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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tension between timeframes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The research is published in Nature and is  available

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09684-7   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Images:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This new strategy to 2035 is rooted in 野狼社区 and the North, creating knowledge, innovation and solutions that bring local benefits and scale globally.  

Professor Duncan Ivison, President & Vice-Chancellor of The University of 野狼社区, said: 鈥淭he University of 野狼社区 was born as an answer to a question posed amid the Industrial Revolution: what kind of new knowledge and citizens do we need for our city to thrive in a world undergoing profound change?     

鈥淎s we enter our third century, we stand at a similarly pivotal moment. From 野狼社区 for the world means working with our city and region deeply, to develop the ideas and solutions our communities and the world urgently need.鈥� 

Focused priorities for the next decade 

The University鈥檚 strategy to 2035 focuses on five areas to go further and faster, driving innovation, skills and good jobs in the region and country, while also addressing global challenges from climate change and growing political polarisation, to social inequalities.  

They are: 

• Flexible, personalised and digitally enabled learning 鈥� more personalised, applied and digitally enabled study that fits diverse lives.
• Accelerating the path from research excellence to impact 鈥� faster routes from discovery to policy, practice and industry.
• A powerhouse of innovation鈥� translating strengths into start-ups and scale-ups to create inclusive growth.
• The university to partner with 鈥� easier routes for partners to work with the University on collaborations that focus on making a difference.
• Digital inside and out 鈥� modern, data-driven and AI-enabled services and systems that make studying and collaborating with 野狼社区 simpler. 

These priorities build on firm foundations 鈥� the University will remain committed to excellence in teaching and research, values-led social responsibility, its deep civic roots with global reach, and a culture with equity, diversity and inclusion at its heart. 

A preview of what's to come 

The future the University wants to build is already becoming real through key initiatives.  

launched in October 2024 to accelerate 野狼社区鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. The UK needs cities like 野狼社区 to grow faster in socially inclusive ways and Unit M is reshaping innovation at 野狼社区 鈥� integrating expertise and partnerships across the University and transforming how it collaborates with startups, scale-ups, industry, community and government. It is already working with entrepreneurs, industry and civic partners, to tackle challenges in productivity, innovation and growth. 

Through 野狼社区 Online, the University is developing a new platform to deliver teaching beyond the campus. It will help students locally and globally to access a University of 野狼社区 education, building new skills through CPD, short courses, community and employer-responsive programmes, and collaborative projects that strengthen the region and global impact. 

The University is also beginning to build a student experience for the future 鈥� more flexible, personal and connected. In partnership with the Students鈥� Union (SU), the University is making support more inclusive, learning more applied, and university life more responsive.   

The University is also launching its first major fundraising and volunteering campaign to turn strategy into action for the communities it serves by supporting the next generation of students and researchers to tackle the major challenges of our time.  

Leading with purpose 

Professor Ivison added: 鈥溡袄巧缜� must lead 鈥� setting out a clear vision that strengthens our city and region and tackling global challenges. To succeed, we need to face the future together, not as individuals, or isolated teams, but as a community.  

鈥淭hat is manifested in how we built this strategy: thousands of our students, staff, alumni and partners contributed to the creation of From 野狼社区 for the world. It is not a fixed map for the future, but a framework that allows us to respond to this time of change, while also creating faster paths from discovery to impact, simpler ways to work with us, and benefits felt across Greater 野狼社区 and beyond.鈥� 

Find out more about From 野狼社区 for the world on the University website. 

The knowledge could reduce the risk of severe bowel complications from radiotherapy, known as rectal toxicity, heralding a more personalised approach to prostate cancer treatment. 

The study, funded by Prostate Cancer UK, is published in Clinical Cancer Research today.(13/10/25). 

The study was led by PhD researcher Artemis Bouzaki from The University of 野狼社区, who is also an honorary researcher at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. 

Her approach is the first study to combine genetic data with detailed spatial maps of where radiation is delivered in the rectum. 

Though scientists have already identified the lower posterior of the rectum as significant for rectal toxicities after prostate cancer radiotherapy, the study is the first to incorporate genetic information into the framework. 

鈥�Rectal toxicity is a significant concern for patients receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men and  now the most common cancer in England,鈥� she said.

鈥淎lthough dose guidelines limit the overall rate of rectal toxicity to around 10%, bowel function nevertheless often deteriorates over the course of treatment and beyond.

鈥淪ome patients experience severe, persistent complications, such as incontinence, or rectal bleeding, permanently affecting their quality of life.鈥�

The scientists analysed data from 1,293 prostate cancer patients as part of the international REQUITE study, which collected radiotherapy outcomes from 17 hospitals in Europe and the USA between 2014 and 2016.

For each of three genetic variants linked to increased radiation sensitivity, patients were grouped based on whether they carried the variant.

They were analysed alongside dose maps over the surface of the rectum - based on a methodology developed by the team in their earlier work- which showed the risk regions were consistently in the lower posterior rectum.

 The scientists used a special way of analysing 3D image data by looking at it in tiny volume units called voxels, the 3D equivalent of a pixel.

Instead of just measuring overall dose averages in a region, Voxel Based Analysis analyses the data voxel by voxel across the entire image. This allows smaller regions of organs to be identified, where more radiation dose is linked to different treatment side-effects.

Co-author and supervisor of the study, Dr Alan McWilliam from the University of 野狼社区 added: 鈥淥ur work has revealed that patients with certain genetic variants may benefit from lower radiation doses in those specific parts of the rectum, which could make a significant difference to their recovery.

