Newsroom University of ��Թϱ��

Open Research at ��Թϱ��

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:33:43 +0000

Open Research is increasingly central to how we think about research culture at the University of ��Թϱ�� – not just as a set of technical practices, but as a reflection of our values as a public institution and our commitment to maximising the impact of research.

This message was reinforced this week in a new , where President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison spoke about why Open Research matters. As he put it, making our research, ideas, and results openly available is “really powerful” – both in terms of public value and in helping to speed up the journey from discovery to real-world impact.

That institutional commitment provides important context for the work happening across the University through the , now entering its third cohort. Supported through Research England’s Enhancing Research Culture funding, the Fellowship Programme provides colleagues with dedicated time to focus on projects that embed openness, transparency, and responsibility into everyday research practice.

Crucially, the programme recognises that Open Research often relies on work that sits alongside, or on top of, already demanding roles. By buying out time, the Fellowships aim to make this work visible, valued, and sustainable, while fostering a community of practice that spans disciplines and professional roles.

Welcoming the 2026 Open Research Fellows

This year’s cohort reflects the breadth of what Open Research looks like in practice at the University of ��Թϱ��: from improving trust in clinical evidence and advancing FAIR data skills, to recognising new forms of scholarly contribution and strengthening research technical careers.

Ashma Krishan: Supporting reproducible and transparent research workflows

Ashma’s project focuses on strengthening pre-registration practices in research, particularly within clinical trials. By developing clear guidance and accessible training materials, the project aims to improve understanding of what pre-registration is, what it should include, and how it can be implemented effectively in practice. This work supports greater transparency, rigour, and reproducibility across the research lifecycle.

Danna Gifford: Turning open microbial data into open skills

Danna is addressing a critical skills gap in microbial genomics. While open resources such as offer unprecedented access to genomic data, many researchers lack the computational skills needed to use them reproducibly. Her project will develop an open training course and pilot a summer school for early-career researchers, ensuring that open data is matched by open, reusable skills.

Guilherme Fians: Recognising wiki contributions as co-produced research outputs

Guilherme’s project challenges traditional notions of academic authorship and research output by focusing on collaborative knowledge production in wiki spaces such as Wikipedia. While wiki content can reach vastly larger audiences than conventional academic publications, it is rarely recognised within existing research assessment and authorship models.

Drawing on his background in digital anthropology, Guilherme will develop a toolkit to support the recognition of wiki-based contributions as legitimate, co-produced research outputs. The project explores how institutions can better value open, collaborative scholarship that emerges beyond traditional academic venues, particularly where knowledge is produced alongside non-academic contributors.

Phil Reed: Advancing digital research technical professional (dRTP) career development

Phil’s Fellowship focuses on strengthening recognition, career pathways, and skills frameworks for digital research technical professionals, such as research software engineers and data stewards. Working with national and international partners, the project will produce guidance, frameworks, and training resources that support professionalisation and capacity-building at ��Թϱ�� and beyond.

Ramiro Bravo: Enhancing collaboration in research projects and data management

Ramiro’s project aims to improve how research is documented and shared across the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. By piloting collaborative models that bring together researchers and Core Facility staff, and by using platforms such as OSF and protocols.io, the project seeks to embed sustainable, transparent documentation practices throughout the research lifecycle.

Zewen Lu: Improving trust in clinical evidence at the point of publication

Zewen’s project focuses on strengthening transparency and research integrity in clinical trials by developing INSPECT-JR, a structured tool for journal editors and peer reviewers. Building on the INSPECT-SR framework, the project aims to embed responsible, transparent checks earlier in the publication process, helping prevent problematic trials from influencing clinical evidence and decision-making.

Zuzanna Zagrodzka: Research Technical Professionals as catalysts for open research

Zuzanna’s Fellowship centres on the role of Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) in enabling open and reproducible research. Through surveys and interviews, the project explores how RTPs engage with open research practices, the challenges they face, and the support they need. The work aims to raise the visibility of RTPs and position them as leaders and advocates for open, collaborative research culture.

Next steps

As the 2026 cohort begins work, these projects collectively reflect a shift towards practical, embedded openness: supporting researchers not just to value open research, but to do it more confidently and sustainably. Updates from the Fellows will be shared throughout the year via the Open Research Digest and Office for Open Research events.

Find out more

Read more about our via our website.
Find out about our via our knowledge base.
Hear from one of our recent Fellows, Prof Ellen Poliakoff, reflecting on the outcomes of her Fellowship so far.
Find out more about the University's commitment to enhancing research culture via the .

John Hynes, Open Research Librarian, Office for Open Research.

Stroke and “fight-or-flight” response weakens the immune system

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:55:58 +0000

A new University of ��Թϱ�� and Edinburgh study published in the journal has found that people who have had a stroke have fewer of a specific type of immune cell called B cells, which normally produce antibodies to fight off infections. Surprisingly, the same compromising immune changes were seen when healthy B cells were exposed to noradrenaline - a chemical released by the body after stroke, but also during stress, illness, or intense physical activity.

People who have had a stroke are more likely to develop infections such as pneumonia. These infections can slow recovery and make brain injury worse. Understanding why the immune system becomes weaker after stroke could help doctors prevent these infections and improve patient outcomes.

Earlier studies by Dr Laura McCulloch and Dr Barry McColl at the University of Edinburgh found that in animal models, stroke activates the system behind the fight-or-flight response, which includes the release of the chemical noradrenaline.

This activation quickly impairs a group of immune cells called B cells, reducing their ability to produce protective antibodies, and was associated with vulnerability to infection. Until now, it was unclear whether the same thing happens in stroke patients.

In this study, carried out at the University of ��Թϱ�� in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh team, researchers analysed blood samples from patients 24 - 48 hours after an ischaemic stroke and compared them with samples from individuals who had not had a stroke (‘controls’).

They found that stroke patients had fewer B cells than control patients and that these remaining cells were also less effective at producing antibodies and special signalling proteins called cytokines, both of which are essential for fighting infections.

“Findings from this collaborative study confirm that after someone has had a stroke important immune cells that help to fight infection are reduced, limiting the patient’s ability to make protective antibodies. Revealing these changes opens opportunities to develop new treatments that could help reduce the incidence of infection after stroke,” said Clinical Study Lead Prof Craig Smith from ��Թϱ��.

The teams also tested B cells from healthy volunteers. When these cells were exposed to noradrenaline, they showed the same responses as seen in stroke patients: increased cell death and reduced antibody production.

These findings suggest that activation of the fight-or-flight response itself, not just stroke, can impair immune function. Stress, illness, or extreme physical exertion may all influence how well B cells work.

Reduced numbers of immune cells (B cells) were found in the blood of patients 24–48 hours after an ischaemic stroke. When B cells were stimulated with bacterial proteins (mimicking an infection), they were less able to produce protective antibodies and signalling proteins called cytokines.

The researchers are now studying how these immune changes after stroke may affect long-term recovery, including thinking and memory, as well as further damage to the brain’s blood vessels.

