankton growth, extend bloom lifetimes and increase the amount of carbon that sinks. However, such methods carry their own costs and risks that need to be evaluated in the laboratory and in silico before field trials.

The AI-powered models might soon be the key to testing ambitious climate solutions before we take them into the real world, helping us to more efficiently combat climate change.

Meet the researcher

Dr Peyman Babakhani is a lecturer of Geo-environmental Engineering in Ұ��’s Department of Civil Engineering and Management. His research uses nanotechnology to address environmental issues, such as climate change and water pollution. He uses various techniques, such as physics-informed artificial intelligence and numerical mass- and population-balance models, to model different environmental scales ranging from nano to global. He is a member of Forum which focuses on ocean fertilisation as a CO2 removal approach.

Read his papers

Enabling robotic vision in low-light conditions

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:27:04 +0000

From disaster zones to underground tunnels, robots are increasingly being sent where humans cannot safely go. But many of these environments lack natural or artificial light, making it difficult for robotic systems, which usually rely on cameras and vision algorithms, to operate effectively.

A team consisting of Nathan Shankar, Professor Hujun Yin and Dr Pawel Ladosz from The University of Ұ�� is tackling this challenge by teaching robots to ‘see’ in the dark. Their approach uses machine learning to reconstruct clear images from infrared cameras – sensors that can ‘see’ even when no visible light is present.

The breakthrough means that robots can continue using their existing vision algorithms without making changes, reducing both computational costs and the time it takes to deploy them in the field.

As project lead Dr Pawel Ladosz explains: “Our work enables robots to function in darkness with minimal changes to their platforms. This lowers development costs, speeds up deployment and opens the door to operations in some of the most challenging environments imaginable.”

Looking ahead, the team sees potential beyond low light settings. By adapting their system to sensors such as sonar or thermal cameras, they could potentially expand robotic vision into an even wider range of extreme conditions.

Meet the researcher

Dr Pawel Ladosz is a Lecturer in Engineering Systems for Robotics in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His research interests lie in making robots more autonomous using vision-based sensors, and he has extensive experience with aerial, ground-based and underwater mobile robots. Dr Ladosz’s most recent research includes reinforcement learning, visual SLAM, heterogeneous robotic teams and supervised machine learning.

Read his papers

Improving our trust in robots

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:26:49 +0000

Robots are becoming part of our everyday lives, from healthcare to home assistance. But for humans to truly trust and collaborate with them, robots need more than technical skill – they need to understand us.

That’s the challenge at the heart of work being undertaken by Dr Mehdi Hellou as part of PRIMI, an EU-funded project exploring how robots can develop a ‘theory of mind’ – the ability to infer what people believe, prefer or intend. The aim is to develop autonomous technologies that might anticipate when someone needs help, adapt their behaviours over time, or respond to situations in a more socially intelligent way.

To achieve this, researchers are drawing on insights from psychology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence to create robots that combine motor intelligence (how they move), with cognitive intelligence (how they reason).

As project lead Dr Hellou explains: “It’s important to develop autonomous systems that can assist humans in their daily life, but also in critical scenarios such as healthcare or nuclear waste decommissioning. This requires machines capable of adapting their behaviours to different users and environments.”

The project’s vision will be tested in clinical pilot studies on stroke rehabilitation, where humanoid robots could support patients’ recovery.

If successful, PRIMI could help to usher in a new generation of socially aware robots that are not only more capable of learning in real time, but also more relatable and trustworthy.

Meet the researcher

Dr Mehdi Hellou is a Research Associate in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Ұ��’s Centre for Robotics and AI. He previously completed his PhD in Robotics and AI under an EU-funded project called PERSEO, which looked at enhancing the cognitive abilities of social robots by using ‘Theory of Mind’.

Read his papers

AI-powered insights for global supply chain resilience

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:26:35 +0000

Global supply chains are being reshaped by rapid technological change, shifting trade policies, and growing geopolitical tensions. In the battery sector – critical to the energy transition – understanding these shifts is vital for innovation, investment and resilience.

Researchers at The University of Ұ�� are developing AI-based methods to map how firms adapt to supply chain risks. By analysing data from international firms, including site visit transcripts, the team uses large language models to detect where and why networks are changing – from concentration around specific suppliers to diversification across regions.

This research offers a new lens on strategic management, showing how companies respond to uncertainty and external shocks. Insights from the project could inform policy and industry efforts to build more transparent, secure, and sustainable supply chains.

Linyi Guo, the PhD researcher leading this project explains: “I believe innovation should be inclusive and driven by real-world needs, especially in supply chain transparency and corporate strategy. By combining AI with strategic analysis, we can uncover how global networks evolve – helping businesses and policymakers make better, fairer decisions in complex systems.”

Meet the researcher

Linyi Guo is a PhD researcher in Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, based at the Alliance Ұ�� Business School. Under the supervision of Professor Andrew James and Professor Kieron Flanagan, her primary research interests are innovation management and innovation policy, with a focus on high-tech industries. Her expertise includes Python, SPSS and MySql.

Read her papers

AI-powered bunker fuel forecasting to help shipping industry

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:26:21 +0000

Fuel is one of the biggest costs for shipping companies, often making up more than half of a vessel’s operating expenses. With prices fluctuating daily and varying across ports, even small miscalculations can make or break profitability.

The research work led by Dr Arijit De at the Alliance Ұ�� Business School, are using advanced artificial intelligence to bring clarity to this turbulent market. Their MarineFuelAI system combines historical fuel data, economic indicators and port-specific variables to forecast bunker fuel prices for different fuel grades at several global ports, for up to 60 days in advance.

The technology doesn’t just crunch numbers. Enhanced with explainable AI techniques, it can reveal the hidden drivers behind fuel price movements, from regional demand shifts to geopolitical events like the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

These tailored, route-based forecasts can give shipping companies much more confidence in their refuelling decisions. As Dr Arijit De explains: “This approach brings clarity around future fuel prices, cuts bunkering costs and helps global shipping sail confidently through uncertainty, toward a more efficient, resilient and future-ready industry."

By reducing both risk and expense, improving operational efficiency, MarineFuelAI could help the maritime sector navigate fuel volatility while supporting a more sustainable global shipping industry into the future.

Meet the researcher

Dr Arijit De is an Associate Professor at the Alliance Ұ�� Business School, a Chartered Fellow of CILT and an Industrial Engineer (MTech, PhD). He applies AI, machine learning, intelligent algorithms and optimisation to real-world challenges on freight and maritime logistics, supply chain management and sustainable operations. His research is funded by Horizon Europe, ESRC, Department for Transport, EPSRC, Innovate UK and published in leading operations and transportation journals.

Read his papers

AI circularity: Transforming fashion’s design waste

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:26:03 +0000

The global fashion industry discards around a third of its materials before garments ever reach the shop floor. As sustainability legislation tightens, researchers at The University of Ұ�� are exploring how artificial intelligence could help reimagine this process – turning waste into opportunity.