鈥淗owever, these findings are preliminary, and clinical studies will be necessary to confirm their safety and effectiveness before any changes are made to standard treatment.鈥�

One reason why the lower part of the rectum may be particularly sensitive is that the higher and lower parts of rectum have anatomical and functional differences which could influence their response to radiation.

The differences play a key role in inflammation and immune response and are likely to be affected by different genetic variants, including the ones analysed by the researchers.

Dr Hayley Luxton, Head of Research Impact and Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 鈥淣o two men鈥檚 prostate cancers will be the same, and different men will opt for different treatment. We know that radiotherapy is an extremely effective way to treat men with prostate cancer. However, it can have life changing side effects for patients.

鈥淭here are two ways to limit the side effects caused by radiotherapy 鈥� either through adjusting dosage to account for genetics or by reducing the dose to certain areas of the body.

鈥淔or the first time, thanks to Prostate Cancer UK鈥檚 funding alongside Movember, the team in 野狼社区 have combined both methods, and can now fine-tune the delivery of radiotherapy based on a man鈥檚 genetics.

鈥淭he ability to personalise treatment in this way is exactly the direction we want prostate cancer care to head in. This study helps bring us that much closer to making sure the right men get the right treatment, at the right time.鈥�

The paper Integration of dose surface maps and genetic data identifies the lower posterior rectum as a key region for toxicity after prostate cancer radiotherapy, DOI: xxxxxxxxxxxx is available

The study highlights practical lessons for UK supermarkets and other retailers facing uncertain times. With climate change expected to increase extreme weather events and global supply chains still under strain, building networks that can flex under pressure will be vital.

The paper, Proactive Logistics-Redistribution Strategic Planning in Response to Facility Disruptions under Contingencies, was co-authored with colleagues from the Indian Institute of Management, National Taiwan University and the University of Liverpool, and is published in the .

The research also points to wider benefits. City planners, museums, and community groups could use similar methods to understand how people use local spaces, collect living memories, and bring different voices into conversations about the future of towns and cities.

Focusing on the voices of older people highlights the importance of everyday places and the rich, personal stories they hold. It shows that the places we pass through each day - the park, the market, the church, the tram stop - are much more than just backdrops. They are living parts of our personal and collective stories.

The University has retained its spot as 8^th in the UK this year, while dropping three places in the overall global ranking. The university's overall score for teaching and industry also improved when compared to the 2024 ranking. 

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings measure research-intensive universities across all their core missions. 

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of 野狼社区: 鈥淲e are proud to see our university鈥檚 outstanding national and international reputation recognised. However, we also want to continue to improve in these and other rankings. Our new strategy is focused on driving excellence in research, teaching and innovation and for that to bring more benefit to society over the coming years.鈥�  

THE鈥檚 World University Rankings are assessed based on 18 performance indicators, grouped into the five areas of teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. 

The University of 野狼社区 scored highest in the international outlook category, highlighting 野狼社区鈥檚 global draw to attracting undergraduates, postgraduates and faculty from all over the planet. A strength which makes the University and the Greater 野狼社区 Region a culturally rich, collaborative and economically impactful partner on the world stage. 

The findings also matter for families struggling with the cost of living. Delivery costs can push up food prices. By making transport more efficient, hubs like Local Heroes can keep food affordable while still supporting small businesses. This is especially important in rural regions, where high logistics costs have long limited farmer incomes and consumer access.

鈥淭he North East has some of England鈥檚 highest child poverty levels, but also a growing demand for healthy, locally produced food,鈥� said co-authors Dr Barbara Tocco and Professor Matthew Gorton from , Newcastle University. 鈥淭his work shows how smarter logistics can help more people access it without harming the environment.鈥�

The study also highlights resilience. During Covid-19, when supermarkets ran low on supplies, food hubs were vital to connect farmers directly with households. Strengthening those networks will help communities to withstand future shocks from pandemics, rising fuel prices or climate change.

The researchers hope their model can be used by food hubs across the UK and Europe. With farming under pressure from economic and environmental challenges, small changes in delivery routes and vehicle choices could make a big difference.

The findings build on the team鈥檚 previous research which has been shared on the EU鈥檚 business advice platform , as well as being raised in UK Parliament questions about and . 

The research highlights that rather than setting bold new directions, the country copies climate policies from elsewhere (like the UK and New Zealand) and has to accept the prices set by bigger economies for its critical minerals. By waiting so long to act, Australia missed the chance to shape the global market. 

It also demonstrates the human cost - experts interviewed described how climate scientists and renewable energy experts left the country in frustration, a 鈥榖rain drain鈥� that left Australia short of skilled workers just as the green economy began to boom.

鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 story is a warning for all countries, especially those heavily tied to fossil fuels,鈥� said co-author Dr Paul Tobin. 鈥淒elay now means paying the price later, not only in rising climate impacts like bushfires and floods, but also in lost opportunities for jobs, innovation and global influence.鈥�

鈥淚f countries want to shape the future rather than scramble to catch up, they need to act boldly and early. Climate change isn鈥檛 just an environmental issue - it鈥檚 about economic competitiveness, national identity and fairness to the next generation.鈥�

The study, published in , funded by Wellcome and the Royal Society, definitively confirm the mother鈥檚 role as central to the emotional wellbeing of the family unit.

Though other researchers have focused on isolated relationships between mother and child, this is the first study of the role that both partners may play in family mental health, both concurrently and over time.

The researchers produced a series of maps - called networks - depicting the way symptoms of anxiety and depression in parents and their children up the age of 16 connect with each other over time.

