A leading nanomedicine researcher at The University of 优蜜传媒 has secured a 鈧�1.5m (拢1.3m) European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to push forward pioneering research on Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and glioblastoma.

The five-year project, NanoNeuroOmics, aims to combine breakthroughs in nanotechnology, protein analysis, and blood biomarker discovery to make advances in two key areas.

First, the team led by will explore the use of nanoparticles to enrich and isolate brain-disease specific protein biomarkers in blood. These discoveries could pave the way for simple, reliable blood tests that diagnose Alzheimer鈥檚 and glioblastoma in their early stages.

Second, the research will investigate the phenomenon of 鈥渋nverse comorbidity,鈥� which suggests that having one of these conditions may reduce the risk of developing the other. Dr. Hadjidemetriou and her team will explore this surprising relationship to uncover any deeper biological connection that could lead to new treatment pathways.

Building on her 2021 research, where Dr. Hadjidemetriou developed a nanoparticle-enabled technology to detect early signs of neurodegeneration in blood, this project has the potential to transform how these brain diseases are diagnosed and treated.

Dr. Hadjidemetriou鈥檚 previous work involved using nano-sized particles, known as liposomes, to "fish" disease-specific proteins from the blood. This breakthrough enabled her team to discover proteins directly linked to neurodegeneration processes in the brain, among thousands of other blood-circulating molecules. In animal models of Alzheimer鈥檚, this nano-tool successfully captured hundreds of neurodegeneration-associated proteins. Once retrieved from the bloodstream, the molecular signatures on the surface of these proteins were analysed, offering a clearer picture of the disease at a molecular level.

Now, Dr. Hadjidemetriou's team will evolve this expertise to identify highly specific biomarkers by tracking protein changes in both blood and brain over time and across different stages of Alzheimer's and glioblastoma. By working with different nanomaterials, they hope to isolate these key protein markers from the complex mix of molecules in the blood.

Dr Marilena Hadjidemetriou, NanoOmics Group Leader, and a Lecturer in Nanomedicine in 优蜜传媒鈥檚 School of Biological Sciences. explains: 鈥淥ur goal isn鈥檛 just to discover new blood biomarkers, but to gain deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms that govern neurological conditions. By linking changes in the blood to what鈥檚 happening in the brain, we aim to uncover vital connections. This approach has the potential to transform early diagnosis and treatment for both Alzheimer鈥檚 and glioblastoma, shedding light on the mysterious link between these diseases and ultimately transforming patient outcomes.鈥�

The  NanoNeuroOmics project鈥檚 multidisciplinary approach brings together experts in nanotechnology and omics sciences to develop methods for detecting and potentially treating these diseases with greater precision. Research will be conducted at The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 , a cutting-edge facility dedicated to advancing nanoscale technologies. The Centre's focus spans multiple fields, including omics, neurology, therapeutics, and materials science.

Dr. Hadjidemetriou鈥檚 team is also part of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 vibrant 2D materials science community, home to the discovery of graphene 20 years ago, continuing the university鈥檚 legacy of scientific innovation.

A University of 优蜜传媒 scientist has been awarded the prestigious by the Royal Society for his work documenting the history of biology as both an author and a broadcaster.

The medal, given for excellence in a subject relating to the history, philosophy or social function of science, was awarded to Professor Matthew Cobb last week.

Professor Cobb joined The University of 优蜜传媒 in 2002 as a lecturer in animal behaviour; he is currently a Professor of Zoology in the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, but will shortly retire, becoming Professor Emeritus.

While most of Professor Cobb鈥檚 research has been on behaviour and communication in animals, his Royal Society medal is in recognition of his contribution to the history of science.

Professor Cobb said: 鈥淭his is a tremendous honour for me 鈥� the Medal is the fusion of three awards, one of which goes back 80 years, and has been won by some extraordinary people.

鈥淚t is really quite humbling to be in such company. And a vindication of The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 embrace of multidisciplinarity, and of the School of Biological Sciences鈥� enthusiasm for its students鈥� taking courses from the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.鈥�

In 2021, Professor Cobb presented a BBC radio series on the history of genetic engineering, He has also presented programmes about the history of academic publishing, the development of CRISPR gene editing, as well as programmes about the origins of animals and the life of the revolutionary scientist Sydney Brenner.

Alongside his BBC series, Professor Cobb is known to a wider audience through his books which have received commercial success. In 2022, he published The Genetic Age: Our Perilous Quest to Edit Life. In 2020, The Idea of the Brain was chosen as one of The Sunday Times' 鈥�Books of the Year鈥�.

The Wilkins, Bernal and Medawar lectures were originally delivered as three separate lectures, before they were combined under one title in 2007. Previous winners include Melvyn Bragg in 2010, Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS in 2020, and most recently Professor Sarah Franklin, who in 2023 delivered the lecture, 鈥楾alking Embryos: Changing Public Perceptions of Embryo Research鈥�.

Professor Cobb鈥檚 passions extend beyond science. He has written two books on the French Resistance during World War II, one of which won the Anglo-French Society Award.

For this work he was made a Chevalier dans l鈥橭rdre des Palmes acad茅miques, an award conferred by the French government for significant contributions to the advancement of intellectual, scientific and artistic pursuits.

Professor Cobb is currently finishing a biography about Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix; Crick鈥檚 extraordinary career will potentially inform the subject of Cobb鈥檚 Royal Society lecture. The date of his prize lecture is yet to be confirmed.

• To read more on the Royal Society鈥檚 2024 award recipients visit .

Research Project of the Year: STEM 

Groundbreaking research that led to the world's first bedside genetic test to prevent babies going deaf has also earned a nomination. 

The research, led by Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, part of 优蜜传媒 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), The University of 优蜜传媒 and 优蜜传媒-based firm genedrive Plc, helped to develop the pioneering, rapid bedside genetic test which was piloted at MFT in 2022. 

The technology could save the hearing of 180 babies in the UK every year and bring a saving of 拢5m to the NHS annually. The test is now being rolled-out in all Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Greater 优蜜传媒, with a hope that this will become part of routine clinical care across the UK. 

Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year 

In collaboration with the University of Salford and IntoUniversity, the University of 优蜜传媒 played a pivotal role in launching a new learning centre aimed at supporting thousands of young people to achieve their academic and career ambitions.  

Salford is the 18th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, with latest figures suggesting 22% of children are living in poverty and pupils in the area now 22.9 months of learning behind their peers by the end of their GCSEs.  

The centre has exceeded targets since opening, driven by a dedicated team that has supported over 1,500 young people, recruited students to Academic Support, established partnerships with local schools and run programmes through the holidays. 

Nine fathers were given legal access by private family court law proceedings (PLP) to the children they were accused of sexually abusing, according to a qualitative study.

The groundbreaking UKRI funded , published  in the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, was carried out by University of 优蜜传媒 researchers in partnership with members of and The Survivor Family Network.

It is based on the experience of 45 women from across England in PLP who along with some of their children accused the men of abuse, including child sexual abuse (CSA) in nine cases.

A tenth father, a convicted paedophile, had groomed the mother as a child and been convicted of child sex offences but hadn鈥檛 yet harmed the child sexually. Other fathers convicted of child sex offences were also given direct access to their children.

Of the 45 studied, fathers were given access in 43 cases.

PLP cases occur when two or more private individuals try to resolve a dispute, usually around child arrangements or financial disputes.

All ten cases involving CSA resulted in some form of direct child contact with the alleged perpetrator father, sometimes giving unsupervised overnight stays or 50% shared residency.

Some of the 10 fathers were either convicted child sex offenders or had admitted to CSA. In some of the cases digital evidence was submitted to the court.

Only fathers who had criminal convictions for CSA were considered to meet the threshold for concern for risk or harm, though they were still given overnight contact with the children, supervised by paternal family members.

Four of the mothers, accused of coaching their child to falsify abuse claims 鈥� so called parental alienation - lost residency of their children to the alleged perpetrator father.

The researchers applied a feminist-informed framework to understand the experience of 10 women  from within the larger sample of 45, who were also interviewed.

The analysis identified 5 themes:

• Minimisation by the courts of the harm to the child and mother from CSA by the father, overemphasising the rights of fathers.
• The courts rely on whether a father was 鈥榞ratified鈥� by the abuse to determine whether harm has occurred and a 鈥榮orry鈥� from the father was enough to reassure the court that their children will now be safe from future harm.
• The family courts at times intervened to close down active CSA criminal investigations into the fathers.
• Mothers who persisted in their attempts to resist the court and advocate for their children were those who lost their children.
• The court actors were frequently reported as bound by a pro-father narrative in their regard to each other.

Lead author Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno said: 鈥淲e found disturbing evidence that private family courts are letting down some mothers and their children who accuse the fathers of child sex abuse and or rape.

鈥淢any of the fathers had a history of abusing others. All had allegedly abused the mothers and children, yet this was deemed 鈥榓lienation鈥�, 鈥榟istoric鈥� or 鈥榠rrelevant鈥� by the court, with one child repeatedly raped for several years after her mother was erroneously dubbed an 鈥榓lienator鈥�.

鈥淔athers鈥� actions and behaviours were repeatedly minimised and made invisible if harmful. For mothers, there was no such grace shown in the court, who sometimes had their children removed.鈥�

The researchers argue CSA findings should not be determined within existing PLP, where prevailing bias against mothers and children leaves room for abuse to continue.

Use of 鈥榩arental alienation鈥� or 鈥榓lienating behaviours鈥� as a defence, they say, should be prohibited and that the Sexual Offences Act 2003 must re-consider the notion of perpetrator gratification to define harm and also review the use of a child鈥檚 personal and private space in defining criminality.

She added: 鈥淔alse allegations of CSA are extremely rare at around 0.01%- 2% and there is little evidence that children can be coerced into making false CSA claims.

鈥淪o we contend that this treatment of vulnerable women and their children is effectively an act of state sanctioned abuse, and state gaslighting.鈥�

Support resources available:

The paper has been double blind peer reviewed and has been  published in the journal of social welfare and family law.  

The DOI of the paper, called 鈥楲et鈥檚 excuse abusive men from abusing and enable sexual abuse鈥�: Child Sexual Abuse Investigations in England鈥檚 Private Family Courts鈥�   is: 10.1080/09649069.2024.2382501. and it  is published in the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law

Anonymous quotes from some of the mothers:

鈥溾�樷�here鈥檇 been sexual videos made of my son. My son had come home with bruises. My son had specifically said he didn't want to go to his dad's. [son] disclosed a lot of things鈥� but because [father] said, 鈥淚'm sorry鈥e were only messing around and there wasn't actually any penetration鈥�, he got away with it鈥� And I've got to live with those videos in my head and they even upset the police officers鈥� There was no empathy [from the family court]. There was nothing鈥� Just 鈥渇athers have rights鈥�, very, very, pro, pro, pro father鈥欌��

鈥榌police] didn't really do anything, they kind of left it up to social care鈥he social worker came and said, 鈥渨e'll come and make sure you've got food in the fridge and a roof over your head鈥�, saw [son]鈥hen they went and saw him鈥ith his father and wrote a report and said there was nothing wrong鈥� she completely and utterly blamed me, said I 鈥渨as emotionally abusing [son]鈥濃�y this time, we'd had one [family] court case [with] a district judge [who] said 鈥渟ocial care couldn't find any issues鈥�, and awarded my ex overnight contact every other weekend and holidays鈥�

鈥楤ut this same social worker went out again, and again, and just had a word, all the time, while pushing it as parental alienation.  Because I was 鈥渕aking [child] over-anxious鈥�.  And because [father] said 鈥渋t was accidental鈥�, and social services actually said that 鈥渢hey would not consider it as sexual abuse because they didn鈥檛 believe it was sexually gratifying for him鈥�

鈥楽o, my ex-husband had the biggest collection of pornography that I had ever seen, and a lot of the titles were 鈥楾een鈥�, and he had used sex as a controlling mechanism within the relationship鈥� This was mentioned鈥n court, and it was as if I was just being vindictive and trying to find something else wrong with him, to pin something else on him [and] there clearly 鈥渨asn鈥檛 a problem鈥濃��.