Through diary studies and interviews with fashion professionals already using AI in design and product development, the project examines how emerging tools such as digital prototyping and generative design can reduce physical sampling, improve material selection, and enable more circular production cycles.

This human-centred approach reveals both the potential and the practical barriers to adopting AI in creative workflows, offering insight into how technology can support a just transition to sustainable, data-driven fashion.

Dr. Courtney Chrimes, Lecturer in Digital Fashion Marketing explains: “By rethinking design through AI and circularity, we can transform fashion from one of the world’s most wasteful industries into a force for regenerative change.”

By bridging creativity and computation, this research positions Ұ�� at the forefront of sustainable innovation – helping an industry long associated with excess move toward circular, intelligent design.

Meet the researcher

Dr. Courtney Chrimes is a Lecturer in Digital Fashion Marketing at The University of Ұ��. Her research explores how industry 5.0 technologies, specifically AI, can support sustainable fashion, aligning with UN SDGs 9 & 12. She co-founded the AI in Fashion Consortium and leads projects on AI-driven decision-making and material selection, with work published in top peer-reviewed journals.

Read her papers

Helping accountants use generative AI responsibly and effectively

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:25:15 +0000

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming professions worldwide, and accounting is no exception. From summarising policy documents to processing client data, AI promises faster workflows and reduced admin. But alongside these benefits comes a bigger question: how far should AI be allowed to influence professional judgement?

A team of Ұ�� researchers have been exploring this issue through in-depth research with accountancy firm Beever Struthers, looking at the use of generative AI through in-person observation, chat logs and interviews. Their early findings reveal that whilst AI is highly effective at streamlining repetitive tasks, if firms aren’t careful it could also start to encroach on areas where human expertise is essential. For example, AI-generated summaries may speed things up but risk losing crucial context, whilst the technology’s ability to make assumptions could blur lines of professional responsibility.

The team’s study highlights that accounting relies on more than technical analysis; client interactions, on-site fieldwork and mentoring are vital to developing the professional judgement that underpins trust in the field. These are skills AI cannot currently replicate.

Led by Dr Sung Hwan Chai, Professor Brian Nicholson and Dr Leonid Sokolovskyy the project aims to redefine what professional judgement means in an AI-enabled world, offering a framework that could help accountants to use generative AI responsibly, and harnessing its efficiencies while protecting the human insight that makes their work reliable.

Dr Chai explains: “Our project has both academic and practical impact. First, we’re redefining what “professional judgement” means in accounting – in a way that applies to all areas of the profession, not just auditing, and takes new technologies like AI into account. Second, we’re working with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) to create a report that will help accountants use generative AI responsibly and ethically in their work.”

Meet the researcher

Dr Sung Hwan Chai is a Lecturer in Accounting in the Accounting and Finance division of the Alliance Ұ�� Business School. He specialises in interdisciplinary research between management accounting and information systems, using a qualitative case study approach. His research interests are in the impact of current and future technologies on management accounting practices, such as performance measurement and management, surveillance and information communication practices.

Read his papers

Testing AI logic in biomedical research

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:25:00 +0000

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in biomedical research, questions remain about how well these systems can reason logically with complex scientific information.

Researchers at The University of Ұ�� have created SylloBio-NLI, a first-of-its-kind framework that systematically tests the logical reasoning ability of AI models.

Using examples similar to classic syllogisms – “All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.” – the team adapted this structure to biomedical data to reveal where models succeed and where they fail.

Their findings show that while AI can make intuitive connections, even advanced open-source models struggle with consistent logical reasoning when applied to biomedical problems. By quantifying these limitations, the research provides critical evidence for the safe use of AI in scientific discovery and clinical decision-making.

Danilo Carvalho, Principal Clinical Informatician for the Digital Cancer Research team at the National Biomarker Centre, within Cancer Research UK Ұ�� Institute explains: “By exposing where AI reasoning breaks down, we can build systems that support biomedical research with certain scientific evidence guarantees.”

The team’s open-access methodology offers a vital tool for improving the transparency, reliability, and future design of AI technologies used in medicine, supporting Ұ��’s commitment to ensuring responsible AI and digital health innovation.

Meet the researcher

Dr Danilo Carvalho is a Principal Clinical Informatician for the Digital Cancer Research team at the National Biomarker Centre – . He is qualified as a Computer and Information Scientist (MSc, PhD) and is an expert in explainable and controllable mechanisms for representation learning, which is the building of computer-based numerical models of physical or abstract reality, from the meaning of words to gene interactions.

Read his papers

Reducing resource demands of control for large language models by over 90%

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:24:28 +0000

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT and Llama are driving exceptional innovations in AI, but research aimed at improving their explainability and reliability is constrained by massive resource requirements for examining and adjusting their behaviour.

To tackle this challenge, a Ұ�� research team led by Dr Danilo S. Carvalho and Dr André Freitas have developed new software frameworks – LangVAE and LangSpace – that significantly reduces both hardware and energy resource needs for controlling and testing LLMs to build explainable AI.

Their technique builds compressed language representations from LLMs, making it possible to interpret and control these models using geometric methods (essentially treating the model’s internal language patterns as points and shapes in space that can be measured, compared and adjusted), without altering the models themselves. Crucially, their approach reduces computer resource usage by over 90% compared with previous techniques.

This leap in efficiency lowers the barriers to entry for developing explainable and controllable AI, opening the door for more researchers, startups and industry teams to explore how these powerful systems work.

Dr Carvalho explains, “We have significantly lowered entry barriers for development and experimentation of explainable and controllable AI models and also hope to reduce the environmental impact of these research efforts.

“Our vision is to accelerate the development of trustable and reliable AI for mission-critical applications, such as healthcare.”

Meet the researcher

Dr Danilo Carvalho is a Principal Clinical Informatician for the Digital Cancer Research team at the National Biomarker Centre – . He is qualified as a Computer and Information Scientist (MSc, PhD), and an expert in explainable and controllable mechanisms for Representation Learning: the building of computer-based numerical models of physical or abstract reality, from the meaning of words to gene interactions.

Read his papers

MIOIR in Review 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:36:52 +0000

Celebrating doctoral success

The Institute celebrated a strong year of doctoral completions, with successful PhD defences by Wanyu Zhang, Taeje Park, Seung-hyun Lee, Sebastian Arriagada Mujica, Yiwen Sun, An Yu Chen, Adam McCarthy, Matt Ziembla, Noora Al-Muhannadi, Milad Aghazadeh, Gianncarlo Duran and Jhenelle McIntyre. These milestones represent an important contribution to the global research community in science, technology and innovation studies.

Major funding wins and support for emerging research

In 2025, MIOIR secured substantial new research funding, including participation in the €2 million Horizon Europe on climate-neutral cities, a UKRI grant on research security, and Liangping Ding’s prestigious AI Metascience Fellowship.

The Institute also awarded six MIOIR Small Grants, supporting projects spanning science diplomacy, international collaboration and digital transformation in SMEs. These initiatives are already strengthening MIOIR’s research base and supporting the development of future external funding bids.