They based the analysis on data from 3,757 families from the UK Household Longitudinal Study between 2009 to 2022.

Additional cross-sectional network maps of 8,795 families captured independent associations between family members鈥� mental health.

While fathers鈥� emotional state was linked to mothers鈥� mental health in the cross-sectional analysis, they observed an absence of associations with their children.

However, they reported that fathers鈥� emotional symptoms may influence children鈥檚 well-being indirectly, by affecting maternal mental health.

The longitudinal maps also identified how a mother鈥檚 feelings of being overwhelmed affected the child鈥檚 emotional state鈥攅specially worry, and that children鈥檚 feeling of worry cycled back, further affecting her own emotional health.

The influence of maternal emotional health on their children waned as they got older, reflecting how adolescents transfer their primary attachment from their parents to others.

Lead author Dr Yushi Bai from The University of 野狼社区 said: 鈥淲e do know that children鈥檚 mental health is formed by, and within, their family through shared genes, nurturing behaviours of caregivers, and sibling dynamics.

鈥淥ur study identified mothers, not fathers, as central to the emotional wellbeing of the family unit.

鈥淲e suspect that this can be explained by traditional division of parenting roles, where societal expectations often position mothers as the primary caregivers and organisers within families.

鈥淢others are typically more involved in child-rearing and spend considerably more time with their children than do fathers, which means they are more likely to influence children鈥檚 lives and development.

鈥淕reater exposure to maternal care might also lead children to copy their mother鈥檚 coping mechanisms and behaviours.鈥�

Co-author Dr Matthias Pierce from The University of 野狼社区 said: 鈥淓motional disorders in young people are not only increasingly prevalent, but also present at early ages, highlighting the need for early intervention and prevention.

鈥淕iven the family鈥檚 central role in shaping and sustaining mental health, interventions and policies should consider how the family mental health ecosystem operates.

鈥淭his study shows the potential value of interventions that aim to support mothers and reduce maternal anxiety, which may have the greatest impact on improving family dynamics and reduce the risk of poor mental health in children.

鈥淲e also suggest that the link between fathers鈥� and mothers鈥� mental health presents a further potential avenue for alleviating maternal stress.鈥�

• The paper Quantifying cross-sectional and longitudinal associations in mental health symptoms within families: network models applied to UK cohort data  published in MBJ Open is published

• doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104829

The high-tech hearing tests, they say, can efficiently understand human speech from the comfort of your own home, rather than at a hospital clinic, by using AI to screen out background noise.

The researchers developed and tested an AI-powered version of the Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test that combines text-to-speech (TTS) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies.

The result was a fully automated, self-administered hearing test that can be performed without clinical supervision in 10 minutes.

The study, funded by a Medical Research Council鈥檚 Doctoral Training Partnership grant, could revolutionise the way hearing tests are carried out and is published today  in the journal Trends in Hearing.

Lead author Mohsen Fatehifar from The University of 野狼社区 said: 鈥淗aving tested this technology, we are confident that with the help of AI it is entirely possible to automate a hearing test on a computer or smart phone so it can be done from the comfort of your own home.

鈥淭hough we still need more extensive trials and a user-friendly interface, this technology could potentially make a huge difference to patients.

鈥淪pecialised equipment in the clinic and the specially trained staff who are needed to use it are not always available to patients who need quick assessment.

鈥淎dditionally, people are slow to seek help when experiencing hearing difficulties: there is an estimated delay of 8.9 years between the time hearing aids are needed to the time of their adoption.

鈥淭hat is why we are excited about the ability of this system to incorporate machine learning into the test procedure to make it less dependent on human supervisors.鈥�

Speech-in-noise tests are commonly used to detect hearing problems by assessing how well someone can understand spoken speech over background noise.

Traditional tests typically rely on pre-recorded human speech and require a clinician to score the responses.

However, the AI-powered version replaces both with computer generated speech and automatic speech recognition, allowing the test to run entirely on its own.

In a group of 31 adults, some with normal hearing and with hearing loss, the AI-powered test was evaluated against two conventional DIN tests.

The researchers assessed both reliability - how consistent results were across multiple runs and validity - how closely results matched a reference test.

Results showed that the AI-powered test gave virtually the same results as the conventional DIN tests.

While there was slightly more variability in some cases - especially in people with a strong accent- the overall reliability and accuracy were the same, demonstrating the addition of AI did not negatively impact test performance.

And by using larger ASR systems, the researchers say the higher accuracy would make the system compatible with stronger accents.

Co-authors Professor Kevin Munro and Michael Stone are from The University of 野狼社区 and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 野狼社区 Biomedical Research Centre.

Professor Munro said: 鈥淭his  study highlights how AI can make hearing tests both reliable and user-friendly, particularly for individuals who may find traditional formats鈥攕uch as keyboards or touchscreens鈥攃hallenging to use.

鈥淚t also marks an important step toward more personalised and accessible hearing assessments that people can complete independently at home.

鈥淭he test software will be freely available, providing a foundation for future developments using more advanced speech technologies.鈥�

Professor Stone said: 鈥淭his research highlights the potential for well-crafted and tested AI to modernise hearing care.

鈥淥ur team plans to explore extending this technology to more complex speech tests in future studies.鈥�

Using sunbeds causes melanoma and other skin cancers, particularly among young people, yet existing sunbed legislation is ineffective and there is little evidence that stricter rules would help protect the most vulnerable, say Professor Paul Lorigan and colleagues. 