My children had accused their father of sexual abuse and he came back with parental alienation after a number of years of not mentioning it鈥hey're not allowed to use any form of disclosing tool or not allowed to buy them any diaries鈥鈥檝e been told if I report further allegations then basically my ex has got a fast-track back to court for immediate change of residence鈥o they threatened me and gagged the girls effectively.鈥�

鈥楨ven the psychologist said, 鈥渢here is no parental alienation鈥�. He wrote it specifically and he contradicted Cafcass, he overruled Cafcass, and guess who the judge went with? Cafcass鈥�

The Commission says it looks forward to the strategic direction and innovative approaches that Professor Wong will bring to the role, building on its existing work and expanding its impact.

Raphi Bloom co-founder and current co-Chair of North West Friends of Israel will share the floor with Abdullah Al Andalusi, co-founder of the discussion forum The Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI). 

The pair will discuss the opinion that antizionism is the same thing as antisemitism, in a debate chaired by Joseph Timan, politics writer at the 优蜜传媒 Evening News. 

The discussion will take place at The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 Whitworth hall, Oxford Road, on 31 October between 7pm and 9pm. 

The debaters hope to unpack what antizionism and antisemitism means to them, and the impact of the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

An airing of the issues will, they hope, clarify the complexities of the conflict and promote respect and understanding for both Jewish and Muslim communities.

In his professional career, Raphi Bloom is Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at The Fed, the largest Jewish social care organisation and charity in Greater 优蜜传媒.

He is also a member of the management board of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater 优蜜传媒 and Region.

Abdullah Al Andalusi is head of the department for Occidentology at The Quran Institute, a researcher for the i3 Institute, an international speaker, and intellectual activist for Islam and Muslim affairs, and co-founder of the Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI).

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at the University of 优蜜传媒 will be introducing the speakers on the night with a welcome from Duncan Ivison, President and  Vice-Chancellor of The University of 优蜜传媒.

Professor Thakkar said: 鈥淭he University of 优蜜传媒 is deeply committed to free speech and open debate, and this is the ethos which underpins the Whitworth Debates.

鈥淥pen and measured discussion about Israel and Palestine is important because it allows for a more nuanced, informed, and compassionate understanding of a complex and ongoing conflict.

鈥淎nd being able to understand each side鈥檚 position can only be empowering for individuals and communities who so often feel marginalised and threatened by polarised views.鈥�

The Whitworth debates are a series of discussions held at the University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 historic Whitworth Hall in which a range of seemingly intractable issues are debated by people with well informed but differing and strongly held viewpoints.

The debates will be based on the format of the very successful animal research debate held in November 2023 at The Whitworth Hall in which three panellists debated questions from audience members.

If you are a member of staff or a student and would like to attend the event, register

In the latter part of the debate, the speakers will debate questions sent in by attendees so to send in your questions, email michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk

• If you are affected by the issues in the discussion, you can access the student  support services or the staff wellbeing pages

The Charter aims to raise employment standards across Greater 优蜜传媒. It strives for excellence in the core areas of Secure Work, Flexible Work, Pay, Engagement & Voice, Recruitment, People Management and Health & Wellbeing.

The University seeks to be an employer of choice nationally and internationally, and is one of the biggest employers in Greater 优蜜传媒, providing jobs to more than 12,500 people across a range of professional services and academic roles.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at The University of 优蜜传媒, commented: 鈥淏eing accredited by the Good Employment Charter is important to our mission as a civic university with social responsibility at its core. This voluntary Charter is an independent way to measure our practices around good employment, learn from other employers in Greater 优蜜传媒 and be part of a wider movement of organisations committed to improving the lives of our employees.

鈥淧eople are at the heart of the University鈥檚 vision, and we are proud of our diverse, inclusive community of individuals who work together to create positive change for the world around them. We also know we have more work to do to ensure we remain an employer of choice in the region and are keen to work with the Charter team to share our plans to develop and enhance the experience for our community of colleagues.鈥�

Membership of the is voluntary, and it is allocated when institutions and businesses in the region demonstrate that they have met the criteria in all seven characteristics of the Charter.

Ian MacArthur, Director of the Greater 优蜜传媒 Good Employment Charter, said: 鈥淚 am delighted that The University of 优蜜传媒 are now Members of the Greater 优蜜传媒 Good Employment Charter. As a key anchor institution in the city region it is wonderful to have them as part of our expanding movement, that is continually striving to adopt better employment standards for all.鈥�

The Charter was co-designed by the Greater 优蜜传媒 Combined Authority (GMCA), Greater 优蜜传媒 districts, trade unions, employers and employees from all sectors.

The damning research 鈥� published by Health Equity North  鈥� has laid bare the unequal challenges faced by women living in the North of England.

It exposes the growing regional inequalities over the last decade and the impact this has on women鈥檚 quality of life, health, work, their families and communities.

鈥榃oman of the North: Inequality, health and 飞辞谤办鈥� finds that women living in the North have lower healthy life expectancy, fewer qualifications, worse mental health, and are more likely to suffer domestic violence or to end up in the criminal justice system than their counterparts in the rest of England. In addition, infant mortality is higher and abortions are more common.

The economic cost of these inequalities is also explored in the report which estimates women in the North lose out on a staggering 拢132m every week, compared to what they would get paid if wages were the same as women in the rest of the country.

Women in the North also contribute 拢10bn of unpaid care to the UK economy each year.

The report, which has been backed by the North鈥檚 two female Mayors Tracy Brabin and Kim McGuinness, puts into sharp focus the devastating effects that austerity, the cost-of-living crisis, economic uncertainty, the pandemic and unequal funding formulas have had on women in northern regions.

The research found:

• Girls born in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber between 2018 and 2020 can only expect to live in good health until 59.7, 62.4 and 62.1 years, respectively. This is up to four years less than the national average and up to six years less than girls born in the South East.
• Women in the North are paid less for their work. They lose out on 拢132m every week, around 拢6.86bn a year, compared to what they鈥檇 get if they were paid the same wages as women in the rest of the country.
• The average weekly wage for a full-time working woman in the North East is 拢569, 拢598 in the North West and 拢567 in Yorkshire and the Humber - much lower than the national average (拢625) and considerably lower than for women in London (拢757).
• Women in the North contribute 拢10bn of unpaid care to the UK economy each year. This is 拢2bn a year more than if they provided the national average of unpaid care.
• One in five women aged 55-59 in the North of England provides care to a family member because of illness, disability, mental illness or substance use.
• The North showed the biggest increases in abortion rates between 2012 and 2021. There has been a demonstrable relationship between austerity, the implementation of the two-child limit, and increased rate of abortions.
• Over 25% of pregnant women in the northern regions of England are living in the most deprived 10% of areas with 40% living in the top 20% most deprived areas. In contrast, fewer than 5% of pregnant women in the South East live in the most deprived 10% of areas.
• There is higher prevalence of severe mental conditions, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia the North West and North East compared to the South and Yorkshire and Humber. The proportion of women with a diagnosis of a mental health condition who were receiving a treatment was lower in the North West and North East than in the South and Yorkshire and the Humber, indicating a treatment gap between regions.
• Women in the North of England suffer the highest rates of domestic violence abuse in the country. The highest rates are in the North East at 19 per 1,000 population followed by 17 in Yorkshire and the Humber then 15 in the North West. The average for the rest of England is 11.
• Of the recorded deaths per 100,000 from alcohol-specific causes in 2021, women in the North East (13.9), North West (13.8) and Yorkshire and the Humber (11.7) had the highest rates of deaths in women in England.
• In 2022, nine of the 10 police areas with the highest rates of female imprisonment were in the North of England.

A team of more than 70 academic, health, social care and policy professionals from across the North contributed to the report to explore some of the social determinants of health for women, and how they play out in the overall health of women in the region.

The extensive research covers employment and education, Universal Credit, poverty, caring, health and life expectancy, pregnancy and reproductive health, sexual health, mental health, domestic violence, criminal justice involvement, stigma, and marginalised women.

The report recommends a wide range of evidence-informed policy solutions for central government, regional government and the health service which, if implemented, could improve the current situation for women鈥檚 health.

Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North, said: 鈥淥ur report provides damning evidence of how women in the North are being failed across the whole span of their lives. Over the last 10 years, women in the North have been falling behind their counterparts in the rest of country, both in terms of the wider determinants of health and, consequently, inequalities in their health.

鈥淭here is a lot of work that needs to be done to turn the tide on the years of damage detailed in this report. But the situation for women鈥檚 health in the North can be changed for the better through evidence-based policy interventions.

鈥淲e need to see policymakers build on the ambitions outlined in the Women鈥檚 Health Strategy for England with focused effort to understand and address the regional inequalities in the many different facets of women鈥檚 health.鈥�

Professor Kate Pickett OBE, Academic Co-Director at Health Equity North, and Director of the Public Health & Society Research Group and the York Cost of Living Research Group at the University of York, said: 鈥淭his report unpacks some of the wide-ranging challenges women face across many aspects of their lives, and the impact of these on their health. For women in the North, these challenges are often felt more deeply.

鈥淲e know that much of the inequality we see affecting women in the North is a direct consequence of poverty, which is completely unacceptable in the 6^th largest economy in the world. Cuts to welfare and public health funding, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have hit the most deprived communities and the North hardest.

鈥淲e hope that the findings and recommendations act as a wake up call for government to make health and addressing health inequalities central to policies going forward.鈥�

Dr Luke Munford, Academic Co-Director at Health Equity North, and Health Economist from the University of 优蜜传媒, said: 鈥淭he significant economic impact of regional health inequalities relating to women in the North is made staggeringly clear in the findings of our report.

鈥淲omen across northern regions have heavy burdens placed on them 鈥� they work longer hours and are paid less, and they provide some of the highest levels of unpaid care for their loved ones. But all too often, this can come at a price as we can see in the health outcomes detailed in this research.

鈥淭o ensure a more economically prosperous region, we need policies that target the widening health inequalities faced by women in the North.鈥�

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: 鈥淲hile the findings of this report will resonate with every woman and girl in West Yorkshire, they must now act as a vital wake up call to everyone in a position of power.

鈥淎s political leaders, we all have a responsibility to listen to and act on the lived experience of women and girls, and devolution is helping us to turn the tide in West Yorkshire, with the first ever women鈥檚 safety unit in the country and bold action to deliver a Sure Start renaissance.

鈥淚 welcome this timely and significant report, and pledge to do all I can to continue building a brighter region that works for all, by always working in partnership with the women and girls of West Yorkshire.鈥�

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "From leaving school to the boardroom, at home and at work, women and girls across the North bear the brunt of failings in our economy, society and public services. The lack of equality and opportunity that remains ingrained in modern Britain is unacceptable.

"As Mayor I'm determined to make the North East the home of real opportunity - and that means breaking down barriers which hold women and girls back. I will drive wholesale reform of the support we provide in schools, in our skills system, in childcare and in industries where too often women are shut out or overlooked. I welcome this report as a roadmap to a fairer, more equal North of England."

Woman of the North: Inequality, health and work will be launched at an event in parliament on Wednesday, September 11, with the Women鈥檚 Health Ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan, speaking.