A vibrant programme of events and professional development

MIOIR delivered a rich and varied programme of academic and policy-focused events throughout the year. Highlights included the Fred Jevons Lecture delivered by John Krige, Vital Topics lectures by Dan Breznitz and Kevin Morgan, the IPEC Research Symposium on innovation procurement, the Amazônia+10 workshop on sustainable value chains, and a science diplomacy event co-organised with the Embassy of Spain.

Additional activities included the RSA 60th Anniversary Workshop on inclusive innovation, workshops on security and defence, and MIOIR’s flagship professional development course on Evaluation of Science and Innovation Policies, which welcomed 20 participants from 11 countries.

The Institute’s research seminar series featured leading international scholars, with contributions from Hanna Hottenrott, Riccardo Crescenzi, Martin Henning, Simone Vannuccini, Valentina Tartari, Meric Gertler, Markus Simeth and Frank Neffke.

Growing the MIOIR community

During the year, MIOIR welcomed new colleagues Sönke Mestwerdt, Alice Naisbitt, Alina Spanuth, An Yu Chen, Matt Ziembla, Adam McCarthy and Nathan Critch, as well as new associate members Chelsea Sawyer and Julia Schoonover. The Institute also hosted a large number of international research visitors from across Europe and beyond.

Strengthening international partnerships

MIOIR continued to expand its global collaborations. Its partnership with Georgia Tech thrived through AI & Policy Group seminars and doctoral exchanges, while MIOIR’s doctoral researchers organised the Trilateral MIOIR–Georgia Tech–Johannesburg Doctoral Workshop, bringing together 34 participants across three continents.

Several PhD students and early career researchers benefited from Eu-SPRI circulation awards, research visits to Georgia Tech and internships at the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation. In addition, MIOIR signed a new memorandum of understanding with the University of Johannesburg, and the University of Ұ�� formalised a strategic partnership with the University of Chile, opening up new opportunities for collaboration.

Publications, policy influence and research impact

The year saw a strong portfolio of publications in top journals, as well as edited volumes such as (co-edited by Jakob Edler) and , with chapters by Kieron Flanagan and Raquel Ortega-Argilés.

MIOIR researchers also delivered high-level reports for the Innovation and Research Caucus, the UK Government’s FCDO/DSIT Science & Technology Network, and the Finnish Government, among others. Evidence produced by MIOIR scholars was reflected in policy documents, including the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy review and the OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2025.

Recognition of research excellence

MIOIR’s research excellence continued to receive international recognition. Frank Geels was named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for the seventh consecutive year and ranked 92nd in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists list. Several other MIOIR colleagues — Philip McCann, Bruce Tether, Elvira Uyarra, Gerard Hodgkinson, Ian Miles, Jakob Edler and Karl Taeuscher — were also featured in the Stanford/Elsevier rankings.

The Institute was further represented at the AMBS Staff Awards 2025, with Aarti Krishnan named Innovator of the Year, Marianna Rolbina highly commended, and Chloe Best commended for Professional Services Colleague of the Year.

Looking ahead to 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, we have much to anticipate, including the 10th anniversary of our STIP PhD programme, a memorial workshop honouring Stan Metcalfe's contributions to our field, and Ұ�� hosting the in June.

MIOIR remains committed to delivering leading research that makes a difference, in line with the University of Ұ��’s M2035 strategy.

Thank You

Thank you to our researchers, colleagues, partners and collaborators who made 2025 a remarkable year for MIOIR.

Inspiring global careers in international politics

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:29:11 +0000

The Politics Department is excited to share the success of their inaugural event on careers in international politics, which attracted an impressive student turnout, highlighting the growing interest in global career opportunities among our students.

The event featured inspiring speakers from the United Nations, Amnesty International, the FCDO, Chatham House, Global Weekly, EY, and the Department for Education. Most of these speakers are proud Ұ�� alumni, a testament to the quality of education they received here, which helped them thrive in competitive international roles.

This initiative reflects the University’s commitment to having a global impact as part of its 2035 strategy. Dr Jasmin Ramovic, organiser of the event, said:

Given the overwhelming response, the Politics Department will be making this an annual event and looks forward to expanding it even further in the future.

International Recognition for Innovative Assessment Research

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:20:57 +0000

Dr Miri Firth’s pioneering work on rethinking assessment through choice and purpose continues to shape national and international conversations on assessment design. On 22 October, Higher Education Digest featured her research on optionality in assessment, exploring how flexibility and purpose-driven assessment can improve student engagement, wellbeing, and achievement.

In November, Dr Firth will share this work across a series of prestigious events: as a keynote speaker at the Advance HE Assessment and Feedback Symposium (4 November); a keynote at the World Conference on Research in Teaching & Education (16 November); and as an invited panel member for Universities UK’s national event on Access, Participation and Student Success (20 November).

Together, these invitations highlight both the relevance and the impact of her research, which has already influenced assessment practice in more than a dozen universities. Her continued leadership demonstrates the Faculty of Humanities’ contribution to transforming assessment and enhancing the student learning experience across the higher education sector.

Evidence of sector use of this work to date :

University of Liverpool&�Բ��;—&�Բ��;Formal Flexible Assessment Guidance and Code of Practice define flexible assessment and parity/equivalency expectations.
Sheffield Hallam University — Public guidance on Assessment Choice (students choose questions/methods; emphasis on inclusivity and parity).
University of Glasgow&�Բ��;—&�Բ��;Flexible Submission Guidance adopted institutionally; reported reductions in extensionsand improved manageability.
Teesside University — LTE guidance on Flexible / Hybrid Assessment (choice and authentic formats aligned to hybrid delivery).
Loughborough University — Case study on student choice of assessment format (poster, vlog, infographic, etc.) to remove barriers.
University of Sussex — Case study on introducing optionality for accessibility and inclusion (student reflections).
University of Northampton&�Բ��;—&�Բ��;Assessment snapshot: optionality embedded and signposted across a programme to build assessment literacy.
University of York — Institutional workstream on assessment optionality; staff resources and funded projects exploring subject-specific cases.
UCL — Digital Assessment Team blog series on optionality, reflecting work with Ұ��, York and Imperial in the QAA project.
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) — Policy/guidance updates and staff hub referencing flexible assessment practice (plus public comms on assessment reform).
Newcastle University — Curriculum framework and learning-and-teaching resources highlight programme-level assessment design aligned with inclusive/flexible practice.

Sector-level foundation / cross-institutional reference

QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project – Optionality in Assessment (Firth et al., 2023): report and resources underpinning many of the above adoptions.

The University of Ұ��'s 2025 News Highlights

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:47:00 +0000

As 2025 draws to a close, we have the opportunity to look back on what has been an incredible year for The University of Ұ��. In every area, there's something to be proud of - and to shout about! Across all of our faculties – Science and Engineering ; Biology, Medicine, and Health; and , there are stories of ground-breaking research and exciting insight. Follow the links to read about them all, read on below to see our university highlights – here’s to a great year at UoM!

January

January brought the fresh start of a new year to the University, and what better way to start off 2025 than with the University of Ұ�� being ? In this month of resolutions, we also , to bring about change on the environmental impacts of the healthcare industry.