Indoor tanning is experiencing a boom in popularity, particularly among Gen Z (born 1997-2012), with social media promoting sunbeds as integral to wellness, they explain. For example, a 2024 survey of 2,003 people in the UK by Melanoma Focus found that 43% of respondents aged 18-25 used sunbeds, half of them at least weekly, with many unaware of the associated dangers. 

And despite a ban on under 18s using sunbeds in England and Wales in 2011, a 2025 survey by Melanoma Focus of 100 UK 16-17 year olds found that 34% were still using sunbeds. 

Neither the number nor location of sunbed outlets in the UK are monitored, point out the authors. Data from websites and social media in January 2024 identified 4,231 sunbed outlets in England and 232 in Wales, with density per 100,000 population highest in north west and north east England and in the most deprived areas. 

The distribution of sunbed outlets also correlates with melanoma rates in young people, with the highest rates in north England, they add. Over 2,600 new diagnoses were recorded annually in 25-49 year olds in England during 2018-20 and 146 deaths, with two thirds of cases in women. 

Regulation has also failed to prevent young people鈥檚 use of sunbeds in other countries, they note. For example, the percentage of under 18s using sunbeds in the Republic of Ireland has barely changed since stricter regulation in 2014, while Iceland鈥檚 15-17 year olds are now the main users of sunbeds despite a ban for under 18s in 2011. 

The current situation in the UK is 鈥渁 clear example of an under-regulated industry aggressively marketing a harmful product to a vulnerable population,鈥� they write. 鈥淎n immediate outright ban on commercial sunbeds alongside public education offers the most cost effective solution to reduce skin cancer, save lives, and ease the burden on the NHS.鈥� 

To counter the economic impact of banning sunbeds on providers and communities, they suggest use of a buy-back scheme 鈥渢o mitigate industry pushback and the potential effect on livelihoods.鈥� 

They conclude: 鈥淭he UK government has pledged to prioritise prevention and to reduce health inequalities. Commercial sunbeds target those who are most disadvantaged and susceptible to harm.鈥� 

鈥淓nhanced efforts to encourage sun safe behaviours are critically needed but will likely take a generation to have an effect. A ban on commercial sunbeds is the first step in this process. It would send a clear message and have an immediate effect on skin cancer.鈥�

• Analysis: Commercial sunbeds should be banned in the UK  is published in the BMJ doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-085414 and is available

鈥淗owever, if we want to create high streets that truly support healthier, fairer communities, we must also invest in bringing back vital amenities like libraries and community hubs - regulating unhealthy outlets is important, but we also need to create positive alternatives that give people better choices. The Prime Minister鈥檚 announcement is progress, but now we need some real ambition."

This success highlights the importance of academic research in tackling some of society鈥檚 most pressing challenges. As the government takes steps to empower local authorities, the researchers will continue to work with policymakers, communities and partners across the UK to ensure that high streets can once again thrive as healthy, inclusive spaces.

The Ganges, a lifeline for hundreds of millions across South Asia, is drying at a rate scientists say is unprecedented in recorded history. , shifting monsoons, relentless extraction and damming are pushing the mighty river towards collapse, with consequences for food, water and livelihoods across the region.

For centuries, the Ganges and its tributaries have sustained one of the world鈥檚 most densely populated regions. Stretching from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, the whole river basin supports over 650 million people, a quarter of India鈥檚 freshwater, and much of its food and economic value. Yet new research reveals the river鈥檚 decline is accelerating beyond anything seen in recorded history.

In recent decades, scientists have documented across many of the world鈥檚 big rivers, but the Ganges stands apart for its speed and scale.

In a , scientists reconstructed streamflow records going back 1,300 years to show that the basin has faced its worst droughts over the period in just the last few decades. And those droughts are well outside the range of natural climate variability.

Stretches of river that once supported year-round navigation are now impassable in summer. Large boats that once travelled the Ganges from Bengal and Bihar through Varanasi and Allahabad now run aground where water once flowed freely. Canals that used to irrigate fields for weeks longer a generation ago now dry up early. Even some wells that protected families for decades are yielding little more than a trickle.

Global climate models have failed to predict the severity of this drying, pointing to something deeply unsettling: human and environmental pressures are combining in ways we don鈥檛 yet understand.

Water has been diverted into irrigation canals, groundwater has been pumped for agriculture, and industries have proliferated along the river鈥檚 banks. More than a thousand dams and barrages have radically altered the river itself. And as the world warms, the monsoon which feeds the Ganges has grown increasingly erratic. The result is a river system increasingly unable to replenish itself.

Melting glaciers, vanishing rivers

At the river鈥檚 source high in the Himalayas, the Gangotri glacier has retreated in just two decades. The pattern is repeating across the world鈥檚 largest mountain range, as rising temperatures are melting glaciers faster than ever.

Initially, this brings . In the long-run, it means far less water flowing downstream during the dry season.

These glaciers are often termed the 鈥渨ater towers of Asia鈥�. But as those towers shrink, the summer flow of water in the Ganges and its tributaries is dwindling too.

Humans are making things worse

The reckless extraction of is aggravating the situation. The Ganges-Brahmaputra basin is one of the most rapidly depleting aquifers in the world, with water levels falling by . Much of this groundwater is already contaminated with arsenic and fluoride, threatening both human health and .

The role of human engineering cannot be ignored either. Projects like the in India have reduced dry-season flows into Bangladesh, making the land saltier and threatening the Sundarbans, the world鈥檚 largest mangrove forest. Decisions to prioritise short-term economic gains have undermined the river鈥檚 ecological health.