They are also exploring new treatments aimed at protecting or restoring B cell function after stroke, with the goal of reducing infections and improving recovery.

This research was a collaboration between the University of ��Թϱ�� (Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre and the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation), the ��Թϱ�� Centre for Clinical Neurosciences (part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust) and the University of Edinburgh (including the UK Dementia Research Institute).

This work was funded by the Medical Research Council, NIHR, Wellcome Trust, The Royal Society, The Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research, Leducq Foundation Transatlantic Network of Excellence StrokeIMPaCT and UK Dementia Research Institute.

Read the full paper in

New Funding to Catalyse Devolved Cultural Policy Making: The Mayoral Authorities Creative Health Network

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Working with the Mayoral Authorities Creative Health Network (MACHN), convened by Greater ��Թϱ�� Combined Authority and Greater London Authority, the network will map policy alignment and challenges across mayoral areas and establish a first of its kind framework for embedding creative health for growth into devolved strategy. The project is titled ‘’.

2026 Co-Lab Policy Network Awards

The programme based at has today announced the results of the 2026 : an ambitious intervention to reorientate place-based cultural policy making in a new context of and the .

The awards mark a pivotal opportunity to deliver devolution and community-led innovation not just as buzzwords, but as practical tools for better place-based policymaking. Together, the four awards mark a timely shift in how we understand innovation, community, and collaboration across the UK.

The programme will fund 4 new to support innovative cross-sector cultural policy networks in devolved nations and regions of the UK.

Co-Lab Policy Network Awards 2026

The Co-Lab Policy Network Awards will create new spaces for deliberation on complex cultural challenges and opportunities—from culture-led regeneration to creative health—building devolved policy infrastructure that will enable better outcomes. The networks will work across sectors to ensure that people in devolved settings become not just participants in policy but the co-creators of it.

The AHRC Creative Communities programme will bring the four networks together to host a devolution and cultural policy summit in December 2026. The programme will publish a Policy Priority Paper from each network award in March 2027. The papers will make new policy recommendations direct to devolved administrations to strengthen delivery and create new capacity for devolved policy exchange within and between the nations and regions of the UK.

About Creative Communities

is a major multi-million pound research programme based at Northumbria University in Newcastle. The investment builds a new evidence base on how cultural devolution can enhance belonging, address regional inequality, deliver devolution, and break down barriers to opportunity for communities in devolved settings across all four nations of the UK.

Research with fruit flies could unlock riddle of neurodegenerative disorders

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000

A by University of ��Թϱ�� scientists using fruit flies as model has identified a mechanism which can explain aspects of neurodegeneration which have baffled scientists for decades.

Scientists have long known that inherited neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease, can be traced back to genetic mutations. However, how they cause the diseases remains unanswered.

In today’s issue of the journal Current Biology Professor Andreas Prokop revealed that so-called ‘motor proteins’ can provide key answers in this quest.

The research by the Prokop group focusses on nerve fibres, also called axons. Axons are the delicate biological cables that send messages between the brain and body to control our movements and behaviour. Intriguingly, axons need to survive and stay functional for our entire lifetime!

To survive long-term, axons harbour complex cellular machinery. This machinery crucially depends on the transport of materials from the distant nerve cell bodies which is performed by motor proteins running along thin fibres called microtubules.

If mutations in motor protein genes abolish their ability to transport cargo, this causes axonal decay, and many inherited neurodegenerative diseases can be traced back to such mutations. However, another class of mutations also linking to neurodegeneration, causes motor protein hyperactivation, meaning that motor proteins are constantly active, unable to pause.

“So far, it has been difficult to explain why both disabling and hyperactivating mutations can cause very similar forms of neurodegeneration.” said Professor Prokop.

“To find answers, we use fruit flies, where research is fast and cost-effective and where many of the relevant human genes have close equivalents and perform similar functions in nerve cells. Capitalising on these advantages, we could show that disabling as well as hyperactivating mutations cause a very similar pathology in axons: straight microtubule bundles decay into areas of disorganised microtubule curling, similar to dry versus boiled spaghetti.”

Further investigations revealed that hyperactivating and disabling mutations work through two different mechanisms that eventually converge to induce this curling:

Even under normal conditions, cargo transport along microtubules generates damage, like cars cause potholes – and this requires maintenance mechanisms to repair and replace microtubules. The balance between damage and repair is disturbed if motor proteins are hyperactivated or if maintenance machinery fails - both leading to microtubule curling as a sign of axon decay.

Prokop said: “In this scenario, disabling mutations could be assumed to cause less curling because there is less damaging traffic. However, less traffic depletes supply to the axonal machinery, and this triggers a condition referred to as oxidative stress. We could show that oxidative stress affects microtubule maintenance and leads therefore to the same kind of microtubule curling as observed upon motor hyperactivation.”

“These findings suggest a circular relationship which we called the “dependency cycle of axon homeostasis”, proposing that axon maintenance requires a microtubule- and motor protein-based machinery of transport which, itself, is dependent on this transport.”

Any gene mutations affecting axonal machinery in ways that cause oxidative stress, or that disturb the balance between microtubule damage or repair, can break this cycle. This can explain a long-standing conundrum in the field: why almost any class of neurodegenerative disease can be caused by mutations in a wide range of genes linking to very different cellular functions.

He added: “Parallel work by my group strongly supports the dependency cycle model. Importantly, since the fundamental genetic makeup of fruit flies and humans is surprisingly similar, it is very likely that our findings are replicated in humans – and there are good indications already.”

��Թϱ�� hosts international workshop to advance fundamental physics

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:20:56 +0000

��Թϱ�� is hosting 80 leading researchers from the UK, Europe, Asia and the US for an international workshop exploring new approaches to fundamental physics.

New Windows on Fundamental Physics: from tabletop devices to large-scale detectors (19–23 January 2026) unites experts from particle theory, particle physics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics and selected areas of astrophysics. The five-day meeting is designed to accelerate collaboration, stimulate new research ideas and create new partnerships within the global quantum science and engineering research community.

, Research Associate in Particle Theory, the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics (QTFP) lead, and the workshop chair explains: “By bringing together world experts across theory and experiment, we are creating space for the next generation of joint projects. In keeping the workshop intentionally small and focused, we aim to foster the kind of deep discussions that aren't always possible at larger, more formal conferences.”&�Բ��;

The programme comprises:

a one-day UK Astroparticle Phenomenology (UK-APP) workshop featuring contributed talks, and
a four-day specialist workshop with invited and contributed talks.

The workshop will have a particular emphasis on tabletop detectors and quantum technologies for fundamental physics (QTFP), covering topics including precision metrology and quantum sensing, cold atoms and molecules, quantum analogues, atom interferometry, fifth-force tests, axion/WIMP dark matter and dark energy, neutrinos, gravitational-wave detectors, high-frequency gravitational waves and emerging tabletop detection techniques.