February

The second month of 2025 saw the University placed in the top 50 of the Times Higher Education Reputation Rankings, along with the news that an economic impact report had found UoM to be an economic and social powerhouse, generating £5.95 in productivity benefits for the UK, for every £1 spent on research activities. We also took some trips abroad, with President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison strengthening ties in Asia on a visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and , with a visit to our partners in Kenya.

March

The University of Ұ�� again looked overseas in March, as Ұ�� and Austin became sister cities. Closer to home, to discuss the future of devolution across Greater Ұ��

April

As spring came to campus in April, we celebrated the news ; we also were ranked in the , highlighting our commitment to translating our research into real-world benefit.

May

May was a big month for Ұ�� Museum, as it was named European Museum of the Year, balancing globally-impactful academic research with community engagement and social responsibility. The University also , to improve access to economics in schools.

June

As we retained our leading global position in the QS Rankings, June was also an exciting month for fans of Ұ�� City, with manager Pep Guardiola coming to the Whitworth Hall to receive an honorary doctorate degree from the University – hear about it in Pep’s words, . As well as announcing our partnership with the University of Cambridge -committed to accelerating inclusive growth and innovation collaboration - we also launched Unit M, our specialist function working to tackle productivity challenges and boost regional growth throughout Greater Ұ��.

July

In July, to inspire some of Ұ��’s future scientists, and saw the release of new book, ‘Building Towards the Bicentenary: A Campus History of the University of Ұ�� 1824-2024’, looking back across our fascinating 200-year history. A month of celebration, of course, for our graduates, as the bright July sun is blotted out in the Old Quad by tossed mortarboard hats! Here’s what a few of them !

August

Although most of our 44,000 strong student community were enjoying their summer breaks, there was a lot going on – this month saw a bestowed on University staff as well as more , and a

September

As we welcomed a new cohort of students to Ұ��, as well as those returning, we also welcomed the news that we , and were . We enjoyed a very busy Welcome Week with our ‘freshers’ and – like us!

October

Autumn – and as the leaves turn brown in the Old Quad, we look back at the 75 years since Alan Turing developed his Turing Test, and ; our accreditations for supporting care experienced and sanctuary-seeking students were also renewed. Of course, we also launched our ‘From Ұ�� for the world’ 2035 strategy for the coming decade, focusing the foundations and leaps that will make us a great 21st century university.

November

November brought collaboration, with the University of , meaning graduates can relocate their studies on Oxford Road, for less! November also saw the to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, by driving transformative change across research, student support, innovation, and culture, while backing bold solutions to pressing problems.

December

And here we are! As we approach the end of the calendar year, and start turning our minds to the holidays, there’s still plenty to be proud of, – and the John Rylands Library And that’s not to forget our winter graduates – wrapped up warm, luckily, in their robes and caps! .

The Faculty of Science and Engineering's 2025 news highlights

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:22:00 +0000

Over the past year, the Faculty of Science and Engineering has delivered a wide range of work, from pioneering research breakthroughs to impactful collaborations and well-deserved recognitions. This review highlights a selection of the top stories that shaped the year across the Faculty.

January

The year kicked off with surprising discoveries. Our scientists found that soap - the kind we use to wash our hands - could offer new insights into complex systems in the human body, including the lungs, and even pave the way for better therapies for conditions like respiratory distress syndrome. In materials science, our researchers designed a molecular trap with the potential to reduce water pollution from chemicals left behind by medicines and hygiene products in rivers and lakes. By the end of the month, analysis of samples from asteroid Bennu revealed fascinating clues about the origins of life and the early days of our solar system.

February

In February, our engineers found that the microarchitecture of fossil pterosaur bones could hold the key to lighter, stronger materials for the next generation of aircraft. A new atmospheric monitoring station was established at Jodrell Bank Observatory to improve the accuracy of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions estimates. Meanwhile, researchers at the achieved a significant milestone in the field of quantum electronics.

March

Scientists developed a hydrogen sensor that could accelerate the transition to clean hydrogen energy. A from The University of Ұ��’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research revealed that their ‘ successfully supported Massive Attack in delivering the lowest-carbon live music event of its kind. Elsewhere, launched a national-scale assessment of interactions between wind farms, supporting policymakers and industry leaders to support the journey to net zero.

April

Earth Science researchers found that estimates of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from volcanoes may have been significantly underestimated, while underwater avalanches, known as turbidity currents, were shown to be responsible for transporting vast quantities of microplastics into the deep sea. Physicists made a landmark discovery, uncovering the first clear evidence that matter particles, known as baryons, behave differently from their antimatter counterparts. Scientists part of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collaborations, were also honoured with the 2025 .

May

Researchers at the Ұ�� Institute of Biotechnology demonstrated how genetically engineered enzymes can harness visible light to drive highly selective chemical reactions. Researchers also launched a new project with Equinor to understand how microbes in deep underground storage sites could impact the success of carbon capture and storage.

June

June was a month of celebration. became one of one of ten finalists to be awarded £100,000 in seed funding to develop his solution for this year’s , while four colleagues were honoured by the Royal Society of Chemistry for their outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences. Students from The University of Ұ��’s Physics Society constructed a remarkable 30,500-piece Lego model of the iconic Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, commemorating the observatory’s 80th anniversary. In new research highlights, Manchester astronomers revealed the first look from the world’s largest digital camera, and chemists created a molecular magnet that could boost data storage by 100 times

July

A new 'nose to diagnose’ study revealed promising progress in developing a non-invasive sampling method to detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease – up to seven years before motor symptoms appear - by analysing the chemical makeup of skin. Scientists also discovered hundreds of giant sand bodies beneath the North Sea that appear to defy fundamental geological principle, while new research provided unprecedented insights into the hidden forces behind devastating Alpine debris flows, offering hope for better protection against future disasters.

August

Over the summer, academics were awarded a major grant to lead a new programme that will transform the lifecycle of graphite in nuclear energy. Researchers uncovered a hidden pattern in birdsong that mirrors a core rule of human language, and for the first time, directly tracked the slow transformation of a dying star over more than a century. The James Webb Space Telescope also captured extraordinary new details in the heart of the famous Butterfly Nebula.

September

In September, we highlighted a series of workshops held by Chemists at the University for refugee children across Greater Ұ��. Professor Zara Hodgson and Professor Jovica Milanović were elected by the to its Fellowship. The Tyndal Centre makred its 25th anniversary and published a new report revealing that the UK now uses less energy than almost anyone anticipated 20 years ago.

October

A near-complete skeleton found on UK’s Jurassic Coast was identified as a new and rare species of ichthyosaur. Researchers also launched a new project to develop a pioneering technology to harness powerful wind in railway tunnels, turning them into renewable energy power stations.

November

Scientists uncovered a surprising link between koala and Ice Age “marsupial lion”. A unique collaboration between academics, the government and the public found that reducing the UK’s energy demand could help the country reach its net zero target faster and at half the cost compared to relying mainly on supply-side technologies. A collaboration with Marketing Ұ�� revealed that tourism in Greater Ұ�� generated around 2.5 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2023, with most emissions linked to how visitors travel to and from the region.