Across and West Bengal, smaller rivers are already drying up in the summer, leaving communities without water for crops or livestock. The disappearance of these smaller tributaries is a harbinger of what may happen on a larger scale if the Ganges itself continues its downward spiral. If nothing changes, experts warn that millions of people across the basin could face within the next few decades.

Saving the Ganges

The need for urgent, coordinated action cannot be overstated. Piecemeal solutions will not be enough. It鈥檚 time for a comprehensive rethinking of how the river is managed.

That will mean reducing unsustainable extraction of groundwater so supplies can recharge. It will mean environmental flow requirements to keep enough water in the river for people and ecosystems. And it will require improved climate models that integrate human pressures (irrigation and damming, for example) with monsoon variability to guide water policy.

Transboundary cooperation is also a must. India, Bangladesh and Nepal must do better at sharing data, managing dams, and planning for climate change. International funding and political agreements must treat rivers like the Ganges as global priorities. Above all, governance must be inclusive, so local voices shape river restoration efforts alongside scientists and policymakers.

The Ganges is more than a river. It is a lifeline, a sacred symbol, and a cornerstone of South Asian civilisation. But it is drying faster than ever before, and the consequences of inaction are unthinkable. The time for warnings has passed. We must act now to ensure the Ganges continues to flow 鈥� not just for us, but for generations to come.

, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Geography,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The report calls for urgent reforms, including:

Faster approvals 鈥� cutting the red tape that slows NHS trial delivery.
Flexible design 鈥� letting participants choose between home visits, clinic appointments or online check-ins.
Specialist centres 鈥� building dedicated hubs for mental health trials inside major NHS Trusts.
Smarter promotion 鈥� using social media campaigns and testimonials to boost awareness and trust.

Despite the surge of private providers, the NHS still has key advantages. It can draw on huge, reliable patient datasets and long-standing doctor-patient relationships that private firms cannot match. This helps ensure trials include a diverse mix of people 鈥� and prevents the problem of 鈥減rofessional patients,鈥� which industry leaders say can account for up to 30% of participants in US depression trials.

The study was supported by the UK Government鈥檚 Office for Life Sciences and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

As more countries and regions introduce stronger privacy protections, the study raises questions about how smaller financial institutions will cope with the cost of compliance. While consumers may benefit from improved protection, the financial burden may be felt most by smaller banks, which could in turn affect the services they provide.

The research provides valuable insights for policymakers, banks and the public. It underlines that the debate over data privacy is not only about regulation but also about competition, trust and the future of banking in the digital age.

鈥淭he quality of universal SEL education has significantly improved over the last two decades, meaning new programmes face a higher bar for showing additional impact. This highlights the excellent work already being done in schools to nurture children's mental health," Neil added.

The research also raises questions about whether programmes developed in one country - like Passport, which was originally from Canada - will work the same way in another. Cultural differences may affect how well these interventions work.

The researchers plan to keep studying the data, and looking into whether the programme has any long-term benefits, works better for certain groups of children or is good value for money.

Eviction: A Social History of Rent is available now from .

The research, titled Right on Cue? Category-Switching in Online Marketplaces, is published in the .

About the Richard Whipp Lifetime Achievement Award

The Award is made in memory of Professor Richard Whipp, an outstanding scholar in the field of business and management and former Chair of BAM. It specifically recognises a career within the management field where the beneficiary will have done one or more of the following: enhanced a field of study, founded or effectively led a major national/international academic initiative, or provided unusually effective service to a major professional institution and/or the Academy.

Professor Hodgkinson鈥檚 Reflections

Said Professor Hodgkinson: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted and humbled in equal measure, to have received this prestigious award, in recognition of my various contributions to research, BAM, and the wider management research community, over the course of the past 40 plus years.鈥�

A Legacy of Achievement

Professor Hodgkinson was made a Fellow of BAM in 2001 and received the BAM Medal for Research in 2021. He is pictured receiving the Richard Whipp Award from Richard鈥檚 widow Anne Whipp.

鈥漈he evidence is strong, and it should be part of the conversation on how we help vulnerable young people not just survive, but thrive," Neil added.

The experts say the next step is to study the programme in more detail, looking at whether the benefits last long term and whether it can also help reduce loneliness.

The study was funded by PBE, with wider support from the , The National Lottery Community Fund, and the Greater 野狼社区 Combined Authority.

The festival will take place from 11am 鈥� 4pm. For more information, visit . 

The study also highlights the deep impact of colonial history, showing how the French Empire shaped today鈥檚 ideas about identity, and how some communities - like those with Indian roots - have been left out of the national story.

This research is one of the first studies to centre the voices of French citizens of Indian descent, a group rarely studied in academic or public discussions about French imperial history. It is especially relevant today as France - and many other countries - grapple with their colonial past and while having increasingly diverse populations.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: 

DOI: 

The final version of the tool, called INSPECT-SR, is now published on the pre-print server . 

It was developed by a worldwide collaboration of more than 150 integrity and health research experts, led by Dr Jack Wilkinson from The University of 野狼社区 

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), it was developed in collaboration with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Cochrane, a not-for-profit organisation which is the world鈥檚 leading publisher of health systematic reviews. 

Some of the studies are subject to critical but honest errors, but many appear to be fraudulent.

Concerns are growing over the increasing numbers of problematic high-level summaries of the research evidence from randomised controlled trials , known as systematic reviews. 