The report recommendations include:

Regional government

• Targeted support delivered to 11鈥�18-year-olds through Careers Hubs at areas of greatest deprivation.
• Negotiate for higher levels of the Adult Education Budget in the North of England than counterparts in the South of England.
• Support benefits uptake for women and help claimants navigate the benefits system. Financial support beyond the current social security system should be extended to groups most in need.
• Support needed for women to transition back to their families and integrate into the community after involvement in the criminal justice system.

Central Government

• Deliver a national health inequalities strategy, convening government departments across Whitehall to put health at the heart of all policies.
• Make a long-term commitment to update benefits in line with inflation. Additionally, policies that punish families, such as the two-child limit, sanctions and the benefit cap must be abolished.
• The Treasury should improve targeted support for pregnant women including reversing restrictions to the Sure Start Maternity Grant and reintroducing the Health in Pregnancy Grant.
• Deliver a sustainable childcare model 鈥� linking in with family hubs and next generation Sure Start centres - that enables more women to access education and work opportunities. Also, abolish zero hours contracts to ensure jobs provide stability and security.

Health System

• NHS England should provide additional financial support and investment for Women鈥檚 Health Hubs that are established across the North.
• Health services need to be supported to collect routine data on ethnicity and other key demographic data as standard to help deliver better information for service development and improve our understanding of different health needs.
• Explore ways in which their work can be adapted to address health inequalities across different population groups (cultural sensitivity training, adopting a trauma-informed approach to care, and promoting person-centred approaches, including for transgender people and sex workers).

Health Equity North is a virtual institute focused on place-based solutions to public health problems and health inequalities across the North of England. It brings together world-leading academic expertise from the Northern Health Science Alliance鈥檚 members of leading universities and hospitals.

The report is  available  

Everyone who attends the launch event will have the opportunity to buy a physical copy of the anthology, which will also be made available in Blackwell鈥檚 优蜜传媒 bookshop and online as a PDF.

To learn more, visit .

A Dental Public Health master鈥檚 student and immunology graduate, Grace upgraded her silver medal from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in what proved to be a bumper night for the Team GB swimming team on 1 September.

Three more golds were secured in the pool by Brock Whiston in the SM8 200m individual medley, Maisie Summers-Newton in the SB6 100m breaststroke and the S14 mixed 4x100m freestyle relay squad.

Grace now adds Paralympic gold to her impressive medal collection, with the swimmer already the current European champion in the 100m breaststroke (SB5), collecting gold at the 2024 Championships in Madeira and silver in the 100m freestyle (S6). She also won gold at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira in 2022, and silver in the 优蜜传媒 event in 2023.

Following her dramatic win in the French capital, Grace : 鈥淚t means more than anything. To say I鈥檓 Paralympic Champion, I鈥檝e never dared imagine that I would ever be in this position. I was always like 鈥業 just want to go out and do my own race鈥� but to finally finish first, it feels amazing.鈥�

Grace, who has cerebral palsy, was previously a backstroke specialist before deciding to race breaststroke in early 2021. She has come a long way in her swimming career, having started the sport for physiotherapy and joining her first swimming club at 9 years old.

James Marenghi, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at The University of 优蜜传媒, said: 鈥淎 huge congratulations to Grace on her Paralympic Gold medal in the SB5 100m breaststroke, what a fantastic swim and exciting race to be a part of! She has worked so hard in and out of the pool to achieve the pinnacle in her sport and all of us at The University of 优蜜传媒 couldn鈥檛 be more proud of her.

鈥淚 am extremely grateful to the all the sport scholarship support given to her from academic colleagues that have enabled her to successfully balance her sporting and academic ambitions, alongside the services delivered by our Sport practitioners. Grace is a true example of how excellence can be achieved in sport and in the classroom when balancing a dual career, and she deserves all the success that has come her way. Well done Grace!鈥�

Paralympic cyclist Archie Atkinson, the youngest member of Team GB鈥檚 cycling squad, also won a silver medal in the C4 4,000m individual pursuit final on 31 August. A member of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), a Sport England initiative, Archie has been supported by The University of 优蜜传媒 on his path to the Paralympics.

Paris marks Archie鈥檚 Paralympic debut, with the talented athlete already the proud recipient of gold in the MC4 individual pursuit at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships this year. He also secured gold in the MC4 scratch race at the UCI Cycling World Championships - Para-track, and bronze in the MC4 road race at the UCI Cycling World Championships - Para-road.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will run until 8 September.

Grace Harvey, Dental Public Health master鈥檚 student and immunology graduate at The University of 优蜜传媒, will be heading to the French capital this month to compete in the para-swimming events.

This is not Grace鈥檚 first Paralympic appearance, having clinched a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 100m breaststroke (SB5). She went on to win gold in the same event at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira in 2022, and silver in the 优蜜传媒 event in 2023 held at the 优蜜传媒 Aquatics Centre.

She has come a long way in her swimming career, having started the sport for physiotherapy and joining her first swimming club at 9 years old. Grace is now the current European champion in the 100m breaststroke (SB5), collecting gold at the 2024 Championships in Madeira and silver in the 100m freestyle (S6).

From Ware, Hertfordshire, Grace is a 10-time British record holder and she swam for the University at the 2018 British Universities and Colleges Sport championships. She is also a University of 优蜜传媒 Sport Scholar, with her extensive training regime comprising of 8 pool sessions, 3 gym sessions and 2 indoor rowing sessions a week.

Also appearing at the Paralympics this year is Archie Atkinson. Enrolled on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and supported by the University, he will be making his Paralympic debut as part of Team GB鈥檚 para-cycling team.

Despite being in the early stages of his cycling career, Archie has already won gold in the MC4 individual pursuit at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships this year. He also secured gold in the MC4 scratch race at the UCI Cycling World Championships - Para-track, and bronze in the MC4 road race at the UCI Cycling World Championships - Para-road.

James Marenghi, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at The University of 优蜜传媒, said: 鈥淭he scholarship programmes at The University of 优蜜传媒 are vital in ensuring students are supported in balancing their studies and progressing their sporting aspirations. We are therefore delighted to see a number of our past and present student athletes progress to represent their country in the biggest sports event on the planet and are proud of their achievements.

鈥淓veryone at the University wishes Grace and Archie the very best of luck for their individual competitions, and we will all be supporting them in their aims of winning Paralympic gold!鈥�

The University of 优蜜传媒 has a proud history of developing elite sportspeople, from students and alumni to athletes supported through , a Sport England funded partnership delivered across education institutions.

Since the scheme launched in 2004, The University of 优蜜传媒 has been proud to be a TASS Delivery Site. Supporting over 150 athletes over this time, the University provides physiotherapy, lifestyle advice, nutrition support and sport psychology services.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will run from 28 August to 8 September.

Navigating the Long Haul: Understanding Long Covid in Northern England, published by Health Equity North, reveals the striking inequalities in Long Covid rates and a clear North-South divide.

Analysis of General Practice Patient Survey data from 2022 found the North West had the highest number of people reporting Long Covid symptoms (5.5%) followed by the North East and Yorkshire (5.1%).

In some northern GP practices as many as one in five patients (20%) reported having Long Covid.

The regions with the lowest rates were the South West (3.4%) and the South East (3.6%), and the average for England as a whole was 4.4%.

The research suggests that people in the North of England are among the worst affected by Long Covid, which follows patterns evidenced in previous highlighting the devastating impact of Covid-19 across northern regions.

The link between deprivation and higher rates of Long Covid is also explored in the report. Nationally, the prevalence rate in the most deprived areas (6.3%) is almost double that in the least deprived (3.3%).

Within region inequalities are also evident in the North East and Yorkshire, where rates in the most deprived areas (8.3%) were 5.2% percentage points higher than in the least deprived areas (3.1%).

The report, a collaboration between Health Equity North, Newcastle University, University of 优蜜传媒, Insights North East, Public Health South Tees and Healthworks, explores the impact of Long Covid on the health, wellbeing and employment prospects of adults living in northern England.

The findings have prompted calls for more research into Long Covid and for Government to undertake a consultation with Long Covid patients to better understand the condition and to implement care plans to facilitate rehabilitation and management of the condition.

Further findings from the report include:

• In England, 1.9 million people were experiencing a myriad of self-reported Long Covid symptoms as of March 2023, with 79% saying it has had a negative impact on their day-to-day activities.
• Fatigue was named as the most experienced symptom, and over half reported reduced functionality in their everyday activities, which resulted in their inability to return to work.
• The 10 GP practices with the highest prevalence of Long Covid were all in the North.
• While many employers in the North provide support for Covid-19, this is specified on an acute basis, rather than in response to later Long Covid/post Covid illnesses.
• Only three out of 10 northern employers contacted offered a specific rehabilitation package to employees living with Long Covid despite the high prevalence in the region.
• There is considerable evidence of socioeconomic inequalities in Long Covid in the North East and Yorkshire, where rates in the most deprived groups (8.3%) were 5.2 percentage points higher than in the least deprived areas (3.1%).
• The most deprived areas in the North had higher Covid-19 mortality rates than equally deprived areas in the rest of England, indicative of 鈥榙eprivation amplification鈥� where the negative health effects of local deprivation is worsened for those living in deprived regions.

Long Covid encompasses physical, cognitive and mental impairments, with brain fog, fatigue, breathlessness, low mood, and depression among the most common symptoms.

As part of the research, academics conducted interviews with people who have experienced or continue to experience Long Covid.

The findings lay bare the significant impact it has on the personal and professional lives of those with the condition. Many of the people involved in the research had been demoted, fired, forced to resign or switch to part-time work because of Long Covid.

During the research, one participant said: 鈥淎t one point, more than once, I was surprised to wake up the next morning. I felt like I was having stroke-like symptoms, the pressure in my head. I couldn鈥檛 move enough to either call for my children or to reach for my phone to get help. I think I lost consciousness. The next morning, I was like, I can鈥檛 believe I鈥檓 waking up. I wrote my end of life wishes and told my kids what to do if I didn鈥檛 make it.鈥�

The report recommendations centre on the need for more research into Long Covid 鈥� covering both biomedical and social research 鈥� and also the importance of drawing on learnings from other post-viral conditions to ensure better diagnosis and treatment for patients in future.

Dr Stephanie Scott, lead author of the report and Senior Lecturer in Public Health at Newcastle University, said: 鈥淟ong Covid is a complex condition that goes beyond physical and mental symptoms, affecting other parts of people鈥檚 lives including their sense of self and professional identity. This can then lead to experiences of social isolation.

鈥淐urrently, there is little evidence-based treatment for Long Covid and the health system focuses on symptom management. This needs to change. Our research has offered a glimpse into the reality of what it is like to live with this often-debilitating condition and the knock-on effects it has on people鈥檚 personal and professional lives.

鈥淚 hope that the evidence presented in this report cuts through to policymakers and gets the attention it deserves so more research into Long Covid is funded, and so measures can be put into place which enables employers to better support their workforce with Long Covid.鈥�

Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North and Deputy Chief Executive at the Northern Health Science Alliance, said: 鈥淐ovid-19 hit the country unevenly with a disproportionate effect on northern regions 鈥� more people died, we spent more time in lockdown, had higher unemployment, and experienced a larger drop in mental wellbeing. Yet again, we are seeing the lasting impact of the pandemic being felt the hardest in the North of England.

鈥淭his pattern is reflected in our latest report which shows the North as having the highest rates of people experiencing Long Covid. And it鈥檚 likely that these figures could be much higher as many people may not report their symptoms.