, a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and The University ��Թϱ�� representative to the Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry collaboration, and workshop co-organiser, adds: “There is a near-term opportunity to build partnerships that will shape the future of this exciting multi-disciplinary area of research and capture support through the next wave of funding programmes.”&�Բ��;, Head of the Photon Science Institute and Nuclear Physics Group continues: “Our aim is to enable researchers to share emerging work, explore new directions and identify opportunities for joint initiatives.”&�Բ��;

Professor Sarah Sharples, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering underscores: “This workshop is a reminder of what can be achieved when we bring people together with a shared curiosity. By creating space for open exchange and collaboration, ��Թϱ�� is helping to connect expertise from across the world in ways that move this field forward. It’s a collective endeavour; one that grows stronger when we work across boundaries and advance knowledge together.”&�Բ��;

The event reflects wider momentum in quantum science at ��Թϱ��, supported by a series of strategic hires, including multiple new Chairs in Quantum Science. These appointments bring new researchers into an environment defined by growing interdisciplinary activity, strong international partnerships – from the University of Washington to Nanoco – and access to world-leading capabilities such as the P-NAME instrument and the facilities at the Henry Royce Institute.

Event details

Workshop: New Windows on Fundamental Physics: from tabletop devices to large-scale detectors Dates: 19-23 January 2026 Location: ��Թϱ��

Full list of speakers and more information:

Widening the range of our digital resources: The Nineteenth Century Stage: Industry, Performance and Celebrity

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:46:53 +0000

As a result of consultation with academics from the Faculty of Humanities and colleagues at the Rylands, the Library has arranged for electronic access to the newly launched database. Hosted by AM, the collection serves as a valuable reserve of digitised primary materials documenting the evolution of the theatrical world, including its reception and dissemination, through a diverse variety of popular media. These range from scarce ephemera, playbills, photographs, financial records and business correspondence to toy theatre prints.

Sourced from major cultural institutions from across the United States, Australia and the UK - including, as a key guarantor of worth, a selection digitised from the Rylands’ considerable , the collection contributes further to the library’s extensive reserves in a fertile area of study.

For more information see the 'Spotlight' feature on this new purchase on the databases section of the Library’s and subject guides.

World-first AI partnership between ��Թϱ�� and Microsoft announced

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The University of ��Թϱ�� becomes first university in the world to provide Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to all students and staff.

65,000 staff and students will receive full Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training as ��Թϱ�� becomes the world’s first university to offer universal provision across its entire community.
The University-wide rollout will equip students with future-ready skills, strengthen teaching and research, and help address the emerging digital divide through equitable access to the advanced AI tools within Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Today’s announcement builds on ��Թϱ��’s 76-year AI legacy, from Alan Turing to today’s ground-breaking research, positioning the University as a leader in ethical, responsible AI adoption.

��Թϱ�� has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, becoming the first university in the world to give Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to every student and colleague.

The landmark agreement will see 65,000 students, academics and colleagues benefit from the full Microsoft 365 Copilot suite, alongside training to support effective and responsible use.

This initiative forms part of the University’s wider digital and AI transformation programme, which focuses not only on tools, but on building long-term AI literacy, and ensuring the responsible integration of emerging technologies.

It will support learning, research and professional work, and graduate employability. It addresses the emerging digital divide by ensuring that all students – regardless of personal means – can benefit from advanced assistive and productivity tools.

The announcement comes 76 years after Alan Turing published his seminal ‘Turing Test’ paper while working at the University, one of the first on artificial intelligence, and reflects ��Թϱ��’s continuing leadership in AI, with more than to understand and shape the technology.

The Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout, to be completed by summer 2026, will equip ��Թϱ�� students with future-ready skills and enable researchers to accelerate interdisciplinary discovery and analysis at scale.

Through access and training, ��Թϱ�� graduates will be well prepared for the modern workplace, where employers increasingly expect graduates to be confident users of AI technologies. Students will also be able to use Microsoft 365 Copilot to support their studies in line with the University’s policies on the responsible use of AI.
Universal access will help address the emerging digital divide by ensuring that all students can benefit from advanced assistive and productivity tools, regardless of personal means.
Researchers across the University will be able to use Microsoft 365 Copilot to reduce time spent on routine tasks and explore ideas beyond their immediate disciplines. It enhances evidence gathering by navigating wider and more diverse literature, strengthens understanding through fast and accurate synthesis, and accelerates data analysis to unlock insights sooner. ��Թϱ�� researchers are already using AI to advance breast cancer treatment and improve menopause care, transform crop productivity, and reduce waste in the fashion industry.
For academic and professional services colleagues, Microsoft 365 Copilot will support more efficient ways of working and free up time for higher-value, strategic activity. A pilot conducted between 2024 and 2025 demonstrated strong engagement, with 90 per cent of licensed users adopting the tool within 30 days and around half using it several times a week.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of ��Թϱ��, said: “AI is now part of everyday life. Our responsibility is not only to make these tools available to all our students and staff on an equitable basis, but to use the depth of expertise across our university to shape how AI is developed and applied for public good.

“By embracing the AI transformation early, we are working with students, colleagues and partners to maximise the benefits and manage risks responsibly. The great universities of the 21st century will be digitally enabled – this partnership represents a significant step on that journey for ��Թϱ��.”

Darren Hardman, CEO, , said, “As someone who grew up in ��Թϱ��, I’m proud to see the University extending access to Microsoft 365 Copilot across its entire community, helping 65,000 students and staff build the skills they’ll need to thrive in an AI‑enabled economy. This is a powerful example of how we can pair ��Թϱ��’s deep AI heritage with responsible, ethical adoption that helps to close the digital divide and equip people to learn, research and work more effectively.”&�Բ��;

The strategic collaboration with Microsoft is one of the first major developments following the launch of the University’s new strategy, From ��Թϱ�� for the world, demonstrating its ambition for research impact, world-class teaching and learning, and responsible leadership in digital transformation and innovation in action.

The rollout will be delivered in partnership with the Students’ Union, trade unions and staff networks. The University is working closely with Microsoft to ensure transparency around environmental and wider impacts, and to promote best practice in responsible and sustainable AI adoption.

Microsoft’s long-standing commitments to sustainability were an important consideration for the University in partnering with them. These include being committed to becoming carbon negative, water positive and zero waste by 2030.

Professor Jenn Hallam, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “Every student deserves access to the best AI tools to enable them to thrive in their studies – no matter their circumstances or background. AI is an enabler for teaching and learning, not a replacement. It’s not just supportive in the classroom, but in wider productivity and future life skills and we’re giving students the tools and training to use it in the right way, ethically and appropriately. We’re not just preparing graduates who can go out and get good jobs, we’re preparing the next generation of citizens. That’s the mission of ��Թϱ�� – you'll get a great degree, but we’ll also prepare you for a fast-changing world.”&�Բ��;

Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety, said: "When we bring a technology like AI together with the peerless expertise of UK universities, the potential is enormous. Whether supporting students in their studies, opening new avenues of research, or slashing the time spent on routine tasks, the benefits are transformative.