In 2023 alone, over 10,000 research papers issued globally were retracted by journals according to an analysis by , many of which used evidence from problematic RCTs. 

Dr Wilkinson warns problematic RCTs  can result in medical research potentially being compromised, drug development hindered and promising academic research jeopardised. 

INSPECT-SR is designed to root out problematic RCTs which publish faked or manipulated data or have Inadvertently made critical errors. 

Some, written for a fee by outfits known as 鈥減aper mills鈥�, are entirely fabricated. 

The tool guides users through a series of 21 checks, grouped into 4 domains:

• Post publication notices which express concern and retractions.
• conduct, governance, and transparency
• text and figures
• data discrepancies and statistical errors.

One of the most well-known examples of problematic RCT research was around claims the drug Ivermectin, hailed as a miracle drug that would save the lives of people with severe COVID-19. 

However, some of the trials used to make the Ivermectin claims appear to have been fabricated, according  health authorities in the . Subsequent high-quality trials suggested little or no benefit. 

In another example , the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reversed recommendation for a device called a fetal pillow, developed to assist caesarean sections, following the retraction of three clinical studies supporting it. 

According to an article in : An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, a trustworthiness assessment may have prevented the use of the evidence in the NICE guideline, as it contained statistical anomalies. 

And trustworthiness concerns were also identified in a group of trials around the use of  CBT and exercise to combat spinal pain. The trials had substantial impacts on clinical practice guidelines. Several have now been .

Dr Wilkinson said: 鈥淲hen a systematic review is carried out, it includes all randomised  controlled trials on a given topic.

鈥淏ut historically, there has been no way to identify fraudulent or otherwise problematic RCTs, meaning that these studies are inadvertently included in systematic reviews.

鈥淭his is a big problem, as systematic reviews are very influential - they inform health guidelines for example.

鈥淢ost fraudulent RCTs are produced by individual researchers rather than commercial paper mills, but with the  advent of  AI I fear  this is likely to become more of a problem in the future.鈥�

He added: 鈥淎cademic papers are often assessed for quality before they are published. But reviewers do not ask the more fundamental question of whether the evidence they are reading is even genuine..

鈥淏ut we anticipate that INSPECT-SR will become the standard for assessing trustworthiness of RCTs, especially as it has been created withCochrane for use in their systematic reviews of health interventions.

鈥淗owever, it鈥檚 important to stress that our tool is not merely a test for fraud and misconduct-  though clearly many problematic studies are examples of that.

鈥淚t also tests for critical errors which is why our priority is to  determine if a clinical trial should be used to guide healthcare decisions.

鈥淲ork is ongoing to develop more automated systems -  perhaps using AI-  to assist with this process. In the future, we hope to expand our work  to detect problems in other forms of research studies, not just clinical trials.鈥�

• The paper INSPECT-SR: a tool for assessing trustworthiness of 1 randomised controlled trials is available on the print server https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.03.25334905

Our third new Fellow is Professor of Urban Economics & Real Estate Anupam Nanda, an award-winning expert in the economics of property markets, urban and regional dynamics, real estate finance, investor sentiment, cross-border investment, ESG issues, and the role of technology in real estate. A prolific researcher, his papers feature in top journals such as Journal of Urban Economics, Real Estate Economics, Regional Studies, and Energy Economics. Alongside his academic research, he works with policymakers and industry to develop solutions for sustainable, resilient and fair urban and housing systems.

鈥淚 am pleased to be nominated to join the Academy and contribute to its crucial work in promoting the role of social sciences in my field and across other related fields,鈥� said Anupam. 鈥淚 look forward to working with other fellows of the Academy.鈥�

President of the Academy, Will Hutton FAcSS, said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a pleasure to welcome more leading social scientists to the Academy鈥檚 Fellowship. Their research and practical applications have made substantial contributions to social science and wider society in a range of areas, and we look forward to working with them to promote further the vital role the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.鈥� 

The book covers examples from around the world - from Brazil to China and South Africa to Norway - across all levels of society from grassroots street activists in California right up to global negotiations. The volume also tackles a wide range of policy areas and sectors including the fossil fuel industry, financial and insurance businesses and electricity companies.

It is available now, and free to read and download from .

Two peer reviewed studies led by University of 野狼社区 researchers across 28 NHS maternity units are published  today in the journals BMJ Open Quality  and BMJ Quality and Safety.

The BMJ Open Quality   paper showed 89% of women reported positive antenatal care and 86% had positive labour experiences.

However, the data from online surveys with 1,140 women and 633 healthcare professionals  - carried out in 2023-  also showed concerns around poor communication, lack of personalised care, staff shortages and delays still persist.

The Saving Babies鈥� Lives Care Bundle (SBLCB) was introduced in England from 2015 as the Government鈥檚 response to a stillbirth rate that was comparatively higher than many western countries.

SBLCB has evolved through three versions in 2016, 2019, and 2023, each building on the last to improve maternity care and reduce perinatal mortality across England.

The SBLCB evaluation- of version 2 -  found it had been successfully rolled-out in the majority of NHS maternity providers and that midwives and frontline staff have a pivotal role in implementing it.

Women鈥檚 positive experiences were linked to feeling listened to, being involved in decision-making, effective communication and continuity of care.

They encountered staff, the researchers found, who acknowledged their history and made them feeling able to ask questions.

However their negative experiences often stemmed from poor communication and lack of personalised care, making them feel dismissed, especially when expressing concerns about reduced fetal movement and during labour.

Some of the women who had a negative labour or birth experience also reported disorganised and inconsistent care, staff shortages, lack of beds and poor pain management which left them feeling neglected.