December

The year concluded with major breakthroughs. Scientists finally closed the door on one theory for a long-standing mystery in particle physics, confirming there is no sterile neutrino with 95% certainty. The world’s most precise nuclear clock ticked closer to reality, astronomers captured the most detailed images ever taken of a jet launched by a young star, current housing and climate policies are failing to keep up risk from rising temperatures and soaring energy costs, and a Ұ�� astronomer is set to build the most detailed and accurate model of the radio sky ever built.

2025's news highlights from the Faculty of Humanities

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:10:00 +0000

2025 has been another great year for The University of Ұ��'s Faculty of Humanities, and has again seen some significant achievements and initiatives. Here are some of the key highlights:

January

The year started with research from Professor Jamie Woodward which revealed that England’s major water and sewage companies are misleading the public and Government by using strategies which mirror those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. His study uncovered widespread use of greenwashing and disinformation tactics by England’s nine major water and sewage companies, and was covered extensively in the national media.

January also saw the launch of a major new study to assess the impact of smartphones and social media on young people, and research which found that vast areas of the UK’s peatlands are under threat due to climate change. It also brought the news that The University of Ұ�� ranks in the top 50 globally for Social Sciences, Business Economics, Engineering, Arts & Humanities and Medical & Health.

February

In February, one of the world’s largest school-based trials found that an intervention to help students normalise their everyday emotions is the ‘most promising’ of several approaches for supporting mental health in children and young people. The Education for Wellbeing trial involved 32,655 students in 513 English primary and secondary schools, testing five interventions.

Research launched in February also found that polling in Ukraine contradicted Donald Trump, who claimed that Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating stood at 4% - the study put his approval rating at 63%, making him the most popular politician in the country. This story received widespread media coverage.

March

Internationally acclaimed novelist and short story writer Sarah Hall joined The University of Ұ�� in March as a Professor of Creative Writing. Sarah joined a prestigious teaching team at the University’s Centre for New Writing made up of novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights and non-fiction writers, including Jeanette Winterson, Ian McGuire, Jason Allen-Paisant, Beth Underdown, Horatio Clare, Tim Price and John McAuliffe.

Also during this month, experts called on the government to make urgent changes to the UK’s bus network in an appearance at a Transport Select Committee inquiry. The group – including Professor Karen Lucas, Head of the Transport and Mobilities Group at The University of Ұ�� – spoke about the detrimental impact of poor bus connectivity and the need for immediate government action. A new research centre was also launched to promote socially just, people-centred sustainability transformations by collaborating with communities, governments and businesses to develop low-carbon living initiatives.

April

In April, The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science - appointed Ұ��’s Professor Cecilia Wong as a member of its Council. Professor Wong brought a wealth of expertise and an exceptional track record to her role - her extensive research encompasses strategic spatial planning, policy monitoring & analysis, urban & regional development and housing & infrastructure planning.

The month also saw the launch of a new report from , which has surveyed 130,000 young people since 2021, which highlighted the experiences of pupils in mainstream schools with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The study found that across a range of headline metrics – mental wellbeing, life satisfaction, self-esteem and emotional difficulties – young people with SEN experience worse outcomes.

May

May saw the launch of a major new partnership with the Bank of England which will see existing teachers offered free training to deliver A Level economics alongside their core subject. The three-year programme, which will be piloted in the North West before eventually being rolled out across the UK, aims to make the subject more accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds.

Also in May, the Government announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payment after being presented with research from The University of Ұ�� which found that their plans were going to leave many more older people in poverty, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. The month also saw Ұ�� being officially recognised as one of the UK’s new Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (PACE), as part of a national initiative to embed world-class research into frontline policing and community safety.

June

June brought two major archaeology stories - firstly, experts from Ұ�� played a leading role in the rediscovery of the ancient city of Imet in Egypt’s eastern Nile Delta, uncovering multi-storey dwellings, granaries and a ceremonial road tied to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet. This story received widespread coverage. The month brought news of a new project to explore the discovery of Wales’ first complete ancient chariot.

The same month also saw the launch of two reports into children's mental health - one found that while teens from disadvantaged neighbourhoods do face lower life satisfaction, they don't actually face more emotional problems. The other found that physical activity is critical for children's happiness.

July

July brought the extremely sad news that Lord David Alliance CBE had passed away. Lord Alliance’s belief in the power of philanthropy, education and research to drive positive change inspired generations of students, staff, alumni and partners. The renaming of Ұ�� Business School to Alliance Ұ�� Business School in 2015 stands as a testament to Lord Alliance’s transformative impact and support for The University of Ұ�� and its students over many years.

The month also saw Alliance Ұ�� Business School's Professor Timothy Michael Devinney being elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, the UK’s leading national body for the humanities and social sciences.

Also during this month, several Humanities academics were leading policy conversations about major issues - including Professor Jamie Woodward who spoke at Westminster about the impact of microplastic pollution on our environment, and Professor Pamela Qualter who co-authored a World Health Organization (WHO) report calling for urgent action to tackle loneliness and social disconnection around the world.

August

During August, an historian from The University of Ұ�� was named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe. Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Two leading criminologists from The University of Ұ�� also joined a groundbreaking national research project designed to tackle fraud in the NHS, which costs the UK taxpayer an estimated £1.3 billion each year.

There was also media interest in a study which found that a single sheet of 1,100-year-old parchment may have been used to heal a dangerous royal rift in Ancient England.

September

The start of the new academic year was marked by the appointment of three academics from The University of Ұ�� as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Liz Richardson, Professor David Richards and Professor Anupam Nanda were named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good.

The month also saw The University of Ұ�� being appointed as the UN's Academic Impact Vice-Chair for SDG10 research, meaning the University will play an essential role in advancing the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Some major research was also launched in August which found that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind, a mentoring programme was giving a big mental health boost to LGBTQIA+ teens, and cities needing to do more to support older people who want to stay in their own homes as they age.

October

October saw three major pieces of research into schools - studies were published into school isolation rooms damaging pupil wellbeing, a third of new teachers quitting within five years of qualifying and the discovery of a significant and lasting link between the subjects young people study in school and their political preferences.

Also during October, a study was launched by Dr Louise Thompson which found that outdated rules in the House of Commons shut smaller parties out of key decisions, leaving millions of voters effectively unheard. This led to several of those parties - including the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Reform - raising the issue, as well as media coverage across the UK.

November

The University’s Professor Hilary Pilkington was one of the authors of the final report of the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which in November called for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK's counter-terrorism policies. This received widespread media coverage across the country.

The University also launched new research as part of the N8 Child of the North campaign in November, which found that the post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest - the story led to regional and national media coverage.

The month also saw studies into Buddhism in mental health care, stronger communities being linked to better health, and the rise of ‘authoritarian peacemaking’ and its implications for Ukraine.