"This partnership between ��Թϱ�� and Microsoft will help our brightest minds do what they do best – innovate. Meanwhile, initiatives like the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Spärck Scholarships will attract high-potential AI talent to top universities like ��Թϱ��."

Cross-faculty team combine art and education to promote diversity and inclusion

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:36:17 +0000

Academics from the University of ��Թϱ��'s School of Environment, Education and Development and the School of Medical Sciences are working together to celebrate diversity and inclusion and challenge the orthodoxy of medical art through the .

This eye-catching art exhibition, which launched in October, features fourteen illustrations by seven international artists. It is being displayed in high traffic areas of the Stopford Building, the home of the University’s Medical School.

Medical art refers to the illustrations which are used to illustrate anatomy, medical procedures, surgical techniques and medical devices. It is often dominated by illustrations of White, slim, young adult, non-disabled men. Reframing Stopford aims to challenge this by showing the actual diversity of human bodies, with each piece showing people with intersectional, underrepresented characteristics. The project aims to improve the sense of belonging for students and staff while normalising difference in how we visualise health(care).

A grant from the University’s Institute of Teaching and Learning is now enabling the next phase of development of the Reframing Stopford Project. The cross-Faculty team will be holding creative workshops for students and staff during Spring 2026, experimenting with interdisciplinary, arts-based methods for reflecting on and improving belonging.

The exhibition is free to visit and is open for university staff and students and members of the public to view during usual University hours within the Stopford Building – for locations of the art works.

Study finds strong link between teacher wellbeing and pupil achievement

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:34:55 +0000

A new study from ��Թϱ�� has found that happier teachers help create happier pupils - and better learning - as ten schools across the UK embrace a groundbreaking approach to wellbeing.

The research, led by Dr Alexandra Hennessey and Dr Sarah MacQuarrie from the ��Թϱ�� Institute of Education, explored how the schools adopted the Well Schools framework - a national movement run by the Youth Sport Trust that puts wellbeing at the heart of education.

The Well Schools project, which began in 2020, has grown into a thriving community of more than 2,000 schools across the UK. This focused on ten schools that took part in a detailed evaluation of how the framework supports wellbeing among both staff and pupils.

Their findings, published in , show that when schools focus on the health, happiness and connectedness of both pupils and staff, classrooms become more positive, productive places to learn and teach.

The report highlights inspiring examples from schools that have introduced everything from daily “active learning” sessions and outdoor lessons to staff recognition schemes, mental health first aid training and after-school wellbeing clubs. These initiatives, tailored to each school’s needs, are helping teachers feel valued and pupils more engaged.

One headteacher told the research team: “If staff are happy and relaxed, the lessons they teach are better. You can feel the buzz in the building - it just feels different.”

Schools involved ranged from small primaries to large secondaries and special schools across England, Scotland and Wales. Despite their differences, all shared a commitment to supporting wellbeing as part of their school culture - and saw real benefits in attendance, focus and morale.

The study found that wellbeing programmes worked best when led by senior school leaders but shaped collaboratively by staff and pupils. Initiatives such as ‘keep, tweak or ditch’ reviews helped teachers cut unnecessary workload, while pupil wellbeing ambassadors and parent workshops extended the benefits beyond the classroom.

“This research highlights the power of schools working as communities - not just institutions that deliver lessons, but places that nurture people,” added Dr MacQuarrie. “The schools we studied created a sense of belonging, where staff and pupils alike feel heard and supported.”

Dr Hennessey concluded: “Wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. Schools that invest in the health and happiness of their staff and students aren’t just improving education - they’re shaping stronger, kinder communities.”

Mysterious 'Mars bar’ discovered in famous Ring Nebula

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:01:00 +0000

A mysterious bar-shaped cloud of iron has been discovered inside the iconic Ring Nebula by a European team of astronomers.

The cloud of iron atoms, described for the first time in , just fits inside the inner layer of the elliptically shaped nebula - a colourful shell of gas thrown off by a star as it ends the nuclear fuel-burning phase of its life. It is familiar from many images including those obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope at infrared wavelength.

The bar’s length is roughly 500 times that of Pluto’s orbit around the Sun and, according to the team, which includes researchers from ��Թϱ��, its mass of iron atoms is comparable to the mass of Mars.

The iron cloud was discovered in observations obtained using the Large Integral Field Unit (LIFU) mode of the - a new instrument installed on the Isaac Newton Group’s 4.2-metre William Herschel Telescope.

The LIFU is a bundle of hundreds of optical fibres. It has enabled the team of astronomers to obtain spectra (where light is separated into its constituent wavelengths) at every point across the entire face of the Ring Nebula, and at all optical wavelengths, for the first time.

Lead author Dr Roger Wesson, based jointly at University College London and Cardiff University, said: “Even though the Ring Nebula has been studied using many different telescopes and instruments, WEAVE has allowed us to observe it in a new way, providing so much more detail than before. By obtaining a spectrum continuously across the whole nebula, we can create images of the nebula at any wavelength and determine its chemical composition at any position.

“When we processed the data and scrolled through the images, one thing popped out as clear as anything – this previously unknown ‘bar’ of ionized iron atoms, in the middle of the familiar and iconic ring.”

Co-author , Professor of Astrophysics at ��Թϱ��, added: “We selected the Ring Nebula as an early target because it is bright, well studied and ideal for testing the instrument’s capabilities. However, when the data were analysed, we noticed something entirely unexpected - a bar of highly ionised iron that had gone unnoticed in decades of previous observations. Discoveries like this show how many surprises there still are to be found in even the most familiar objects in the night sky.”

How the iron bar formed is currently a mystery, the authors say. They will need further, more detailed observations to unravel what is going on. There are two potential scenarios: the iron bar may reveal something new about how the ejection of the nebula by the parent star progressed, or the iron might be an arc of plasma resulting from the vaporisation of particles of iron dust embedded in the Ring Nebula.

Co-author Professor Janet Drew, also based at UCL, advises caution: “We definitely need to know more – particularly whether any other chemical elements co-exist with the newly-detected iron, as this would probably tell us the right class of model to pursue. Right now, we are missing this important information.”

The team are working on a follow-up study, and plan to obtain data using WEAVE’s LIFU at higher spectral resolution to better understand how the bar might have formed.

WEAVE is carrying out eight surveys over the next five years, targeting everything from nearby white dwarfs to very distant galaxies. The Stellar, Circumstellar and Interstellar Physics strand of the WEAVE survey, led by Professor Drew, is observing many more ionized nebulae across the northern Milky Way.

“It would be very surprising if the iron bar in the Ring is unique,” explains Dr. Wesson. “So hopefully, as we observe and analyse more nebulae created in the same way, we will discover more examples of this phenomenon, which will help us to understand where the iron comes from.”

Professor Scott Trager, WEAVE Project Scientist based at the University of Groningen, added: “The discovery of this fascinating, previously unknown structure in a night-sky jewel, beloved by sky watchers across the Northern Hemisphere, demonstrates the amazing capabilities of WEAVE. We look forward to many more discoveries from this new instrument.”