Poor communication between staff made care feel disjointed and was further hindered with changes to electronic notes, they reported.

Risk factors was not always communicated effectively and women were often given no choice in their treatment which meant they felt threatened or frustrated.

Alexander Heazell, is Professor of Obstetrics at The University of 野狼社区, Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at St Mary鈥檚 Hospital, and Director of the Tommy鈥檚 Stillbirth Research Centre.

He said: 鈥淲e analysed a total of 1,071 women鈥檚 written responses about their antenatal care, of which 89% reported a positive experience. 86% had positive experience of labour.

鈥淪o much progress has been made  in terms of their experiences around feeling listened to and reassured, feeling in control of decision-making and  encounters with staff and care.

鈥淥ur data suggest that elements of the SBLCBv2 are increasingly embedded in maternity care, but refinements are still needed.

鈥淭his will  address variation in practice between units and to support effective communication between health care professionals and service users to balance standardised clinical practice with personalised care.

A second paper published in BMJ Quality and Safety examined the qualitative  experiences of the women.

Lead author Dr Holly Reid, also from The University of 野狼社区, said: 鈥淥ur paper found that having a trusting relationship with maternity care providers is of paramount importance to achieve positive and safe maternity experiences for women.

鈥淭rust was built through consensus among the care team, making sure the partner was involved in discussions around care and continuity of carer.

鈥淲hen women were not listened to or believed by healthcare professionals during labour and birth, this resulted in frightening experiences for women and their safety being put at risk.鈥�

Professor Heazell added: 鈥淗owever, there is still work to do. Service users need to feel heard, involved in and reassured by their care. To this end, the communication between health care professionals and service users is critical.

鈥淲e suggest maternity staff may benefit from additional training to discuss the reasons for and results of interventions to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.

鈥淭his will need to be combined with effective communication skills to ensure that service users receive information to make an informed choice, ensuring they retain agency and perceived control.

鈥淎nd that will enable the core recommendations of SBLCBv2 to be personalised to individual service users, promoting safe maternity care and improved maternity experience.鈥�

Examples of representative anonymised quote from service users:

All testing done efficiently, staff were continually informing us about the decisions they were making, we felt well taken care of鈥�

鈥淚 felt really dismissed by the midwives when I kept saying the baby wasn鈥檛 moving and I didn鈥檛 feel well

鈥淎ll testing done efficiently, staff were continually informing us about the decisions they were making, we felt well taken care of鈥�

鈥淲hile yes I got growth scans nothing was ever explained and I wasn鈥檛 able to ask any questions鈥�

鈥淭he staff were attentive and provided me with all the information I required. This was offered and also given 24 hours a day with no bias.鈥�

鈥淭he administration side of things was not great. I was forgotten about on numerous occasions. Letters were sent out with appointment dates that didn鈥檛 exist. I would turn up and people weren鈥檛 expecting me.鈥�

• The paper Evaluating the implementation of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle Version 2 from Service User and Health Care Professionals鈥� perspectives: A Questionnaire Study  is published in BMJ Open Quality  DOI:  bmjoq-2025-003456
• The paper Service users鈥� experiences of maternity care in England informed by the Saving Babies鈥� Lives Care Bundle Version 2: A reflexive thematic analysis to be published in BMJ Quality and Safety is  published in BMJ Quality and Safety  DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2025-018582

The work by Professors Jo Dumville and Nicky Cullum on the most effective types of compression treatments is good news for the hundreds of thousands of patients affected by venous leg ulcers every year,  costing the NHS tens of millions of pounds. 

Venous ulcers are a common long-term condition which adversely affect people's quality of life; nurses deliver the majority of care, which takes the form of compression therapy as a first-line treatment. 

According to the NHS National Wound Care Strategy Programme, venous leg ulcers account for 60% to 80% of all leg ulcers. 

However, the abundance of different compression treatments and heavy product promotion by the wound care industry makes it difficult for nurses to decide, with patients, on the course of treatment that is most clinically effective and offers the most value to the NHS. 

The guidance - known officially as a 鈥淟ate Stage Assessment" -  is set to change that by providing crucial information to nursing staff on the most effective types of compression. 

It will also help NHS commissioners and procurement specialists give healthcare professionals access to a range of the most appropriate compression products to ensure their affordability to the NHS. 

According to the researchers鈥� evidence, the clinical effectiveness of two-layer compression hosiery and two-layer and 4-layer bandages is similar, while compression hosiery is more cost-effective than bandages. However, compression wraps are less clinically and cost-effective.

Professor Cullum was first asked to review the research evidence on leg ulcer management by the then Department of Health (now the Department of Health and Social Care) in 1989.

Working with Professor Dumville, they have been analysing and publishing the evidence in Cochrane and other systematic reviews, and have worked to fill knowledge gaps by doing new randomised controlled trials and other relevant studies.

A Cochrane systematic review is a rigorously conducted, independent review of research evidence on the effects of healthcare interventions, published by Cochrane, a global, not-for-profit organisation.

The latest randomised controlled trial, led by Professor Dumville will have further important implications for care and is likely to be published later in 2025 or early 2026.

Professor Dumville said: 鈥業 am delighted that our NIHR-funded research has delivered high-quality and relevant evidence on compression therapy for venous leg ulcers.

鈥淭he contribution of these findings to NICE鈥檚 late-stage assessment underscores the importance of NIHR studies like VenUS 6 in strengthening the clinical evidence base in wound care and informing national recommendations that support best practice in patient care.鈥�

Professor Cullum said: 鈥淭his is the first time there has been a piece of NICE guidance on compression therapy for venous leg ulcers.