December

The final month of the year saw the launch of a major new collaboration with the University of Oxford which will bring together an expert team of textual scholars, book historians, computer scientists, library data experts and research software engineers to explore whether computers ‘see’ books and prints the same way as people do, and asks whether the AI algorithm can be made to see in the same way as humans.

A major global study led by Dr Francesco Rampazzo also found that younger generations around the world are embracing a more diverse and fluid understanding of sexual identity than ever before. The research - which analysed data from over 900,000 users of the queer women’s and nonbinary dating app Zoe - offered one of the first truly global pictures of how people identify their sexuality in 122 countries, from the UK and the US to Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan.

These stories reflect the Faculty's commitment to addressing global challenges through its research, education and social responsibility.

This year’s highlights from the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 2025 annual review from the biology, medicine and health beat. Yet again, our world leading researchers are making an impact right around the world, so here’s a taste of some of our most popular and interesting stories. Enjoy!

Kicking off in December with the news that early access to support linked to better recovery after Ұ�� Arena attack. Two new studies have found that people affected by the 2017 Ұ�� Arena terrorist attack showed improvement in mental health after engaging with dedicated support services.

In November, we showed how research on mice has shed new light on why the guts’ immune system changes after a stroke and how it might contribute to gastro-intestinal problems.

In October, our campaigning researchers celebrate law change on parental involvement in domestic abuse. Abusive parents will no longer have presumed access to their children following a change in the law and years of campaigning by victims’ groups and other experts, including University of Ұ�� researchers.

In September, we showed that most women have positive experience of NHS maternity services. An independent evaluation of measures introduced by the NHS in 2019 to reduce stillbirth in England has shown that most women have a positive experience antenatal care, birth and labour.

In August we reported how decades of research informed NICE guidance on leg ulcer treatment. Research on venous leg ulcer treatments, doggedly pursued by two University of Ұ�� academics since 1989, has greatly influenced NICE issued that month.

July heralded our report on how our scientists discovered a genetic condition that causes paralysis following mild infections. Doctors and genetic researchers at The University of Ұ�� discovered that changes in a gene leads to severe nerve damage in children following a mild bout of infection.

Data analysis by a University of Ұ�� psychologist, published in June, confirmed the suspicion that tennis players who take a bathroom break are likely to gain an advantage over their opponent.

In May we reported the worrying news that ex-service personnel with dementia may be slipping through gaps in support. from the University of Ұ�� and McMaster University highlighted the experiences of UK ex-Service personnel with dementia living in their own homes, and the barriers they have faced in accessing support.

In April, one of our most illustrious scientists made the STATUS list of top life science influencers. Professor Ruth Itzhaki, who’s pioneering research has advanced our understanding of what causes Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), made the prestigious for 2025.

In March we learned that face-to-face GP appointments linked to higher patient satisfaction. GPs who conduct their surgeries in the flesh are more likely to have satisfied patients according to a study by our researchers.

In February, we reported on how Governments lack effective policies on fungal disease. Some Governments lack effective policies to tackle the global fungal crisis responsible for the deaths of around 3.5 million people per year, according to an international team of experts.

A study revealed in January links between head injuries and viruses in Alzheimer's Disease. Researchers from Oxford’s Institute of Population Ageing and the University of Ұ��, and Tufts University found that head injuries, such as those induced in sports and the military, may re-awaken dormant viruses in the brain, triggering the onset of conditions including Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

Justice Hub wins ‘Educational Institution of the Year’ award

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:08:48 +0000

The at the has won ‘Educational Institution of the Year 2025’ at the recent Greater Ұ�� Pro Bono Awards. Through partnerships with students from across the , academics, lawyers and local charities, the Hub delivers free legal support to those most in need.

Around 650,000 people in the region fall into the ‘justice gap’ because they cannot access legal aid or afford private representation.

The Justice Hub’s important work exposes lawyers of the future to the injustices faced by many and the importance of access to justice and helps to transform lives across Greater Ұ��.

The Awards, now in their second year, celebrate the regions’ lawyers, law students and legal professionals who are transforming lives through free legal advice and representation.

University of Ұ�� to lead £3m project to transform long-duration energy storage

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:12:45 +0000

The University of Ұ�� is to lead a major new research collaboration to develop GPStore, a pioneering long-duration energy storage technology that could play a vital role in supporting the UK’s transition to net zero.

The project, led by Professor Yasser Mahmoudi Larimi from The University of Ұ��, has been awarded a £3 million EPSRC Critical Mass Programme Grant. It brings together expertise from industry and academia across the UK, including The University of Ұ��, the University of Birmingham, the University of Liverpool, Cranfield University and Imperial College London.

As the UK increases its use of renewable energy, one of the biggest challenges is how to store excess electricity generated on windy or sunny days and make it available when demand rises, or when the weather changes and turns dark, for example. GPStore aims to deliver a first-of-its-kind approach to storing clean energy for hours, weeks or months - something existing storage options cannot achieve at scale.

By 2050, the UK is expected to need up to 100 terawatt-hours of long-duration energy storage to ensure a stable, affordable and low-carbon energy system. While today’s technologies, such as pumped hydro, compressed air and flow batteries, offer useful short- to medium-duration storage, they often face geographical and environmental constraints, high costs, or complex engineering, making them difficult to scale.

The novel GPStore technology takes a completely different approach. It converts surplus renewable electricity into high-temperature heat storing in solid particles, in aboveground insulated tanks. When energy is needed, the stored thermal energy is converted back to electricity. GPStore could help manage energy demand not only day-to-day, but also between summer and winter, which is essential for achieving a fully renewable, climate-resilient energy grid.

The project brings together 13 academics across five UK universities and 16 industry and policy partners, including EDF Energy, UK Power Networks, Fraser-Nash Consultancy and Ұ�� City Council.

Hidden bias gives ‘swing state’ voters more influence over US trade policy

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:08:02 +0000

Americans living in political “swing states” have a significantly louder voice in national trade policy - effectively making their votes worth more than others - according to a new study published in the .

Professor Karim Chalak from The University of Ұ��, Professor John McLaren from the University of Virginia and Professor Xiangjun Ma from Liaoning University found that US governments of both parties tend to shape their trade policies to favour industries based in states that could decide presidential elections.

Using decades of economic and political data - from the Clinton years through to the Trump trade wars - the team found that US tariffs are consistently biased toward industries located in swing states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

According to their estimates, the welfare of a voter in a non-swing state is treated as being worth just 82 percent of that of a voter in a swing state when national trade decisions are made.

“Our research reveals the extent to which US policymakers cater to the welfare of swing-state workers relative to others with similar jobs elsewhere,” explains Professor Chalak. “This bias is a byproduct of the US’s electoral system - economic policies are shaped partly by political geography.”

The researchers describe how this pattern was illustrated clearly in the 1990s, when the Clinton administration negotiated special tomato trade protections for Florida ahead of a tight election. Similar patterns reappeared during later trade disputes involving steel and manufacturing tariffs.