This research paper was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Full title: WEAVE imaging spectroscopy of NGC 6720: an iron bar in the Ring

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staf2139

URL:

Dharmi Kapadia becomes Director of CoDE

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:31:34 +0000

The Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE) starts the new year with a new director: . Dharmi is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at ��Թϱ��. She joined CoDE in 2012 as a PhD student and has worked in CoDE as a Research Associate and as Co-Investigator on many CoDE research projects. Dharmi became Deputy Director in 2025 and from January 2026 is CoDE Director.

Dharmi’s research focuses on racism, health, mental health and older people. She is currently working on research looking at how adverse life experiences and negative experiences with state institutions impact upon mental illness and mental healthcare in collaboration with the NHS Race & Health Observatory. Dharmi is also Co-Investigator of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and Co-Investigator of the WELL-Bradford study, which looks at end of life care in a diverse sample of frail people.

Our outgoing CoDE Director, , has swapped roles with Dharmi and now becomes Deputy Director. Bridget has recently been awarded a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust which will be starting later this year.

Music Department hosts 'Re:locating the Arts' event with researchers and leading industry partners

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:43:24 +0000

On 4th November, the University’s Music Department hosted Re:locating the Arts, a symposium which explored research and current practice on themes of location in the output of arts organisations, co-organised with partner organisation ��Թϱ�� Camerata. With contributions from academia, postgraduate researchers, and professionals working in industry, the event provided an opportunity for a disciplinary diverse range of voices to interrogate current thinking around the role of geographical location in designing and delivering effective arts programmes.

With representatives from theatre, music, orchestral production, and music education, the event began with a roundtable discussion that examined routes to finding a home within a community. Presentations covered a breadth of topics spotlighting current initiatives and relocations in arts organisations; experimental AI in collective practice; festival partnerships; the positioning of the arts within (and by) universities; civic capital in classical music outreach projects; ethics, rights, and regulations in the University of Sheffield’s Access Folk’s participant-led research; and preliminary findings from the University’s research partnership with English National Opera.

This symposium was the third in an ongoing series of Think Tank events, in which themes emerging from a collaborative PhD project are discussed and interrogated by a diverse range of voices and disciplines. The Think Tank series will continue in 2026 with an event focusing on the theme which was considered the most urgent for further interrogation: community.

This event was funded by the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership, part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Thanks also to Creative ��Թϱ�� for their generous support.

For more information on the Think Tank series, please email Rebecca.parnell@manchester.ac.uk

UN Environment Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Multilateral Action for a Resilient Planet

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:06 +0000

More than 6,000 participants from 186 countries gathered at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi for the week-long UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). UNEA-7 concluded on 12 December with the adoption of focused on advancing solutions for a more resilient planet, including:

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Sound management of the minerals and metals essential to the energy transition and on the sound management of chemicals and waste.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Sustainable use of Artificial Intelligence.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; International cooperation to combat wildfires.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Strengthening work on the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Protecting glaciers and coral reefs and more.

Ahead of UNEA, numerous University of ��Թϱ�� academics contributed reflections and recommendations to three draft resolutions under negotiation in Nairobi.

Professor provided written input on India’s draft resolution on strengthening the global response to wildfire management, recommending strong alignment across each nation’s policies and strategies to avoid siloed responses. Professor Clay also supported an international framework that is underpinned by equitable knowledge sharing, respectful of Indigenous data sovereignty, and ensures benefits are shared fairly. Whilst the final resolution does not directly refer to ‘equity’ or ‘indigenous communities’, it does call on Member States to adhere to UNEP and FAO's Fire Management Voluntary Guidelines, which support implementation of integrated fire management at the landscape level as well as fire-management practices that include cultural practices for sustainable land use, and diverse stakeholders.

Representatives from the Antimicrobial Resistance Network – Professor , Dr and Dr – alongside Policy@ ��Թϱ��’s , led a response to Kenya’s draft resolution on the environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance. Drawing on its diverse expertise, the network – which brings together over 100 researchers across disciplines including medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, microbiology, and environmental science – strongly supported a global surveillance system for environmental antimicrobial residues and resistance, as well as alignment with the holistic principles of One Health, the SDGs (including equity), particularly in reference to AMR’s disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. The final resolution encourages mobilisation of resources for developing countries, including through the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund. It also requests Member States, voluntarily, to contribute official monitoring data, aligning with UoM’s recommendation to use data to inform and underpin AMR interventions.

Finally, Dr provided feedback on South Korea’s draft resolution on strengthening international cooperation for the transition to a circular economy. Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid recommended linking circular economy opportunities with planetary boundaries beyond climate change, noting that other critical environmental challenges - such as biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and waste management - could benefit from increased circularity. Although South Korea’s proposal was ultimately not adopted at UNEA-7, the Ministerial Declaration reaffirmed Member States’ commitment to the circular economy, which is also prioritised in UNEP’s 2026–2029 Medium-Term Strategy.

Whilst environmental multilateralism is imperfect and often slow, it remains necessary as collective environmental problems cannot be effectively addressed by isolated national actions alone. Academic institutions, like the University of ��Թϱ��, can bolster environmental multilateralism by providing robust analysis and evidence, and engaging with international bodies to help foster collaboration and trust-building among nations. When concluding the negotiations, UNEP Executive Director thanked Member States, saying: “The beacon of environmental multilateralism that rises above the fog of geopolitical differences today shines a little brighter.”

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world’s highest environmental decision-making body, bringing together all 193 UN Member States. In 2024, the University of ��Թϱ�� became one of just 20 universities accredited by UNEP and has since actively supported global , including UNEA-7 and key international consultations.

Adopted UNEA-7 resolutions and links:

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on accelerating global actions to promote the climate resilience of coral reefs

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on promoting sustainable solutions through sport for a resilient planet

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on strengthening international cooperation on the environmentally sound management of minerals and metals

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on strengthening the global response to the massive influx of sargassum seaweed blooms

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on promoting synergies, cooperation or collaboration for national implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant environmental instruments

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on enhancing the meaningful participation of youth in Environmental Processes and on environmental education

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on strengthening the global management of wildfires

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on sound management of chemicals and waste

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence systems

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on the preservation of glaciers and the broader cryosphere, particularly in mountain regions

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; - Resolution on environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance

When Power Replaces Law: Venezuela, the United States, and the Fragility of the International Legal Order

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

This intervention is not merely controversial or politically debatable; it is unlawful under the core rules governing the international use of force. That conclusion holds regardless of arguments based on U.S. domestic law, moral claims about Maduro’s governance, or strategic interests in the region. If international law is to retain any meaning, it must be applied consistently — even, and especially, when doing so is politically inconvenient.

I. The Illegality of the Use of Force Against Venezuela

The prohibition on the use of force is one of the foundational principles of modern international law. Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter forbids states from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Only two narrow exceptions exist: self-defence under Article 51, and authorisation by the UN Security Council.