鈥淭he report provides a timely analysis of the health and economic repercussions of Long Covid, which we hope will prompt action from Government. The regional differences in rates of the illness and the relationship between deprivation is clear. It is also clear that more research needs to be done to understand this devastating condition so people can be diagnosed, treated and supported.鈥�

The report recommendations are:

• Research funders should prioritise biomedical research into Long Covid to establish accurate diagnostic tests, understand the illnesses鈥� pathophysiological mechanisms and develop treatments.
• Research into the impact of known social determinants of health and their relationship with Long Covid should be undertaken.
• Learning from overlap with other post-viral conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (MF/CFS) should harnessed during Long Covid research and further funding into these conditions should be allocated to assist with treatment and future pandemic preparedness.
• The relationship between disability figures, sex and Long Covid should be the basis of further research.
• Priorities for government: Government should develop programmes for employers to support members of their workforce with Long Covid;  A government consultation with Long Covid patients should be undertaken to better understand their condition and to implement care plans to facilitate rehabilitation and management of the condition.

View the full report here:

Health Equity North is a virtual institute focused on place-based solutions to public health problems and health inequalities across the North of England. It brings together world-leading academic expertise from the Northern Health Science Alliance鈥檚 members of leading universities and hospitals.

Carried out by scientists at the Universities of 优蜜传媒 and Oxford working in collaboration with the KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Unity in Kenya, the study is published in the journal Nature Communications and funded by the Wellcome Trust. 

The findings come amid recent reports showing Gonorrhoea - a sexually transmitted disease - is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and could become untreatable in the future. 

People infected with gonorrhoea may experience pain or burning though, if untreated, they may go on to develop more serious problems including infertility, systemic infection and increased risk of HIV/AIDS. 

There are now multidrug resistant strains of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) bacterium -  which causes gonorrhoea - making many antibiotics ineffective as first-line treatments.

The bacterium has a range of mechanisms to dampen immune responses, meaning there is insufficient immunological 鈥榤emory鈥� to combat subsequent infections.

Attempts to develop a vaccine against gonorrhoea have been largely unsuccessful; however, in 2017 a study showed that vaccination against a related bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) led to a reduction in the incidence of gonorrhoea.

Although the efficacy of the Nm vaccine against Ng was limited, it provided an important clue to making an effective Ng vaccine.

Working with a marginalised community of sex workers in coastal Kenya who have high exposure to gonorrhoea, Prof Ed Sanders and his team in Kenya conducted a trial of an Nm vaccine to examine their immune responses.

Prof Jeremy Derrick and the team in 优蜜传媒 then identified the pattern of antibody responses in the vaccine recipients and compared them to individuals infected with gonorrhoea.

To unpick the complicated antibody responses, the 优蜜传媒 team fabricated a 鈥榤icroarray鈥�- a library of the different components, or antigens, which could react with the antibodies induced by the Nm vaccine.

Using this powerful technology, the complex profiles of antibodies against the different components were determined for each vaccinee, or each infected individual.

Comparison of the profiles revealed a detailed picture of the antibody responses to the vaccine, and showing how they differ to those following infection.

The project lead Professor Chris Tang from The University of Oxford said: 鈥淭his work takes an important step along the road to developing Ng vaccines, as we have a better idea of which responses are generated by partially protective vaccination compared with infection.鈥�

Professor Derrick added: 鈥淭his study has wide implications about revisiting vaccine design for other bacterial pathogens using these new methods, including those where antimicrobial resistance is a problem.

鈥淲e hope that the application of these technologies will enable progress towards vaccines against other pathogens.鈥�

Image : raw microarray scan. Each spot is an antibody reacting with a specific antigen or protein from the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Stejskal et al 2024 鈥楶rofiling IgG and IgA antibody responses during vaccination and infection in a high-risk gonorrhoea population鈥� is published in nature Communications and is available

The University鈥檚 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team hosted the 鈥淲e Belong Here鈥� event in April 2023, which aimed to inspire young people who are care experienced to think about attending university, and to consider 优蜜传媒 as a university of choice. At this event, Professor Jackie Carter connected with several care experienced or estranged young people, including Willow. Jackie was very taken by Willow, stating: 鈥淲hat struck me about Willow was her motivation in wanting to study Sociology because all the books she was reading made no reference to people like her鈥�.

After the event, Jackie arranged work experience for Willow at the University. Willow shadowed Jackie, met with other academics, talked to university students, and spent time exploring the campus. Jackie also offered to mentor Willow by supporting and guiding her through her A-Level exams, as well as encouraging her to apply for the course she wanted to study. In a reflection on her work experience Willow wrote: 鈥淚t felt like they wanted you to succeed and find your place in this academic world. Like, it鈥檚 not just about getting a degree, it鈥檚 about discovering your passions, pushing your boundaries, and becoming the best version of yourself.鈥�.

Congratulations to Willow Stephenson who will be joining in September to study Sociology () and German.

At an event set up by colleagues, met with several care-experienced or estranged young people, which is where she met Willow.

鈥� The University of 优蜜传媒 (@OfficialUoM)

On A-Level Results Day, Willow found out she will be coming to the University in September to study her dream course, which is a brilliant result. Jackie says: 鈥淎 year ago she didn鈥檛 even know she could study this degree and had no intention of applying for The University of 优蜜传媒.鈥�

Since Willow received her results, Jackie has reflected upon the impact herself and other female members of staff had on Willow. Highlighting the importance of representation, Jackie says: 鈥淚 think helping her [Willow] see strong women who cared about her progress has been a huge boost for her鈥�.

The University of 优蜜传媒 continues its commitment to supporting young people who are care experienced or estranged, in succeeding in higher education. Willow鈥檚 story and the dedication demonstrated by Professor Jackie Carter and the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion team, illustrates that it is both possible, and imperative, to make a difference.

• For more information about The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 commitment to care experienced and estranged young people, visit this page.

With most volcanic activity taking place underground unobserved, for the first time scientists have been able to capture vesiculation kinetics in basaltic magmas in real time. Published today in , the study sheds new light on one of nature鈥檚 most astonishing phenomena.

Volcanic eruptions differ drastically, ranging from gentle effusive lava flows to highly explosive events - or sometimes switching between the two at a moment鈥檚 notice.

At the worst end of the scale, volcanic eruptions eject massive volumes of magma and volcanic gases into the air. This causes catastrophic local damage and often prompts wide-reaching global effects too, like air traffic space closure and changes in weather patterns.

Scientists highlighted that eruptive style is influenced by how gas dissolved in magma is released. Contrasts can be drawn between how a waiter opens a bottle of champagne in a restaurant, and how champagne pops when shaken by Grand Prix winners. Despite both bottles having the same amount of gas, the champagne leaves the bottles at vastly different speeds.

Volcanic eruption styles depend on how easily magma decouples from gas during ascent, with stronger gas-melt coupling leading to more explosive reactions. This study allowed scientists to observe and quantify real-time bubble growth and coalescence in magma as it reaches the surface.

The pressure vessel used in the laboratory experiments was thick enough to contain vast amounts of stored energy, and X-rays (the I12-JEEP synchrotron beamline from Diamond Light Source) were used to see through the magma sample and make the observations.

, Research Associate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of 优蜜传媒 and lead author of the study, commented: 鈥淭he experimental results obtained in this study through the combination of our novel vessel apparatus and X-ray synchrotron radiography, offer an improved understanding of coupling and decoupling between magma and volatiles during ascent in the conduit. This study provides insights into processes leading to eruptive style transitions and, ultimately, has fundamental implications for hazard assessment and risk mitigation in area of active basaltic volcanism.鈥�

Pressure in the chambers could be increased or decreased in a controlled way, allowing scientists to see how expanding bubble walls are broken during coalescence at different pressures and temperatures, from 10km in the magmatic plumbing system right up to the conduit beneath a volcano.

The study is a result of a NERC-NFS large grant awarded to The University of 优蜜传媒, in addition to the universities of Bristol, Durham, Cambridge and Arizona State in the USA. A UKRI FLF project grant was also awarded to 优蜜传媒, and the study was completed in collaboration with colleagues at ESRF in Grenoble, France who developed the novel experimental pressure vessel with windows used in the study.

The growth rates sourced from this new technique confirm previous estimations that used numerical and theoretical modelling. This study contributes to a better understanding of magma behaviour and will greatly improve knowledge of volcanic processes, in addition to helping with future hazard assessment and risk mitigation in areas of active volcanic activity.

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a type of bacteria which often affects people who have taken antibiotics, is responsible for approximately 2,000 deaths annually in the UK.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield and the University of 优蜜传媒 have found C. diff is able to evolve high levels of vancomycin resistance very quickly - in less than two months the bacteria could tolerate 32 times the normally effective antibiotic concentration.

Currently, the antibiotics used to treat C. diff damage beneficial gut bacteria, leading to a high reinfection rate鈥攗p to 30 per cent of patients treated with vancomycin experience a second infection within weeks, with the likelihood of further relapses increasing thereafter.

Despite vancomycin's critical role within UK healthcare, routine monitoring for resistance in clinical settings is lacking, so resistance may be emerging under the radar in hospitals. If widespread resistance were to arise it would remove this critical treatment option from UK healthcare.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

Jessica Buddle, PhD student at the University of Sheffield and lead author of the study, said: 鈥淥ur findings highlight the need for vigilant monitoring of vancomycin resistance in UK hospitals. Unchecked resistance could contribute to the large number of patients who have a relapsing infection after successful treatment with vancomycin. More research is essential to inform healthcare policy and determine if vancomycin remains the best treatment option.

鈥淥ur ongoing work aims to understand the extent and mechanisms of resistance development, simulate these conditions within the complex human gut ecosystem, and collaborate with UK epidemiologists to identify potential resistance signatures in hospitals.

鈥淭hese efforts are crucial to prevent a future where antibiotics are no longer a viable option for treating bacterial infections and infections that are readily treatable today, become life-threatening once again.鈥�

Although this rapid evolution is concerning, resistant strains exhibited reduced overall fitness, potentially limiting their clinical threat. The resistant strains also commonly had defects in sporulation. Sporulation is essential for C. diff to transmit from one person to the next and to survive on surfaces in hospitals.

Future work will seek to understand this interplay between resistance and the ability of the bacteria to cause severe disease. Researchers will be able to leverage this knowledge to improve surveillance of emerging resistance in hospitals.

Professor Michael Brockhurst from The University of 优蜜传媒 said: 鈥淥ur study highlights the value of using lab-based pathogen evolution to understand clinical drug resistance. This can reveal not only which genetic mutations cause resistance, but also the associated fitness costs that might limit the success of resistant strains in the clinic. Such fitness costs are a pathogen鈥檚 Achille鈥檚 Heel and could potentially be exploited to devise new treatments that reduce the burden of drug resistant infections in the future.鈥� 

Read the full paper in the journal PLOS Biology

The annual rankings see The University of 优蜜传媒 retain its top ten status as the 6th best institution in the UK and 15th in Europe, according to the ARWU. However, the University has slipped from 41 to 52 globally.

This year, more than 2500 institutions were scrutinised, and the best 1000 universities in the world are published. Overall, The United Kingdom has 63 Top 1000 universities, and 38 of them are listed in the Top 500, 8 are listed in the Top 100. 

President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Ivison, said: 鈥淲hile they don鈥檛 measure everything we value, what these rankings demonstrate is our consistent position as one of Europe鈥檚 leading universities. But, for a University of our scale and ambition, they also serve as a reminder that we need pay attention to our global performance and work collectively to improve across everything we do to retain our position as a world-leading institution."