“People often claim that the Electoral College protects small states, but the evidence is that it just penalizes people for not living in a swing state,” said Professor McLaren, “and even for swing states, the best evidence is that small states do not benefit from the bias.”&�Բ��;

By combining theoretical modelling with real-world data on tariffs, industries, and voting patterns, the team developed what they call the “Swing-State Theorem.” The theorem predicts that in majoritarian systems like the US, policy naturally tilts toward the interests of swing regions - even without explicit lobbying.

The findings shed light on how political incentives can distort economic policy in ways that are both inefficient and hard to justify as fair, and they may help to explain why trade wars and protectionist measures often appear inconsistent with broader national welfare. The authors suggest the same logic could apply to other areas of policy, from infrastructure spending to defence contracts.

AI-powered ‘self-driving’ labs accelerating chemical process innovation

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:49:54 +0000

From everyday items in our homes, to the medicines that support many of us, chemical products underpin modern life. But the processes that discover and scale-up development of these products are often slow, resource-intensive and reliant on a lot of trial-and-error.

Now, researchers at The University of Ұ�� working with Unilever, have created an AI-powered ‘self-driving’ laboratory that promises to change the way chemical innovation happens.

Their new system uses physics-guided AI and is designed to learn efficiently by choosing only the most valuable experiments, cutting down the number of tests needed to reach reliable results. Instead of endlessly tweaking variables in the lab, it learns from every outcome, refining its models to predict what will work best next.

This not only saves time and resources but delivers deeper insights into the underlying science. The resulting chemical processes can be developed faster, scaled more efficiently and designed with sustainability in mind – from cleaner consumer goods to greener manufacturing systems.

As project lead Dr Dongda Zhang explains: “By advancing AI-powered self-driving labs, we help our industrial partners enhance digital maturity, embrace culture change and accelerate sustainable innovation – driving smarter, faster and cleaner manufacturing that benefits both industry and society.”&�Բ��;

Meet the researchers

Dr Dongda Zhang is a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at The University of Ұ��. His work focuses on using AI and data-driven tools to transform how chemical and biochemical processes are designed and scaled, helping industry innovate more efficiently and sustainably. He also collaborates widely with partners across academia and industry to drive advances in digital chemical engineering. He is a Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellow in Digital Manufacturing.

Read her papers

Beyond silicon: using AI to accelerate the discovery of quantum materials

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:33:39 +0000

Quantum technologies promise breakthroughs in everything from clean energy to medical sensors but there’s a problem: the materials we currently rely on, like silicon and aluminium, are reaching their limits. To power the next generation of quantum devices, scientists need entirely new materials – ones that can operate under complex, demanding conditions.

Traditionally, discovering these materials has been a slow process of trial and error in the lab. Now, a team at The University of Ұ��, led by Dr Qian Yang, are using artificial intelligence to speed things up.

Their system doesn’t just crunch data – it learns the way physicists think about materials, helping to predict which ones are worth making and testing and even guiding their design and manufacturing. This way, AI acts less like a passive tool and more like an active ‘lab mate’, working alongside the researchers to unlock smarter and faster innovation.

As Dr Yang explains: “Our work is building the materials foundation for the future. From lossless superconductors to clean energy catalysts, new quantum materials will underpin the next wave of scientific and technological progress.”

Meet the researchers

Dr Qian Yang is a Royal Society University Research Fellow in Ұ��’s Natioanl Graphene Institute. Her work focuses on using advanced materials and AI to unlock new possibilities in quantum technologies and healthcare. From exploring how novel materials behave at the atomic scale to developing insights into smart sensors, her research aims to tackle major scientific challenges with real-world impact.

Read her papers

Exhibition celebrates works of Ұ�� City Architect’s Department

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:17:36 +0000

A new landmark exhibition has opened in the first floor gallery of Ұ�� Central Library which celebrates the contribution that the City Architects made to Ұ�� and its citizens over the 101 years of the Department.

The first City Architect, Henry Price, was appointed in 1902 – between then and 2003, only six others held the prestigious post. Price oversaw the design and construction of many of the city’s wash houses and baths, including the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths of 1906 on Hathersage Road.

It is worth remembering how much of the city’s operations were governed from the town hall. Ұ�� Corporation once controlled gas and electricity undertakings, tramways and trolleybuses, schools, police, fire and ambulance services, waste collection, parks and recreation, housing, libraries and more. The City Architect’s Department designed for all of these.

Over 350 images of plans, adverts, brochures, press clippings official and amateur photography, are on display and show the incredible breadth of the Departments influence, as well as their geographic reach. The exhibition focuses on the city and its suburbs, not just the centre.

Much of the show features buildings constructed between 1945 and 1974 – the end of the Second World War and the creation of Greater Ұ�� Council – and illustrates the incredible transformation of the city in that period.

Celebrated schemes, like the restoration of the Free Trade Hall in the 1950s, sit alongside more macabre utilitarian buildings, such as the City Mortuary, reminding us of the things a city needs to function.

The latter days of the Department were characterised by the upkeep of existing estate, libraries, schools and housing, and renewed attention on the public realm – the creation of Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, the pedestrianisation of Market Street, pocket parks along the River Irwell and in China Town.

Finally, as commissions increasingly fell to the private sector, the City Architect became an instrumental figure in the stewarding of large investments that saw Olympic bids and the delivery of the Commonwealth Games.

"This exhibition celebrates the work of City Architects who made their mark on the city skyscape and its suburbs from 1903," said Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure. “It is a fascinating look back at how instrumental they were in shaping the city and showcases their vision in making Ұ�� the city that we live in today.”

“It is easy to forget the wonderful, weird and sometimes straightforward contributions that local authority architects made to the city and the lives they shaped,” said Professor Richard Brook from Lancaster University. "To get this research out in public and in partnership with Archives+ hopefully casts new light on the city and the collections.”&�Բ��;

The exhibition runs until 28 February 2026. The curators, Dr Martin Dodge and Professor Richard Brook, have created a dynamic composition to which they will continually add material during its run.

Open Research Digest, December 2025

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:50:42 +0000

This month, we’re pleased to launch a new Open Research Spotlight series, focusing on the work of our . In the first instalment of the new series, Prof Ellen Poliakoff is in conversation with Open Research Librarian John Hynes, reflecting on the outcomes and impacts of her so far.

In addition to the latest Open Research news, events and resources from Ұ�� and beyond, we share a round-up of the in the Digest in 2025, and highlight the newly launched .

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University of Ұ�� receives $1 million gift to fund Undergraduate Access Scholarships

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:22:04 +0000

A $1 million sum to support Undergraduate Access Scholarships has been gifted through the North American Foundation for The University of Ұ�� (NAFUM).

The contribution, made by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, will primarily help students who are care-experienced or estranged from their families.

The generous sum will sit within the NAFUM endowment, which will pay out dividends to fund two scholarships annually. Recipients will be known as the Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, after the former President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, and Ann El-Mokadem Scholars.

The donor said: "This donation has been made in honour of the history of this world class institution, which I am immensely proud to be associated with.

“This gift is intended to continue a long tradition of supporting talented students at Ұ��, and enabling them to shape the future of this great city and beyond.”&�Բ��;

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, former President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Ұ��, said: “It is a true privilege to have a scholarship carry my name - an honour I will always treasure. My heartfelt thanks go to the donors for their remarkable generosity.