Neither applies in the case of Venezuela. Venezuela did not attack the United States, nor was there an imminent armed attack that could justify anticipatory self-defence. Likewise, there is no Security Council mandate authorising military action. On that basis alone, U.S. strikes on Venezuelan territory constitute an unlawful use of force.

The same conclusion applies to the goal of removing Nicolás Maduro from power. International law explicitly prohibits intervention in the internal affairs of another state, including the forcible determination of its political leadership. Whether a government is unpopular, authoritarian, or widely regarded as illegitimate does not grant other states a legal right to impose regime change through military means.

The capture of Maduro and his wife therefore compounds these violations. Conducting arrests on foreign soil without the consent of the territorial state or authorisation by the Security Council constitutes an unlawful extraterritorial exercise of enforcement jurisdiction. Such actions also breach international human rights law, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires adherence to established legal procedures. Kidnapping individuals across borders does not become lawful simply because it is carried out by a powerful state.

Arguments invoking benevolent motives do not alter this legal assessment. Claims that intervention is justified by drug trafficking, human rights abuses, or economic mismanagement do not create exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force. There is no recognised doctrine of a transnational “war on drugs” that permits military attacks on other states, nor does international law generally accept unilateral humanitarian intervention as lawful. Strategic or economic interests — such as access to oil — are even more clearly excluded as legal justifications.

II. Domestic Law Is Not a Defence Under International Law

Much of the defence offered for U.S. actions rests on domestic legal arguments: U.S. criminal indictments against Maduro, executive authority memoranda permitting extraterritorial arrests, or precedents such as the 1989 invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega. These arguments misunderstand the relationship between domestic and international law.

International law is explicit on this point. A state may not invoke its internal law as justification for failing to comply with its international obligations. Even if U.S. courts permit prosecution following an unlawful apprehension, and even if U.S. executive branch lawyers conclude that such actions are permissible under domestic law, this does not erase the underlying violations of international law. The state remains internationally responsible for its conduct.

Historical precedent does not cure illegality either. The fact that the United States previously invaded Panama and prosecuted Noriega does not retroactively legalise that action, nor does it create a lawful template for future interventions. Repetition of unlawful conduct does not transform it into law.

III. Maduro, Accountability, and the Limits of Lawful Enforcement

None of this is a defence of Nicolás Maduro or his record in office. One may simultaneously believe that Maduro should not be governing Venezuela and recognise that foreign military intervention to remove him is illegal. His government has been credibly accused of serious human rights violations, repression, and corruption. These allegations matter and international law provides mechanisms to address them.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating crimes committed in Venezuela since 2018. Within the boundaries of international law, the ICC could have pursued accountability through arrest warrants, trials, and cooperation with states parties. Such processes are slow, imperfect, and politically constrained, but they are lawful. They preserve the distinction between justice and vengeance, between accountability and domination.

International law does not promise perfect outcomes. It does not guarantee that every abusive leader will be swiftly removed or punished. But its value lies precisely in its restraint: it channels power through rules, procedures, and institutions rather than raw force. Abandoning those constraints because they are frustrating or incomplete undermines the very conditions of international stability.

IV. The Cost of Disregarding International Law

The broader danger of the Venezuela intervention lies not only in its immediate consequences, but in the precedent it sets. If powerful states may unilaterally decide when international law applies and when it does not, the legal order collapses into selective enforcement and strategic convenience.

A world in which the use of force is justified by unilateral claims of necessity or moral superiority is a world of profound instability. If Venezuela can be attacked without condemnation nor consequence, there is no principled basis for objecting when other states do the same elsewhere—whether in Ukraine, Taiwan, Greenland, or beyond. Once “might makes right” replaces legal constraint, no state, however small or distant, is truly secure.

International silence or half-hearted responses exacerbate this risk. Vague expressions of “concern” or selective condemnation signal that violations will be tolerated when committed by allies or powerful actors. That erosion of consistency is itself corrosive to the rule of law.

V. Consistency as the Minimum Condition for Legitimacy

International law cannot survive as a menu of optional rules. Its legitimacy depends on consistent application without fear or favour. States cannot credibly condemn violations by adversaries while excusing or endorsing the same conduct by partners or themselves.

Respecting international law does not require believing it is flawless. It requires recognising that, despite its limits, it remains the only framework capable of restraining violence, protecting sovereignty, and reducing the risk of global anarchy. The alternative is not a more just world, but a more dangerous one.

The intervention in Venezuela is therefore not only about Venezuela. It is a test of whether international law remains a meaningful constraint on power, or whether it will be discarded whenever it becomes inconvenient. If the answer is the latter, the consequences will not be confined to one country or one region. They will shape the future of global order itself.

An earlier, simplified version of this analysis was published on the Substack

Lack of coordination is leaving modern slavery victims and survivors vulnerable, say experts

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Researchers at ��Թϱ�� are calling for stronger, coordinated partnerships to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking, warning that gaps between organisations risk leaving victims and survivors without consistent protection and support.

Their appeal comes in a new review commissioned by , which examines how organisations across the city region work together to identify, safeguard and support people affected by modern slavery and human trafficking. The review focuses on partnerships involving local authorities, statutory services, law enforcement, housing providers and voluntary and community sector organisations.

The authors argue that tackling modern slavery depends on robust, long-term collaboration rather than ad hoc arrangements. While organisations across Greater ��Թϱ�� have developed innovative partnership approaches, the review finds that these are not always embedded consistently across the system. Among the review’s key recommendations, the authors are calling for:

- Clearer strategic governance to strengthen modern slavery and human trafficking partnerships at a Greater ��Թϱ��-wide level.
- More consistent roles and responsibilities across organisations, so victims/survivors do not fall through gaps between services.
- Improved information-sharing and referral pathways, ensuring concerns are acted on quickly and safely.
- Sustainable funding and resources to support partnership working, rather than reliance on short-term arrangements.
- Stronger links between safeguarding, housing, immigration advice and criminal justice responses, reflecting the needs of victims.

The review suggests that where partnerships are well established, outcomes for victims are more likely to be improved. Such embedded collaboration enables earlier identification of exploitation, better safeguarding responses and coordinated support to help individuals recover and rebuild their lives. Strong partnerships also support disruption of criminal activity by improving intelligence-sharing and joint working.

However, the authors highlight challenges which can weaken partnership arrangements including variations in local practice, capacity pressures and funding uncertainty. Frontline professionals reported that without clear structures and shared accountability, collaboration often relies on personal relationships, making it fragile and difficult to sustain.

The researchers also note that victims and survivors of modern slavery often face overlapping vulnerabilities including insecure housing, mental ill-health and immigration insecurity. Without joined-up working across sectors, these complexities can delay support and increase the risk of re-exploitation.

The authors stress that the findings have national relevance due to a relatively cohesive modern slavery partnership approach in Greater ��Թϱ��. As awareness of modern slavery grows, public bodies across the UK face pressure to demonstrate good quality partnership responses. The review positions Greater ��Թϱ�� as a potential leader, but cautions that this requires investment in governance, coordination and shared learning.