Starting from 2003, ARWU has been presenting the world's top universities annually based on a set of objective indicators and third-party data.  

Universities are ranked by several academic or research performance indicators, including alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, Highly Cited Researchers, papers published in Nature and Science, papers indexed in major citation indices, and the per capita academic performance of an institution. 

This latest ARWU ranking follows on from The University of 优蜜传媒 named as the world's 34th best University according to the newest , published in June this year. 

优蜜传媒 was also named top in both the UK and Europe, and second in the world for meaningful contributions towards the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.  

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) an impressive 93% of our research activity was rated 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*), confirming 优蜜传媒 as one of the UK's top research institutions.  

The complete list and detailed methodologies can be found at ShanghaiRanking鈥檚 website    

The study led by scientists at The University of 优蜜传媒 and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, could potentially benefit patients by using a technique called Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OE-MRI).

Using the non-invasive technique, the scientists were able to map parts of tumours that had oxygen deficiency - known as hypoxia - in patients with head and neck cancer. Patients with hypoxia in their tumours respond less well to treatment.

This will enable future work to use the MRI technique to target and fine tune treatment more precisely, reducing damage to healthy tissue in some patients.

Funded by Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, The National Institute for Health and Care Research, the study is published in a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, today (15/08/24).

The study was supported by the NIHR 优蜜传媒 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the NIHR BRC at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research.

Though the study was performed on patients with head and neck cancer, it raises the prospect that OE-MRI could be useful in patients with other cancers.

The oxygen enhanced imaging provides detail similar to an expensive PET scan, but can be performed on standard - and much cheaper - MRI systems.

The researchers enrolled 27 patients who were given OE-MRI scans of their primary and nodal tumours before they began their standard chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments.

Additional scans were then performed during their treatment.

Using sophisticated mathematical modelling, the method was found to have the potential to help patients whose tumours had reduced levels of hypoxia by the second week.

Michael Dubec, principal clinical scientist at The University of 优蜜传媒 and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust said: 鈥�Cancers can be destroyed by radiation and chemotherapy, but the problem is healthy tissues and organs can be destroyed as well. So our aim is to destroy the tumour while preserving healthy tissue thus reducing toxicity.

鈥淪o our aim is to destroy the tumour while preserving healthy tissue thus reducing toxicity.

鈥淯sing Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to map hypoxia in patients鈥� tumours, may improve the accuracy of their treatment.

鈥淣ow we have proved the principle, we hope to move on to clinical trials so it can be validated on greater numbers of patients.鈥�

Professor James O鈥機onnor of The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The University of 优蜜传媒 led the study. He added: 鈥淔ew studies have compared the hypoxia modification observed in both primary tumour and nodal metastases following treatment, or the timing of these changes.

鈥淪o our findings amount to a potentially important way to determine optimum radiotherapy planning for patients with locally advanced disease.鈥�

The study 鈥淥xygen-enhanced MRI detects incidence, onset and heterogeneity of radiation-induced hypoxia modification in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer鈥� is published in

Cathy Bolton and Sarah-Jane Roberts, Co-Directors of 优蜜传媒 Literature Festival said: 鈥淥ver the last 200 years, The University of 优蜜传媒 has shown itself to be one of the most innovative and groundbreaking universities in the UK and we are delighted to have the Centre for New Writing and Creative 优蜜传媒 as our Higher Education Partner once again. New perspectives and reimagining are at the heart of this year鈥檚 优蜜传媒 Literature Festival. Caroline Lucas asks us to reimagine a greener, more inclusive England. George Monbiot encourages us to reimagine the end of neoliberalism. Thomas Heatherwick invites us to reimagine our cities without soulless, boring buildings. David Peace reimagines the grief, heartbreak and resurrection of 优蜜传媒 United after the 1958 Munich air disaster. We also welcome a multitude of brilliant novelists, poets and artists to the city, and invite you to join us to revisit familiar narratives from a place of freshness, curiosity and hope.鈥�

Find out more about 优蜜传媒 Literature Festival and view the full programme by visiting .

Forty-one year old Ben Moorhouse from Halifax will take on the dangerous challenge in gruelling temperatures on August 17 in memory of his daughter Kallipateira who was stillborn at 37 weeks in October 2018.

Ben has already made history on the Greek island when in August 2021 he became the only person to walk around the full perimeter of the island nonstop 鈥� a total of 150 miles in 42 hours.

He has set himself a target of 拢10,000 for two summer extreme challenges with all funds going to Professor Alexander Heazell and his team at the Tommy鈥檚 优蜜传媒 Maternal and Fetal Health research to support research and to help save babies鈥� lives.

In July he completed a 110-mile nonstop walk from Wainhouse Tower in Halifax to Blackpool then onto Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital in 优蜜传媒, where Professor Heazell and his team are based.

Ben and his partner Gaynor Thompson launched the Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation charity to help save babies lives through research and support other parents who have experienced the death of a baby.

Ben said 鈥淥n Saturday I am proud to be able to take on my next extreme challenge on the beautiful and magical island of Rhodes for my daughter Kallipateira.

鈥淚 am ready and prepared to put myself through the mill again on Saturday in the current extreme heat and humidity in Rhodes.

鈥淭hankfully most people who see my extreme challenges will not have had to experience the devastation of holding their dead baby or child.

鈥淚 ask for the public鈥檚 kindness in please supporting me with a donation no matter how big or small. I am just a normal dad trying my best to make sure my baby girl did not die for nothing.鈥�

Every day in the UK eight babies stillborn on average, many which are preventable. These are beautiful fully developed babies who should be alive.

鈥淎s a grieving dad who each day feels the pain of Kallipateira鈥檚 devastating death I must now raise more vital funds for Professor Heazell and his team to support research so that other families nationally don鈥檛 have to experience the pain that we do every day.鈥�

Professor Alexander Heazell, Director of the Tommy's Stillbirth Research Centre said: 鈥淚t was great to be able to walk the last 33 miles of Ben鈥檚 Walk from Preston to 优蜜传媒 with him in July.

鈥淚 am always amazed at the depth and strength of his commitment to raise funds in memory of Kallipateira.

鈥淭he money Ben has raised previously has funded projects to understand partners needs in pregnancy after loss and to improve understanding of stillbirth risks in women who don鈥檛 speak English.

This important work comes from donations, so please support Ben in this second extreme challenge of the summer to support work that saves babies lives and improves care.鈥�

 Dignity Funerals are the headline sponsor of the extreme challenge walk.

Stuart Cox, Head of Public Affairs at Dignity Funerals, who are sponsoring the challenge said: 鈥淎s a socially responsible business Dignity is delighted to continue our support for the Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation.

鈥淎fter Ben initially approached us, we could immediately see the value of the work the Foundation does and his inspiring enthusiasm for fundraising. We all wish him the best of luck with his latest challenges.鈥�

• You can donate to Ben via his just giving
• For more information about the Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation, visit their

For the second year in a row, the University of 优蜜传媒 has been awarded the CATE by Advance HE - with this year鈥檚 accolade going to The University of 优蜜传媒 Library Student Team (UMLST). Developed and led by , Head of Teaching and Learning Development for the University of 优蜜传媒 Library and the University鈥檚 Academic Lead for Student Success, UMLST is a driving force behind student-led teaching and learning activity in the Library.

This year鈥檚 CATE award makes Jennie, also a National Teaching Fellow, the University鈥檚 first ever recipient of both accolades. Student members of the team have also been recognised for their own individual achievements with Fellow and Senior Fellow accreditation from Advance HE.

Under the UMLST model, current students work collaboratively with University staff over extended periods of time to enhance Library services, create inclusive learning resources such as the award-winning My Learning Essentials academic skills programme, and foster a welcoming, supportive environment for students. Student members take the lead on initiatives that give their peers a powerful voice and represent the diversity of the communities found at 优蜜传媒, taking part in local outreach sessions and workshops at national conferences. UMLST members also participate in consultations and contribute to shaping University-wide policies and practices, and their influence is felt across the whole institution, driving positive change and fostering a culture of inclusivity.

UMLST student member Durian (Divya) Malhotra said: 鈥淓very day is always so exciting, and with a wonderful team to support you every step of the way, you鈥檙e never alone. Being an ST has made me feel like my voice as a student has made a truly important impact at the University.鈥�

The University is also celebrating the announcement of a new National Teaching Fellow among its ranks this year. , Senior Language Tutor in the , is passionate about promoting research-informed approaches to language teaching and fostering the development of learning communities. Across the UK, Europe and China, she is recognised for her expertise in multimodal interactive learning pedagogy, language for specific purposes and intercultural communication.

Minjie was previously a professor of Applied Linguistics at the Harbin Institute of Technology in China. She was also a guest professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University and Zhejiang University. After pursuing her PhD in Multimedia Language Learning in the UK under a full scholarship fund, she started teaching Chinese at Nottingham University before joining the team at 优蜜传媒.

With her extensive knowledge and experience, Minjie has made an outstanding impact at the University. Her focus on 鈥榬eal-life鈥� language learning promotes connections between native speakers and non-native speakers, helping to build intercultural understanding through friendships.

优蜜传媒 is one of a few British universities with a significant and popular offering in Chinese Studies that caters for all levels鈥� in no small part down to Minjie鈥檚 high standards and strong professional networks. She is incredibly active in outreach activities too, bringing the joy of language learning to schools, colleges and the local community.

Alison Johns, Advance HE Chief Executive, said: 鈥淲e know that higher education has the power to transform lives but this doesn鈥檛 happen by default. Outstanding teaching is the result of knowledge, commitment, passion, energy and creativity. All of these 2024 winners demonstrate these attributes and put them into practice with excellent results.  

鈥淚t is vital for student success that we invest in higher education teaching and promote the value of excellence. Congratulations to each and every one of you for this prestigious prize.鈥�

The 2024 Awards Ceremony will be held at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh on Thursday 3^rd October.

Cancers develop partly through genetic abnormalities within cells of the body. Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, but we don鈥檛 yet have a full understanding of the genetic changes that cause it to grow. New research 鈥� published today in Nature 鈥� delivers an unprecedented view of the genetic landscape of CRC and its responses to treatment.

Utilising data from 2,023 bowel cancers from the 100,000 Genomes Project led by Genomics England and NHS England**, the research team has identified new gene faults that lead to CRC. They鈥檝e also uncovered new CRC cancer sub-groups (categories of cancer with specific genetic characteristics that affect how cancer behaves and responds to treatment). These findings offer profound insights into the disease's development and potential treatment strategies.

Key Findings of the Study:

• Identification of Over 250 Key Genes: The study has pinpointed more than 250 genes that play a crucial role in CRC, the great majority of which have not been previously linked to CRC or other cancers, expanding our understanding of how CRC develops.
• New Sub-Groups of CRC: Four novel, common sub-groups of CRC have been discovered based on genetic features. In addition, several rare CRC sub-groups have been identified and characterised. These groups have different patient outcomes and may respond differently to therapy.
• Genetic Mutation Causes: The research reveals a variety of genetic changes across different regions of the colorectum, highlighting differences in CRC causes between individuals. For example, a process has been found that is more active in younger CRC patients鈥� cancers; the cause is unknown, but might be linked to diet and smoking.
• New Treatment Pathways: Many identified mutations could potentially be targeted with existing treatments currently used across other cancers.

Commenting on the findings, co-lead researcher, Ian Tomlinson, Professor of Cancer Genetics at the University of Oxford, said:

"Our findings represent a significant advancement in understanding colorectal cancer. By better understanding the genetic changes in CRC, we can better predict patient outcomes and identify new treatment strategies, quite possibly including the use of anti-cancer drugs that are not currently used for CRC."