“I am delighted that this support will continue a long tradition here at Ұ��: opening doors for talented students, enabling them to thrive and achieve their ambitions at Ұ��.”&�Բ��;

Undergraduate Access Scholarships offer financial assistance to students who have experienced difficulties and are funded by alumni of the University and donors.

NAFUM is an independent foundation that supports the University’s work, helping students from the US, Greater Ұ�� and the Global South to gain an education at the University.

Through generous support, US-based alumni have helped the University to make strides tackling a number of global challenges, including inequality, poverty and cancer research.

Donations from alumni of the University, no matter the size, fuels discoveries, real-world impact and student success. By donating or volunteering, you can support life-changing opportunities for students and help us tackle urgent global challenges.

To find out more about making a donation to the University, please visit the University’s philanthropy page here.

Flu wave’s hidden cost on people with cystic fibrosis

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:41:00 +0000

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) are uniquely vulnerable to the flu wave currently ripping through the UK, a clinical researcher from The University of Ұ�� has warned.

Professor Alex Horsley made the comments following last week’s news that flu cases 55% in a week with an average of 2,660 patients a day being treated in an NHS hospital bed - the highest ever for this time of year.

In the North West, the most recent figures show a 36.6% increase in the number of people hospitalised with flu.

NHS England is also urging eligible populations, including those people with CF, to come forward for flu vaccinations as soon as they can avoid becoming seriously ill.

Patients with CF often have chronic infection and cough, usually controlled with nebuliser medications to help them clear mucus in the lungs and antibiotics to control infection.

However influenza can sometimes have devastating consequences from escalating lung infections and breathlessness, resulting in admission to hospital.

Professor Horsley, a leading expert in cystic fibrosis, is a Professor at The University of Ұ�� respiratory consultant at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Ұ�� University NHS Foundation Trust and Medical Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Ұ�� Clinical Research Facility at Wythenshawe Hospital.

He said: “CF is an inherited condition, and one of the most common life-limiting genetic conditions in the UK, affecting around 11000 people.

“It primarily affects the lungs, though also has important impacts on the pancreas, causing malnutrition and diabetes, and on the gut and liver.

“For people with CF, the winter wave of flu and flu-like illnesses can be especially challenging and damaging.

“That is why it is so important people take care at this time of year, make sure they have had their flu vaccine, and do their best to avoid being exposed to those with viral symptoms.

“In our cystic fibrosis centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, we run emergency reviews every weekday to see people acutely unwell and start treatment as soon as possible.

“But we’re also researching better ways to help people with CF and are leading a new to understand and prevent it.”

Previous work in Ұ�� has highlighted the potential impact of viral infections on people with CF, and shown how these may relate to increased admissions and need for IV antibiotics.

However the new , part of a multi-million pound Research Innovation Hub funded by the CF Trust, is now hoping to define exactly which viruses are responsible for the worst infections in people with CF, and how they do this.

The researchers plan to use the information to discover and trial new treatments to prevent exacerbations. This study, called “CF-Tracker”, is based at the University of Ұ�� but involves researchers and clinical teams across the UK.

Professor Horsley added: “Recent advances in CF therapies include a group of drugs called CFTR modulators, and Ұ�� led the latest clinical trials of these therapies.

“Since the CFTR modulators, people with CF have got used to much better health and reduced lung symptoms.

“But up to a quarter of CF adults still end up requiring IV antibiotics each year, and some require several courses. These are serious events, not just because they disrupt work and home life but because they are associated with faster decline in health and survival.”

Laura’s Beattie’s story

She said: “My cystic fibrosis made things very difficult for me when I contracted the flu in 2022. It completely floored me and I ended up going to A&E because my breathing was so laboured, my oxygen saturations were dropping, and my heart rate was really high.

“It was doubly bad because I spent the Christmas period on 24/7 oxygen, IV antibiotics throughout the day, and having intravenous infusions continually. It took a long time to get back to any kind of normality, and it affected me for months afterwards.

“Earlier this year, I was admitted again for another virus. This admission ended up being one of the longest I’ve ever had. Even now, at home, I’m still recovering, and I’m nowhere near my usual self.”

“It’s incredibly frustrating when you don’t know exactly what has triggered an exacerbation, and even more frustrating not knowing how it’s going to affect you while you’re going through it or how long the recovery will take.

“Viral infections like flu, or a CF exacerbation or a CF exacerbation triggered by a virus, are completely unpredictable.

“You never know how hard they will hit or how much they might change things long-term. That uncertainty is really scary, and the impact on how your CF progresses can be huge.”

For more information about the flu vaccine in Greater Ұ��, visit the GM integrated care
For more information about the research innovation Hub, visit or https://www.pulse-cf.com/tracker-study

The AI system transforming the accuracy of property valuations

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:51:15 +0000

Buying or selling a home can be one of life’s biggest financial decisions, yet property valuations are often inconsistent and hard to understand. Now, researchers at The University of Ұ�� are using artificial intelligence to change that.

Dr Yishuang Xu and her team have developed an AI system that predicts house prices with over 96% accuracy – a significant improvement beyond the 70 to 85% accuracy of traditional methods.

Unlike existing tools, this system also provides confidence intervals, showing not just what a home is worth, but how certain the model is about its estimate. As Dr Xu explains: “our system doesn’t just give you a number, it tells you how confident to be in that number, and which features are driving the valuation.”&�Բ��;

Their breakthrough comes from combining millions of property transactions across England and Wales, with data on energy performance, local economies and wider market forces. Using advanced machine learning and explainable AI algorithms, their system can reveal the key features driving each valuation – from sustainability factors to regional economic shifts.

Its potential applications are far-reaching and could include buyers and sellers getting more realistic price ranges for negotiations, lenders and insurers better assessing risk, and policymakers benefitting from clearer housing market data. As Dr Xu notes, “this transparency could transform how people buy homes.”

Meet the researchers

Dr. Yishuang Xu is a Senior Lecturer in Real Estate at The University of Ұ��. Her research spans real estate economics, finance and sustainability, with a recent focus on property technology and ESG investing. She specialises in advanced data analysis, financial modelling and machine learning applications, particularly in making complex AI systems transparent for high-stakes property and investment decisions.

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The University of Ұ������'s 2025 News Highlights

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The Faculty of Science and Engineering's 2025 news highlights

January

Newsroom University of Ұ��

Ұ�� leads global study to set graphene quality standard

Ұ�� research reveals how global laws can give workers real power

The Open Research Fellowship Programme at The University of Ұ��

Regius Professor Philip Withers takes up joint appointment between the Universities of Ұ�� and Monash

British Ambassador to China Opens Ұ�� Photo Exhibition in Zhengzhou

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The University of Ұ��'s 2025 News Highlights

University of Ұ�� to lead £3m project to transform long-duration energy storage

Exhibition celebrates works of Ұ�� City Architect’s Department

University of Ұ�� receives $1 million gift to fund Undergraduate Access Scholarships