Alcohol treatment twice as likely to fail in adolescents who are NEET

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:39:00 +0000

Alcohol treatment for adolescents in England who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) is more than twice as likely to fail than compared to those who are, University of ��Թϱ�� researchers have found.

The study is published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism today (15/01/26) and is the first of its kind to compare alcohol treatment outcomes for all adolescents aged 11 – 17 seeking specialist treatment for alcohol problems in England.

It included data of marginalised groups, like those who are NEET, homeless, experiencing sexual exploitation and registered with social services.

Almost 26% of NEETs and 18% of adolescents with a child protection plan - which indicates risk of significant harm through neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse - did not complete treatments.

Older adolescents and those with higher alcohol use at treatment start were also at greater risk of dropping out of treatment compared with other vulnerable groups.

They also found that early onset alcohol use, mental health problems and substance use among family or household members reduced the chance of stopping drinking (becoming abstinent), by the end of treatment.

Adolescent alcohol abuse can lead to developmental problems, higher risk of addiction, accidents and injuries, mental health problems and poor performance at school.

Treatment typically involves psychosocial interventions including psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, family therapy and safeguarding.

A 2023 Government report showed that 5% of all school pupils said they usually drank alcohol at least once per week. The proportion increased with age, from 1% of 11 and 12 year olds to 11% of 15 year olds

There were also 14,352 children and young people aged 17 and under in alcohol and drug treatment between April 2023 and March 2024, a 16% increase from the previous year.

However, the numbers of young people in alcohol and drug treatment are 41% lower than at peak in 2008/09. Over this period concerns have been raised about cuts to funding and changing trends in alcohol consumption.

This study suggests among those who do access treatment, outcomes vary significantly based on socioeconomic disadvantage and early life adversity.

The researchers analysed National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) data of 2,621 adolescents whose publicly funded alcohol treatment took place between April 2018 and March 2023 in England.

Lead author Dr Mica Komarnyckyj from ��Թϱ�� said: “Alcohol abuse is a serious problem among young people and can lead to lifelong consequences.

“So understanding which people struggle with treatment is crucial as it could help services provide more tailored support for those at higher risk.

“Many challenges that put adolescents at risk of being NEET - such as lack of parental support, economic inequalities or emotional difficulties – may be the same barriers that make it harder for them to complete treatment.”

She added: “Young people with child protection plans also had greater risk of dropping out of treatment. Many have experienced neglect or abuse, and some use alcohol to cope with trauma. Embedding trauma-informed approaches in services is essential”

Co-author Dr Stephen Kaar, Addiction Psychiatrist from ��Թϱ�� said: “Treatment services for adolescents with alcohol problems need to be appropriately funded, multi-disciplinary with a professionalised workforce, have access to mental health expertise and receive multi-agency support to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations”.

An embargoed copy of the paper Associations between childhood risk factors and alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescence is available here

India shows how urban forests can help cool cities – as long as planners understand what nature and people need

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:48:24 +0000

For many years, I lived in the Indian city of Chennai where the summer temperatures can reach up to 44°C. With a population of 4.5 million, this coastal city is humid and hot.

Its suburbs are home to 600 Hindu temples and there’s a wildlife reserve called Guindy national park in the heart of the city. of the streets but green parks are few and far between – as is the shade.

As and the rest of , urban forests become more vital. These clusters of trees in parks, gardens, public spaces and along roads and rivers have multiple benefits – from cooling the surrounding air to providing homes for wildlife and creating space for people to enjoy nature. Yet they are often overlooked by city developers.

shows that, in Chennai, there are 26 square miles of tree and other vegetation cover, mainly accounted for by formal green spaces such as Guindy wildlife reserve. On the outskirts of this city, an area of nine square miles of unused land is ideally suited to creating more urban forest. Similarly, there is more potential space for urban forests in other fast urbanising Indian cities like Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli.

recommend having at least 30% tree cover in urban areas. suggests that cities should allow for nine square metres of urban tree cover per person. Most Indian cities .

Improving urban forests in India has been a challenge for many years due to high land prices, lack of urban planning and little public participation .

Policies introduced by the Indian government to “green” urban areas often equate tree planting with cooling cities and building climate resilience. But it’s not that simple. The success of urban forests depends on factors such as rainfall, understanding interactions with local wildlife and people’s needs.

A warns that in hot, dry cities with limited water availability like Chennai, trees slow the cooling process by water evaporation from leaves and instead contribute to urban heat. Urban heat comes from the reflection and absorption of sunlight by buildings and land surfaces. This is particularly high in smaller Indian cities with populations of 1 to 5 million.

Planting trees with the sole aim of cooling cities could negatively affect wildlife too. Not all birds, bugs and mammals depend on trees for food or shelter. A from researchers in Bengaluru, India, shows that non-native tree species contribute little to bird richness. Meanwhile, urban grasslands and marshlands that are often misclassified as “waste land” support wildlife and help regulate flooding.

In India, cities and villages have open “common” land where people graze their cattle or harvest fuelwood from trees that grow naturally there – tree-planting initiatives in these open land areas can displace poorer communities of people who rely on open lands for grazing and fuel wood collection.

Design with nature

Urban forests can be planned to meet the needs of people, birds and other wildlife.

In 1969, Ian McHarg, the late Scottish landscape architect and urban planner came up with the concept of “design with nature”, where development has a minimal negative effect on the environment. His idea was to preserve existing natural forests by proposing site suitability assessments. By analysing factors such as rivers and streams, soil type, slope and drainage, to identify which areas suit development and which are best preserved for nature.

This approach has advanced with new technology. Now, geographic information systems and satellite imagery help planners integrate environmental data and identify suitable areas for planting new trees or conserving urban forests.

Using the principles of landscape ecology, urban planners can design forest patches in a way that enhances the connectivity of green spaces in a city, rather than uniformly planting trees across all open spaces. By designing these “ecological corridors”, trees along roads or canals, for example, can help link fragmented green spaces.

Planting native tree species suited to dry and drought-prone environments is also crucial, as is assessing the local community’s needs for native fruit-bearing trees that provide food.

Growing urban forests

By 2030, one-third of India’s electricity demand is expected to come from cooling equipment such as . Increasing urban forests could help reduce this .

National-level policies could support urban forest expansion across India. In 2014, the government of India released its urban greenery and flagship urban renewal programmes such as the have tried to increase tree cover. But guidelines often overlook critical considerations like ecological connectivity, native species and local community needs.

In 2020, the government of India launched (a scheme to improve tree cover in cities) with a budget of around US$94 million (£70 million). It aims to create urban forests through active participation of citizens, government agencies and private companies. But there is little evidence that urban forest cover has improved.

Urbanisation reduced tree cover in most Indian cities, and much of it was rather . But by protecting and planting more trees, citizens can live in greener, cooler cities. By shifting urban forest policy from counting trees to designing landscapes, plans that enhance climate resilience, nature conservation and social equity can be put into practice.