The research provides a vital resource for the scientific community and a promising foundation for future studies. The results from the study are available to other researchers, who are invited to build on the data by undertaking more focussed projects based on the CRC genome.

Co-lead researcher, Professor Richard Houlston, Professor of Cancer Genomics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

鈥淭his research is a great insight into the biology of colorectal cancer, uncovering the clues as to how it develops, grows, and responds to treatments. I look forward to seeing future studies use these findings to develop tailored treatments for people with colorectal cancer, based on their genetics.鈥�

Co-lead researcher, Professor David Wedge, Professor of Cancer Genomics and Data Science at the University of 优蜜传媒, said:

鈥淭his is the first really large study to come out of the 100,000 Genomes Project led by Genomics England and NHS England. In the coming months and years, I expect it to be followed by many more studies of different types of cancer as well as combined studies across all types of cancer, fuelled by the fantastic data resource provided by Genomics England.鈥�

Dr Henry Wood, Lecturer in Translational Bioinformatics from Pathology in the University of Leeds鈥� School of Medicine, said:

鈥淭his study is the first to provide in-depth, whole-genome sequencing and characterisation of the microbiome - the community of bacteria and viruses that live in the gut - in a large number of cases of bowel cancer. This means that we are now in a position to investigate the importance of the microbiome in the development of these cancers, and whether we can change it to influence the tumour and improve patient outcomes.鈥�

*The research team spanned the Universities of Oxford, 优蜜传媒, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Leeds, as well as The Institute of Cancer Research, London and the Centro de Investigaci贸n Biom茅dica en Red C谩ncer, Barcelona. 

** The 100,000 Genomes Project is an ambitious initiative that sequenced 100,000 genomes from NHS patients affected by rare conditions or cancer, providing both diagnoses and access to treatment for thousands of patients with research and analysis still ongoing. The Project laid the foundations for the NHS to become the first national health system to offer whole genome sequencing as part of routine care via the NHS Genomic Medicine Service. 

Professor Jason Wong, who is part of the Dermatology Theme at the NIHR 优蜜传媒 BRC, has been awarded the funding through a 3-year UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council (MRC) Development Pathway Funding Scheme.

Wounds are breeding grounds for microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Wound infection can cause delayed healing, loss of skin grafts (where healthy skin is removed from an unaffected area of the body and used to cover lost or damaged skin) and sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection).

Delayed wound healing has a significant functional and psychological impact on patients. It can result in loss of limbs (particularly in diabetic foot disease) or even loss of life (particularly in burn injuries).

Jason Wong, who is an Honorary Consultant at 优蜜传媒 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine at The University of 优蜜传媒, said: 鈥淲ound dressings are important for wound care and management, but there is little evidence to support the routine use of current antimicrobial dressings for complex wounds, which aim to prevent or stop the growth of microbes. Most antimicrobial dressings do not show clear advantages, and this could be due to the active agents preventing wound healing or not working against certain microbes.

鈥淭he repeated or prolonged use of traditional antibiotics in wound care, especially chronic wound treatments, can cause the emergence of bacteria, fungi and viruses resistant to these commonly used antimicrobials. This highlights the urgent need for new, more powerful, yet safe dressings.鈥�

Using this funding, Professor Wong and the research team will aim to develop new dressings that contain antimicrobial peptide (AMP) releasing hydrofibres (microbe killing proteins).

Unlike traditional antibiotics, AMPs are effective against a broad range of  microbes, can act quickly and penetrate through microbes鈥� resistant barriers.

The team have already developed an AMP which has been tested against a range of microbes, is easy to produce and is non-toxic. This study will aim to show it has low side effects and develop it towards a clinical product.

The project will be in collaboration with Convatec, a global medical products and technologies company focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, who are providing in-kind support throughout the study.

Professor Wong said: 鈥淚 am delighted to have been awarded this grant with such an accomplished multidisciplinary team of scientists from The University of 优蜜传媒, MFT and industry. The development of this wound dressing could be invaluable for patients and clinicians in helping to prevent infection and improve healing. Through our work we will recognise their healthcare needs, which will include controlling local infection, making sure the dressings are easy to apply and remove, and exudate management (help prevent excess fluid leakages).鈥�

Team GB鈥檚 Grace Harvey, Paralympic swimmer and current student at The University of 优蜜传媒, will be taking part in multiple events from the 28 August to 8 September. Aimee Pratt, an alumni of the University and an Anatomical Sciences graduate, has already competed in the 3000m Steeplechase event, placing 11^th in her heat and putting in a very promising performance at her second Olympics.

Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls who access training services through the University are also representing Team GB in Paris this year. The University offers support to athletes through , the Sport England funded partnership delivered across educational institutions.

in this year鈥檚 Games supported by the University鈥檚 Performance Sport team include track cyclist Archie Atkinson, who will make his Paralympics debut this year, and athletics star Keely Hodgkinson. Keely is already a Paris success story, becoming Olympic Champion and taking Gold in the 800m final on 5 August.

The University of 优蜜传媒 has a proud history of developing elite sportspeople. As a TASS Delivery Site, the University of 优蜜传媒 has supported over 150 athletes since the scheme began in 2004.

The programme provides talented athletes with access to performance sport experts and experienced practitioners. The University鈥檚 TASS offering covers everything from physiotherapy and nutrition support to medical schemes and sport psychology advice.

The networks will share 拢4.8 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), awarded as part of its tackling infections strategic theme. This programme will continue next year with a new opportunity for ambitious new transdisciplinary research programmes, drawing on a dedicated budget of at least 拢7 million.

The People AMR Network, led by  Sarah Tonkin-Crine at  The University of Oxford  will consider how communities might use antibiotics in the best possible ways to minimise AMR through changing behaviour.

The network will explore ways to help people make decisions about antibiotic use, develop new strategies and tools, and to study these to ensure they target the right people, the right behaviours, and the right settings to have maximum and timely impact at the lowest possible cost. The community will include representatives from the public as well as GPs, dentists, pharmacists, vets and business leaders.

Co-lead Dr Wendy Thompson from The University of 优蜜传媒 said: 鈥�'From antibiotics for a dental abscess through to antifungals for mildew in the bathroom, we just take antimicrobials for granted. Yet the more often we use them for things where they are not strictly necessary, like toothache, the less often they will work when they are vital, like sepsis.

鈥淚t's my pleasure, therefore, to lead the dentistry part of this people-centred approach to helping ensure future generations continue to benefit from antimicrobials that work.鈥�

The Fungal One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Network, led by Darius Armstrong-James at Imperial College London  will focus on the emergence of anti-fungal resistance and the development of countermeasures to it, with collaboration from the University of 优蜜传媒.

The network will cover healthcare, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries, as well as key government departments and end users in these settings. It will tackle the underlying causes of resistance, surveillance, agricultural waste and water-based hotspots, the development of countermeasures and interventions to mitigate resistance.

Co-lead Dr Michael Bromley from The University of 优蜜传媒 said: 鈥淔ungal pathogens cause devastating losses to all of our staple foods such as wheat, rice, corn, soybean and sugar cane. To combat these losses, which alone are sufficient to feed around half of the world鈥檚 population, millions of tonnes of fungicides are sprayed. This widespread and sometimes illegal use has caused drug resistance to emerge in many fungal pathogens of plants, placing pressure on our food security.

鈥淲orse still, these fungicides have caused drug resistance to emerge in human fungal pathogens too. I will be leading a group to understand how we may balance the critical need for fungicide use in crops with the negative impacts they have on driving resistance and how we can work better with Governments to prevent resistance emerging to new the next-generation of antifungals.鈥�

The Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical One Health DiagnoSTics for antimicrobial resistance Network will focus on diagnostic tools. It will coordinate and develop practical solutions for diagnostics in both animals and plants, across various settings and is led by Led by Mark Bradley from Queen Mary University of London, with collaborators from the University of 优蜜传媒.

This will be addressed by identifying needs across sectors, developing research and innovation, standardising evaluation, supporting implementation, and cross-pollinating findings.

The new networks will support diverse teams of AMR researchers, ranging from specialists in agriculture, food and the environment to human and animal medicine, policy and behavioral studies, engineering and social science. Together they鈥檒l develop new partnerships and approaches to tackling AMR across sectors and disciplines, including culture, economics, behaviour, biomedical and physical sciences, design and engineering, environmental sciences and more.

Dr Colin Miles, Head of Strategy, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Growth at UKRI, said:

鈥淭ackling the creeping pandemic of anti-microbial resistance 鈥� increasing resistance to antibiotics 鈥� is a large, complex problem. Ten million people each year are expected to lose their lives to it by 2050.

鈥淩ather than taking single-discipline approaches, we need researchers from across disciplines to come together and look at all aspects of the problem 鈥� from human behaviour and how we grow crops and rear animals for consumption to how we manage the environment or use technology, clinical management strategies or challenge established cultural norms.鈥�

Professor Alejandro Frangi, Bicentennial Turing Chair in Computational Medicine says new approaches for product development, including computational modelling and simulation, could realise the huge potential of new technologies in regulatory and product innovation.

The report authored by KPMG UK Life Sciences Regulatory Solutions, commissioned by The University of 优蜜传媒, is based on the findings of a detailed literature review, surveys and structured interviews with life science sector stakeholders.

Professor Frangi said returns on investment is an important barrier, arguing that although relevant skills are in short supply, they can be sourced from other traditional sectors transformed by the digital revolution, such as the aerospace, automotive industries, or manufacturing.

Another challenge is to build trust among stakeholders for these new technologies and do so in co-creation with the broader sector and society.

In the report鈥檚 foreword, he said: 鈥淐omputational Modelling and Simulation (CM&S) technology and In Silico Evidence (ISE) stand poised to revolutionize the future of healthcare.

鈥淭hese cutting-edge methods offer a thrilling opportunity to expedite research and development (R&D), spark unprecedented innovation, and usher life-changing pharmaceutical and medical device products to market with remarkable speed and enhanced safety. The healthcare industry can easily recoup its investment in in silico methods during the R&D phase of a product鈥檚 life cycle.

鈥淏ut progress is being hindered by misconceptions, which largely stems from regulatory uncertainty and a lack of incentives for adopting these technologies. This report, however, provides much needed evidence that we already have the skills and financial incentives to push forwards with this agenda, added Michael Kipping,  Honorary Research Fellow on Regulatory Science and Innovation at The University of 优蜜传媒.

The technologies have the potential to reduce research sample sizes and the reliance on animal testing in pre-clinical trials.

Access to novel medicines and medical devices could be democratised by employing virtual patient cohorts mirroring diverse populations, including those previously marginalized by traditional evidence approaches.

The costs of bringing a new pharmaceutical to market are currently estimated at around 拢2 billion. 

If new technologies are employed, they have the potential to accelerate market entry for innovative products by up to two years and reduce the number of patients required for clinical studies potentially saving up to 拢7.8 million.

Professor Frangi said: 鈥淭o fully harness the transformative potential of these new technologies, manufacturers must navigate the complex landscape of global regulatory acceptance criteria. There is a pressing need for a cross-sector effort to develop clearer regulatory guidelines, international standards, and best practices. Such initiatives will pave the way for the global harmonization of in silico technologies, if not their regulation by worldwide regulatory agencies.鈥�

鈥淭hose who dare to embrace innovation are poised to set new standards and lead the industry forward.鈥�

Anusha Foy, Partner at KPMG said: 鈥�The potential benefits for patients and global healthcare systems with the utilisation of CM&S, MIE and ISE technology is enormous and transformative and is an area we will be following closely in the next few years鈥�.