鈥淚t feels like something of a culmination of all the work Jo Dumville and I have been doing for decades, so we are delighted it has culminated in some national guidance which will help nurses and patients arrive at informed decisions.鈥�

• See Professor Cullum鈥檚 Lockdown Lecture  where she talks about her work on leg ulcers and her with Jude Johnson.

Published in the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) journal Cancer Research Communications, the study assessed AOA鈥檚 novel technology that analysed multiple groups of biological markers from a single blood sample. 

The researchers showed the test outperformed traditional biomarker tests for ovarian cancer detection in over 950 patients from Colorado and 野狼社区. 

This study is a major milestone and AOA is committed to pursuing regulatory approval across the US and Europe in the coming years, ahead of launching the test to the NHS. 

The technology combines two different sets of blood-markers, proteins and lipids, with   machine learning to identify the presence of ovarian cancer in women that present with vague abdominal/pelvic symptoms. 

In samples from University of Colorado the test exhibited an accuracy of 93% across all stages of ovarian cancer and 91% for early-stage disease. 

In a set from 野狼社区, the model continued to perform strongly, with an accuracy of 92% for all-stages of ovarian cancer and 88% for early-stage disease.

 AOA鈥檚 test performed better than single blood-based-markers which have been used for the past 30 year, which were only able to attain accuracies of less than 90%. 

The successful results, say AOA, will inform the final design of the test, which could produce a streamlined and cost-effective diagnostic relevant to healthcare systems globally. 

鈥淥ur platform detects ovarian cancer at early stages and with greater accuracy than current tools,鈥� said Alex Fisher COO and Co-Founder of AOA Dx. 鈥淭hese findings show its potential to aid clinicians in making faster, more informed decisions for women who need urgent clarity during a challenging diagnostic process.鈥� 

鈥淏y using machine learning to combine multiple biomarker types, we鈥檝e developed a diagnostic tool that detects ovarian cancer across the molecular complexity of the disease in sub-types and stages鈥� said Dr. Abigail McElhinny, Chief Science Officer of AOA Dx. 鈥淭his platform offers a great opportunity to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer potentially resulting in better patient outcomes and lower costs to the healthcare system.鈥�

varian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, largely due to late-stage diagnosis.

Over 90% of women experience symptoms in Stage I, yet only 20% of cases are diagnosed in Stage I or II, as symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and digestive issues often resemble benign conditions.

Existing diagnostic methods, which rely on invasive procedures or less reliable markers, frequently fail to identify early-stage disease.

An accurate early detection test available to women when they first visit a physician with symptoms could revolutionize the detection of ovarian cancer.

Professor Emma Crosbie, Professor at The University of 野狼社区 and Honorary Consultant in Gynecological Oncology, 野狼社区 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), said: 鈥淎OA Dx鈥檚 platform shows significant promise for ovarian cancer early detection, offering a practical solution for symptomatic women.鈥�

Professor Crosbie is also National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 野狼社区 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Co-Theme Lead.

She added: 鈥淎OA Dx鈥檚 platform has the potential to significantly improve patient care and outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We are eager to continue advancing this important research through additional prospective trials to further validate and expand our understanding of how this could be integrated into existing healthcare systems.鈥�

The paper Utilizing serum-derived lipidomics with protein biomarkers and machine learning for early detection of ovarian cancer in the symptomatic population published in cancer Research Communications is available DOI:

The University of 野狼社区 is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university 鈥� ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings 鈥� with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries.  Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe. 

The research also suggests that monks kept their copy of the charter safe for generations, possibly consulting it at annual rent payments or during disputes 鈥� ensuring the king鈥檚 message lived on.

By looking at this 1,100-year-old parchment not just as a legal record but as a piece of political theatre, the study opens a new window into how early English kings built and maintained their power.

The full article, 鈥�鈥�, is published in the Journal of Medieval History.

The University of 野狼社区 is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university 鈥� ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings 鈥� with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries.  Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe. 

鈥淔or an institution of our scale and ambition, continued progress on the global stage is both a challenge and an opportunity," Duncan added.

The 2025 ARWU result follows a strong year for 野狼社区 in other leading global rankings - in June, it was named the 35th best university in the world in the QS World University Rankings.

The power of the University鈥檚 social and environmental impact has also been recognised on a global scale, being the only university in the top ten in both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, in recognition of its contribution towards the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The University鈥檚 research strength is further evidenced by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in which 93% of research activity was rated either 鈥榳orld-leading鈥� (4*) or 鈥榠nternationally excellent鈥� (3*).

鈥溡袄巧缜� has always been a place where world-class research meets real-world impact,鈥� said Vice-President for Research Professor Colette Fagan. 鈥淲e are proud of our achievements, but even more excited about what lies ahead.鈥�

The full 2025 ARWU list and methodology can be explored at ShanghaiRanking鈥檚 .

The winner of this year鈥檚 Prize will be revealed on the evening of 1 October 2025, where they will be presented with a cheque for 拢25,000. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive a cheque for 拢2,500.

鈥淯nderstanding how counter fraud work is carried out is important for improving its effectiveness," added Dr Benson. 鈥漁ur research will better understand the experiences of those delivering these services, identifying what challenges they face and what support they need. This insight is vital for shaping a more strategic and joined-up approach to tackling fraud across the NHS."

The research was a partnership with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and is published in the journal .