, Postgraduate Researcher, Climate Adaptation,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Time spent on gaming and social media not to blame for teen mental health issues

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

A major new study from ��Թϱ�� has found little evidence that social media use or video gaming are causing mental health problems in young teenagers, challenging one of the most widespread concerns among parents and teachers today.

The research - published in the - is based on the experiences of more than 25,000 pupils across Greater ��Թϱ��, and is one of the largest and most detailed studies of its kind. The team followed young people aged 11-14 over three school years as part of the #BeeWell programme, which focuses on understanding and improving young people’s wellbeing.

For several years, headlines have warned that time spent on TikTok, Instagram or gaming platforms could be driving a rise in anxiety and depression among teenagers - but the ��Թϱ�� researchers say their findings paint a much more nuanced picture.

“We know families are worried, but our results do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems - the story is far more complex than that,” said lead author .

The study tracked pupils’ self-reported social media habits, gaming frequency and emotional difficulties over three school years to find out whether technology use genuinely predicted later mental health difficulties. The researchers found no evidence that heavier social media use or more frequent gaming caused increases in symptoms of anxiety or depression over the following year - for boys or girls.

However, the study did uncover other interesting patterns. Girls who gamed more often went on to spend slightly less time on social media the following year, and boys who reported more emotional difficulties were more likely to cut back on gaming in the future - a pattern the researchers suggest could be linked to losing interest in hobbies when feeling low, or parents limiting screen time when they notice their child is struggling.

The research team also explored whether actively chatting on social media or just passively scrolling made a difference, but the overall picture remained the same - technology habits alone did not appear to drive mental health difficulties.

The authors emphasise that this does not mean online experiences are harmless. Hurtful messages, online pressures and extreme content can all have real impacts on wellbeing, but they argue that focusing simply on screen time misses the bigger picture.

DOI:

��Թϱ�� 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. ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ��, 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.

��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’s Alliance ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ��

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

is pleased to announce our newly appointed as part of the at ��Թϱ��.

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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ��: Last year, Professor Duncan Ivison (President and Vice-Chancellor, ��Թϱ��) was in conversation with Swara Patel (PhD student, Cancer Research UK ��Թϱ�� Institute) and Dr Cathal Rogers (Research Culture and Assessment Manager, ��Թϱ��) regarding Open Research at ��Թϱ��. 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 ��Թϱ��.

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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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.”

��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� and Liverpool, together with ��Թϱ�� 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.

��Թϱ�� Imaging Ltd will take the AI algorithm developed at the University of ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ��.

The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��. He is also part of the Respiratory Theme and Co-Lead for Industry and Commercialisation at the NIHR ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� (ARC-GM), the NIHR ��Թϱ�� HealthTech Research Centre in Emergency and Acute Care and the NIHR ��Թϱ�� Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), in collaboration with The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��.

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 ��Թϱ�� 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

2-4pm, Wednesday 11 February 2026
1.15-2.45pm, Wednesday 18 March 2026
2.30-4.30pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026
2.30-4.30pm Wednesday 13 May 2026

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.

The Series will take place in person in GA.056, Ronson Blended Theatre, located by the café in the Nancy Rothwell Building, Booth St E, ��Թϱ��, M13 (South Entrance).

Summaries will be shared with 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

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Foster interdisciplinary collaboration through problem-solving.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Develop leadership and teamwork skills, working towards larger funding bids.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Generate innovative solutions to real-world research challenges.

Agenda

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

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Challenge Briefing & Team Formation (10 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Ideation & Planning (25 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Prototyping & Development (25 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Pitch Preparation (10 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; 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 ��Թϱ��, 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

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Explain the societal value and ethical considerations of research.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Create compelling narratives for non-specialist and cross-disciplinary audiences.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Boost public engagement and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Agenda

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Chair: - Welcome & Introduction (10 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Storytelling Techniques & Case Studies (20 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Individual Story Drafting: Framing Your Research Narrative (20 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Peer Feedback (20 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; 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

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Facilitate connections between researchers from different disciplines.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Encourage discussions around shared values and authorship practices.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Identify potential collaborators for future projects.

Agenda

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

· Ketso Roundtable Discussions (15 mins x 3 rounds)

· Group Synthesis & Reporting Back (30 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; 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, ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ�� to a speed networking session to share perspectives on research ethos, highlight what is working, and identify opportunities to strengthen interdisciplinary connections.

Objectives

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Explore diverse perspectives on research values and practices.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Encourage open dialogue across disciplines.

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Identify shared principles and tensions in research culture.

Agenda

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Chair: - Welcome & Instructions (10 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Speed Networking Rounds (5 mins x 6-8 rounds)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; Group Reflection & Thematic Clustering (20 mins)

·&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��;&�Բ��; 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��. 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’s ��Թϱ�� China Institute.

Ambassador Wilson thanked the He’nan University of Technology for hosting the exhibition and spoke glowingly of the ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� China Institute’s commitment to building meaningful connections through cultural exchange. ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� to explore new opportunities in North America.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@ ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��.”

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 ��Թϱ�� and for our customers.”

By strengthening their partnership, HydroGraph and the GEIC are reaffirming ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� 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:

’s collection;
;
model for Medicine and Biology;
’ Diamond OA Monographs OA community framework;
membership.

You can find out more about how we seek to support innovation in scholarly publishing and community-led infrastructure via our .

Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

CRUK is in the process of undertaking a review of its current grants expenditure, and has enabled an extension of the current institutional block grant until this review is concluded. If your work acknowledges funding from CRUK, you can request funds to publish articles Gold OA via our

UKRI

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

More information

Please see our knowledge base for full details of
We provide guidance on OA publishing for
UoM authors are able to publish papers Gold OA with a number of publishers via our .
UoM authors are also able to share articles Open Access immediately on publication via our institutional repository without paying any Gold OA fees, through our institutional policy.
You can use our to find journals and Open Access options for your research
You can also if you have any specific questions on Open Access and options for your research.

University community recognised in King’s New Year Honours

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

Four Professors from ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��. 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’s Hong Kong Community Find Home and Voice

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

A Saturday morning football club in ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��, showcasing how they preserve their culture, build community networks, and contribute to civic life.

The project also taps into resources at the University of ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� 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, ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��. 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ�� 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 ��Թϱ��’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.

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University community recognised in King’s New Year Honours

University alumni, supporters and affiliates

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

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

Meet the researcher

Read his papers

Enabling robotic vision in low-light conditions

Meet the researcher

Read his papers

Improving our trust in robots

Meet the researcher

Read his papers

AI-powered insights for global supply chain resilience

Meet the researcher

Read her papers

AI-powered bunker fuel forecasting to help shipping industry

Meet the researcher

Read his papers

AI circularity: Transforming fashion’s design waste

Meet the researcher

Read her papers

Helping accountants use generative AI responsibly and effectively

Newsroom University of ��Թϱ��

Open Research at ��Թϱ��

��Թϱ�� hosts international workshop to advance fundamental physics

World-first AI partnership between ��Թϱ�� and Microsoft announced

��Թϱ�� leads global study to set graphene quality standard

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

The Open Research Fellowship Programme at ��Թϱ��

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

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

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