The report In Silico Regulatory Evidence Utilisation within the Life Science Sector is available for download here

Upon his visit to India, Foreign Secretary David Lammy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and both governments committed to developing collaboration between The University of 优蜜传媒 , the University of Cambridge Graphene Centre and the Indian Institute for Science Bengaluru Centre for Nano Science & Engineering on advanced (two-dimensional) 2D and atomically thin materials and nanotechnology.

The TSI will focus on boosting economic growth in both countries and tackling issues such as telecoms security and semiconductor supply chain resilience. For the University specifically, the collaboration will scope joint research ventures, facilitate student and start-up exchanges, and open access to world-leading laboratories and prototyping facilities.

The University of 优蜜传媒 is already collaborating with a number of established partners in India, which has resulted in joint PhD programmes with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, which include a number of projects on 2D materials. The University is already immersed in the fields of Critical Minerals and Artificial Intelligence highlighted in the TSI, and hosted a UK-India Critical Minerals workshop in November 2023.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: 鈥淭he UK-India Technology Security Initiative will help shape the significant science and technology capabilities of both countries to deliver greater security, growth and wellbeing for our citizens. We are delighted to have The University of 优蜜传媒 play a key part in this, particularly in our collaboration on advanced materials and critical minerals.鈥�

This year The University of 优蜜传媒 is celebrating its bicentenary and it recently hosted a gala celebration in India at the Taj Lands End hotel Mumbai, attended by over 200 Indian alumni and representatives from our current and prospective partner organisations in the country. The University has also awarded honorary degrees to eminent Indian academic and industrial leaders including Professor C.N.R Rao and Mr Ratan Tata.

Advanced Materials is one of The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 research beacons, and the institution has a long history of innovation in this space. In 2004, the extraction of graphene from graphite was achieved by two University of 优蜜传媒 researchers, and with their pioneering work recognised with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.

Developed by researchers from 优蜜传媒 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and The University of 优蜜传媒, in collaboration with 优蜜传媒 based company genedrive, the test can tell healthcare professionals in approximately one hour if stroke patients will be more likely to benefit from clopidogrel, the current first-line treatment to prevent recurrence.

Approximately 100,000 people in the UK each year will have a stroke 鈥� a serious life-threatening condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off by a blood clot.

Clopidogrel prevents platelets (a type of blood cell) from sticking together and forming a dangerous blood clot. However, around 29 per cent of all patients in the UK (and up to 60 per cent in different ethnic groups) have a change in the CYP2C19 gene which reduces clopidogrel鈥檚 effectiveness.

Individuals carrying changes in the CYP2C19 gene are also twice as likely to have further strokes when treated with clopidogrel. If these genetic changes can be detected before treatment, then doctors can use an alternative, more effective medicine. 

Professor Bill Newman, Consultant in Genomic Medicine at MFT and Professor of Translational Genomic Medicine at The University of 优蜜传媒 who led the project said: 鈥淪trokes affect more than 6,000 people in Greater 优蜜传媒 each year and those affected are at increased risk of further severe strokes in the following hours, days and weeks.

鈥淭his is clearly a particularly worrying time for patients and their families; therefore, it is vital we use new approaches to ensure that patients get onto the right treatment as quickly as possible.鈥�

Professor Newman, who is also Rare Conditions Co-Theme Lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 优蜜传媒 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), added: 鈥淭his could reduce time spent in hospital, prevent further strokes, save lives, and avoid future hospital admissions.

鈥淚f adopted into routine practice, this rapid test, which has been recommended for use in the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), represents a major transformation in the way we manage stroke in this country.

鈥淥ur early model-based cost-effectiveness analysis published last year shows that using a rapid genetic test could lead to significant cost savings for the NHS. Using a rapid genetic test was 拢512 less expensive compared with no testing per patient, due to the prevention of secondary strokes and reduced hospital admissions. When you factor in the potential improvements in patient鈥檚 quality of life, the model estimates that the potential value of the test to the NHS is over 拢160 million each year.鈥�
 

Using a simple cheek swab, the non-invasive test can be performed at the bedside. From the swab, the genedrive system interprets the genetic information on the patient and informs the clinician with options on the course of treatment.

Previously, genetic testing for CYP2C19 could only be carried out using specialist laboratories, a process which can take several days.

The innovative test was used successfully at 优蜜传媒 Royal Infirmary and the 优蜜传媒 Centre for Genomic Medicine, Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, both part of MFT, over six months, to evaluate performance in the clinical setting.

Further testing will be carried out at Greater 优蜜传媒鈥檚 Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) at Salford Royal Hospital, part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, to establish the benefit for patients across Greater 优蜜传媒. HASU is the largest dedicated unit in the region and provides care for people across Greater 优蜜传媒. This work is part supported by the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre through the Edward and Victoria Bonham Carter fund and NHS England Network of Excellence in Pharmacogenetics and Medicines Optimisation.

This pilot is an important step in understanding the set-up costs, workforce and other requirements to roll out this innovation wider.

Dr John McDermott, Clinical Geneticist at MFT and NIHR Fellow from The University of 优蜜传媒 said: 鈥淕enomic medicine is changing the future of healthcare and we are delighted NICE has recommended the use of the test in the NHS.

鈥淎s part of the NHS Genomic Networks of Excellence work that we are leading, we are now working with colleagues across the country to work out the best ways to introduce genetic testing for CYP2C19 for patients who have just experienced a mini-stroke (TIA) or acute stroke.鈥�

This research is part of the DEVOTE programme, an Innovate UK funded project coordinated by Health Innovation 优蜜传媒, led by The University of 优蜜传媒 and supported by MFT.

The programme builds on research supported by the NIHR 优蜜传媒 BRC, hosted by MFT, which focuses on making pharmacogenetic testing more accessible to patients to improve clinical outcomes.

Dr Gino Miele, Chief Scientific Officer, genedrive plc, said: 鈥淭he collaboration of our company with the research and clinical team at MFT is a shining example of the NHS collaborating with a commercial company, from early product development through to clinical validation in real-world settings, to deliver real improvements in patient outcomes in a cost-effective way.  We are delighted with the positive recommendation from NICE and the success of the multi-disciplinary team collaboration under DEVOTE. We look forward to our CYP2C19 ID kit, the second point of care pharmacogenetic test developed in collaboration with this team for NHS use, being made available for the benefit of patients who have suffered a stroke or TIA.鈥�

Professor Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive at Health Innovation 优蜜传媒, said: "The recommendation by NICE for the point-of-care test is a demonstration of how the DEVOTE programme is supporting the development, validation and implementation of innovative genomic tests in healthcare. The planned implementation testing at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is an important milestone for validating the use in a real-world setting of a personalised approach to provide healthcare to patients that have suffered a stroke. Providing better care for cardiovascular diseases is a high priority for Health Innovation 优蜜传媒 and we are committed to continue our support to the DEVOTE programme."

Juliet Bouverie OBE, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association said: "Stroke devastates lives and leaves people with life-long disability. We know that many stroke survivors spend the rest of their lives fearing another stroke, so it's great to see that more people could be given appropriate help to significantly cut their risk of recurrent stroke. Anything we can do to prevent the misery that stroke can cause is ultimately good news. Getting on the right medication and taking it as advised is the best way for stroke survivors to reduce their risk of further strokes.

"If you are a stroke survivor and have questions about the medication that you have been prescribed, you should keep taking your medication and contact your GP surgery.鈥�

He will record his experiences during all four events using a GoPro camera, and plans to compile a video towards the end of the summer. 

To support Jonathan in his series of challenges, visit .

The UK鈥檚 new Labour government has made a bold decision. The new minister for local government, Angela Rayner, has announced that the government would for a new coal mine near Whitehaven in Cumbria, which had been approved two years ago by the then Conservative government.

Rayner鈥檚 intervention follows a recent making it harder for new sites of fossil fuel extraction to be approved. Pointing to the implications of the court鈥檚 decision, she argued that there had been an 鈥渆rror in law鈥� when Michael Gove, the minister at the time, had given the coal mine the go ahead in 2022.

The mine鈥檚 developers still want to go ahead, and a legal challenge by environmental campaigners is being , with a ruling expected later this summer. But, with its decision to withdraw its defence, the government has confirmed that it understands the need to decisively turn away from new fossil fuel extraction. This is good news.

But to rise to the challenge, the government must do much more. It must now show it understands what it means to decisively put the UK on a path towards clean energy while still recognising the importance of economic and social justice.

One of Keir Starmer鈥檚 pledges prior to becoming prime minister was to reform planning. He used eye-catching language, promising to the existing planning system to take out (those who say: 鈥渘ot in my back yard鈥�) ostensibly standing in the way of progress.

In Cumbria, the nimbys have a point

But there is an unfortunate irony in how Starmer鈥檚 position relates to the Cumbria mine. In Cumbria the ostensible were environmental campaigners pointing out that the mine would add into the atmosphere a year if it got the go ahead. They rightly argued that this would be indefensible in the middle of a climate crisis caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Without their intervention, the mine might already be in operation.

The planning system doesn鈥檛 need destroying, as Starmer鈥檚 language would suggest. As one of us (Gareth Fearn) , the challenge centres instead on revitalising planning as a public service, such that a new lease of life can be breathed into it.

In recent years, the UK鈥檚 planning system has been hollowed out due to austerity. Funding for local government fell by and planning departments shrunk as their work was to private-sector consultants. Meanwhile, the amount of work these departments have been expected to do has, if anything, increased.

This is an untenable situation. To achieve a rapid, just transition the planning system needs to be properly supported so that it can proactively steer the net zero transition, and communities can have a real say on development in their areas.

The alternative is that local areas are left at the mercy of speculative developers who will invest in what is most profitable, rather than what most effectively meets public needs. In a context where green industry often offers less return on capital than or high-end real estate, a deregulatory approach risks forcing local areas to choose between high-carbon speculative development or no development at all, as had happened in Cumbria.

Green policies, resources and community power

We want to see Labour take three steps to get the country on the right path. First, the new government must draw a much clearer connection between decarbonisation and planning policy when it this summer. This would remove ambiguities about new fossil fuel extraction and would mean putting in place strong policies for new, green industries like the government has already done with .

Second, Labour desperately needs to provide more resources to local government so councils and regional mayors can use in house planning expertise, rather than relying on expensive, private-sector consultants. This is at odds with chancellor Rachel Reeves鈥� approach, which seems to covertly embrace and is reliant on the finance and preferences of the assembled to deliver infrastructure with little public control or ownership.

Third, and most importantly, communities need to be empowered to make genuine choices between alternatives. This is especially important for areas like Cumbria, with its long history of coal mining, or Aberdeen with its offshore oil, where green alternatives are as not as culturally embedded as carbon-intensive industries.

Coal in Cumbria has more than economic value. As one of us (Pancho Lewis) argued in , coal is folded into the area鈥檚 history and continues to signal a desirable future for many people. This isn鈥檛 because people aren鈥檛 concerned about climate change. They are. It鈥檚 because coal is a familiar industry which delivered 鈥減roper鈥�, reliable jobs in the past and, in the context of proposals for a new mine, promised to continue to do so in the years ahead.

The government must respond by working hand in glove with communities to shape a net zero future that is meaningful to them. This is about delivering reliable jobs that people need and rolling out industry which can provide continuity with the past. Doing this requires forward planning and creative thinking, so that the net zero transition .

The new Labour government鈥檚 decision to oppose the mine is good news. But for the energy transition to be successful there need to be opportunities in new industries around the country. This requires a public planning system which is back on its feet and for the public to have meaningful stakes in new projects from local to national government. Labour must rise to the moment.

, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, and , Researcher, Lancaster Environment Centre,

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

Other appointments include:

• AI and Digital 鈥� Dr Varuna De Silva, Loughborough University (New position)
• Arts and Humanities 鈥� Dr Helen McCabe, University of Nottingham (New position)
• Business, Economics and Trade 鈥� Dr Jane Parry, University of Southampton (New position)
• Climate and Environment 鈥� Dr Andrew Russell, Queen Mary University London
• Health 鈥� David Strain, Dr University of Exeter (New position)
• International Affairs and National Security 鈥� Dr Leslie-Anne Duvic-Paoli, King's College London
• Transport 鈥� Dr Louise Reardon, University of Birmingham (New position)

For those interested in learning more about Ruth鈥檚 research, you can visit her , or alternatively read about her work with colleagues at Essex on the role of Commissioners for the Victims' Commissioner: 

, and ,

Desert regions in and the have been well studied by archaeologists as the and as routes of along 鈥溾��. The archaeology of southern Africa鈥檚 west coast desert belt has not received the same attention.

The Namib Sand Sea, part of the Namib Desert, is on the west coast of Namibia. It is a hyperarid landscape of towering dunes, occupying about 34,000km虏 between the towns of L眉deritz in the south and Walvis Bay in the north. However, there are clues that this environment was not always so dry and inhospitable, suggesting that there is more to be learnt about ancient human life here.

We are part of an interdisciplinary research team of physical geographers, archaeologists and geospatial scientists, interested in the long-term history of deserts and human-environmental interactions.

Our provides a timeframe for the presence of a small freshwater lake that once existed in the Namib Sand Sea. This lake was fed by an ancient river and is surrounded by a rich record of stone tools from the (made between about 300,000 years ago and 20,000 years ago), indicating that people ventured into this landscape and used this occasional water source.

Dating the former lake site, Narabeb, makes it clearer when ancient humans would have been able to live here. It draws attention to the Namib Sand Sea as a place archaeologists should study to learn more about far-reaching and deep human connections across southern Africa.

An ancient lake and shifting sand dunes

Today, Narabeb is a landscape dominated by long sand dunes that tower more than 100 metres high over the former lake site. There is no standing water here and the landscape receives little to no rain most years. However, that鈥檚 probably not what our ancient ancestors would have seen here. Away from the lake, they might have seen a relatively flat plain, seasonally covered by grasses, beside a river.

The clue is in sediments at the site: mud layers that were laid down by water. To find out how long ago the lake was at Narabeb, we needed to date these layers.

We used a technique called 鈥� basically, making sand glow to tell the time. Sand grains release a trapped signal that builds up when sand is buried underground, and is reset when sand is exposed to sunlight. Using this technique, we can date when different layers were last on the surface before they got buried. We dated the sand beneath and above layers of mud that were deposited by water. Our results show that the lake was present at Narabeb at some point between 231,000 卤 20,000 and 223,000 卤 19,000 years ago and again about 135,000 卤 11,000 years ago.

Another clue is the shape of the landscape east of Narabeb. It is dune free, reminding us that ancient humans were not the only things migrating in the Namib Sand Sea. Have the dunes been on the move? For how long? And how quickly?

Drilling to the centre of these dunes to work that out remains logistically impossible. Instead, we used .

The modelling suggests that it would have taken around 210,000 years to accumulate the amount of sand around Narabeb (those 110m high dunes). This number is remarkably close to the oldest age for the lake. This suggests that the dunes may only just have been starting to form and that a river was supplying the lake with fresh water, supporting animals and attracting people. The sediments at Narabeb also clearly tell us that a river once flowed where there are now dunes.

The winds have pushed dunes from the south and west to north and east, creating barriers for the river and hindering movement of people and animals along the water course.

Ancient human presence

At we have found tools from an earlier species of the Homo genus. This is part of a growing body of evidence, adding to research in the Kalahari desert in the centre of southern Africa, that suggests to the story of human evolution and technological innovation than has been supposed.

The artefacts from Narabeb fit into the Middle Stone Age type of stone tool technology. Narabeb is a particularly rich site for stone tools, suggesting people made tools here for a long time and perhaps visited the site over many generations.

This research illustrates the need for a comprehensive study of areas that have not been on the map of the major routes of human and animal migration. These might reveal exciting records of diffusion, innovation and adaptation to marginal and changing environments.

Our results also make us think about the dynamic nature of environmental conditions in one of Earth鈥檚 oldest desert regions. It has long been thought that the Namib has been consistently very and not a place capable of containing 鈥済reen corridors鈥� at the times of interest for archaeologists. Now we can challenge that idea.

Future steps

Recent funding from the will allow us to extend our fieldwork, documenting archaeological sites and dating these 鈥済reen corridors鈥� across more of this landscape. along the ancient river course has revealed an expansive artefact-littered landscape. We also need to know more about where ancient populations found the materials they used to make stone tools.

This will allow us to piece together a network of archaeological sites and show where human migration might have been possible in this part of southern Africa. Up to now, it鈥檚 been a gap in the archaeological map.

More work is also needed to understand the shifts in climate that allowed the rivers to flow into the Namib. This Southern Hemisphere, west coast desert has a very different setting to north Africa and Arabia, which have for understanding their periodic 鈥済reen corridors鈥�. Ongoing work with the wider scientific community, including climate modellers, may create a clearer picture of the Namib鈥檚 鈥済reen corridors鈥�.

, Reader in Physical Geography, and , Professor of Archaeology,

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

The study, published in by scientists at The University of 优蜜传媒 and led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), has found that currents sped up, slowed down, changed direction, and sometimes reversed direction completely, depending on the varying and uneven surfaces and features found on the ocean floor.

Previous models suggested that these currents would be continuous and steady. These findings will help scientists to understand the deep-sea pathways of nutrients that sustain deep-sea ecosystems, as well as assessing where microplastics and other pollutants accumulate in the ocean.

By better understanding how deep-sea currents interact with the seafloor, scientists can now more accurately interpret the deposits they leave behind. Those deposits act as long-term recorders of past climate change and can provide important clues about the potential impacts of future ocean changes. 

The seafloor is the final destination for particles such as sand, mud, organic carbon that provides food for seafloor organisms, and even pollutants. Accumulations of these particles in the deep sea are used to reconstruct past climates, natural hazards and ocean conditions. This provides valuable archives of climate change that extends far beyond historical records.

The lead scientist on the project, Dr Mike Clare of NOC, said: 鈥淚t is important to understand the behaviour and pathways of currents that operate in the deep sea, to determine pathways of natural and human-made particles. This information helps identify where pollution is coming from, which ecosystems it will interact with, and how to make sense of the records preserved in deposits.

鈥淗owever, there have been very few direct measurements made of currents that flow across the seafloor in deep waters. Most are made high above the seafloor, over short timescales, and only at individual locations. Until now we have not understood how dynamic seafloor currents can be in the deep sea.鈥�

The new study, which involved researchers from the UK, Canada, Germany and Italy, analysed data from an extensive array of sensors to determine the variability in seafloor currents over four years. Thirty-four deep sea moorings were deployed in up to 2.5 km water depths, equipped with high-frequency Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers - likened to an underwater speed camera that measures seafloor currents.

The study鈥檚 lead author, Dr Lewis Bailey, formerly of NOC and now at University of Calgary, said 鈥淭he ocean bottom currents offshore Mozambique are far more variable than we expected. Just like currents in the upper ocean, their intensity changes between seasons and can even flip backwards and forwards over the course of several hours.鈥�

from The University of 优蜜传媒, and a co-author of the study, added: 鈥淪eeing how these currents behave is a bit like observing the weather in 优蜜传媒 - always changing and often surprising. But observing change in the deep sea is really challenging and, until now, we have had a poor understanding of what background conditions are like in the deep-sea.鈥�

Professor Elda Miramontes from the University of Bremen, also a co-author of the study, said: 鈥淭hese are the first measurements of deep-sea currents across such a large area, long duration and so close to the seafloor. This makes them extremely valuable as they will help improve our models for reconstructing past changes related to climate change in the ocean.鈥�

Dr Mike Clare of NOC, added: 鈥淭he deep sea can be extremely dynamic and this study underlines the importance of sustained observations, which provide critical information on understanding the ocean. More detailed observations are critical for understanding the important role bottom currents play in transporting sediment, carbon and pollutants across our planet.鈥�

The full study 鈥淗ighly variable deep-sea currents over tidal and seasonal timescales鈥� was published in Nature Geoscience: .

Two children died following a stabbing in Southport at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Stockport yesterday.

Nine more children were injured, with six in critical condition. Two adults were also injured according to Merseyside Police.

The free leaflet, from the University鈥檚 Parenting and Families Research Group available here was developed for the 优蜜传媒 Arena bombing and then for the Grenfell fire, with trauma experts from around the country.

It is designed to  help those affected through the critical first few days after the  trauma, but also in the months that follow.

The leaflet is  designed to help parents and caregivers cope with their own emotions and stress and  will help them to understand common reactions in children and how best to care for them.

Professor Rachel Calam, who helped develop the leaflet said: 鈥� This is a tragic incident; parents, children and teachers will need good psychological support to help the navigate through the coming days and months.

鈥淲hat they are going through might include difficulties sleeping, thoughts and memories of what has happened popping into mind, bad dreams, irritability, feeling low, behavioural problems and avoiding activities they used to enjoy.

鈥淭his leaflet is advises them how keep going in such difficult times, and that experiencing some distress like that is entirely normal. There is no one way of feeling after a trauma.

鈥淲e developed this information to help anyone wondering how best to help their child through such a frightening and upsetting experience. We hope you find it helpful.鈥�

For more For more family advice, visit the NHS  MindEd website .

Download the advice

The University of 优蜜传媒 has appointed Eleanor Morrissey as its new Executive Director for People and Organisational Development.

Eleanor is a leading human resources professional with experience of successful leadership over 28 years. This has included being Global HR Director at Genus Plc - a FTSE 250 biotech company, the Cooperative and the Aspire Group - a commercial business that provides housing, training, and neighbourhood and business services.

Throughout her career she has had a strong focus on data and technology, leading numerous initiatives, leading to more efficient working patterns for staff and smoother processes for people across the organisations.

As well as these roles, Eleanor has also been the Chair of The Gingerbread Centre - a homelessness charity supporting families across Staffordshire 鈥� where she worked to improve governance and developed a new strategy.

She is also currently a member of the Board of Governors at Staffordshire University.

Eleanor holds an MA in Strategic Human Resources Management and has been a fellow of the CIPD for over 15 years.

Eleanor enjoys keeping fit, walking her two Cockerpoo dogs and spending time with friends and family.

Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Hackett, said: 鈥淓leanor is a highly experienced leader who has an outstanding track record in complex and diverse organisations.

鈥淪he is committed to our University鈥檚 values and has a strong emphasis on improving systems and services for everyone. I am very much looking forward to her joining.

鈥淚 would like to also thank Andrew Mullen for leading the Directorate over the last few months on an interim basis.鈥�

Professor Duncan Ivison, who will take up the position of President and Vice-Chancellor from 1 August, said: 鈥淥ur people are integral to the University鈥檚 future, and I am looking forward to welcoming Eleanor to the University鈥檚 Senior Leadership Team.鈥�

Eleanor will officially join the University on 1 September and will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team and Professional Services Leadership Team.

Awarded by the not-for-profit Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), the accreditation is seen as a considerable achievement for the unit and the University. 

优蜜传媒 joins 20 other establishments in UK with AAALAC accreditation, though only a handful are from higher education institutions. 

AAALAC evaluates organizations that use animals in research, teaching or testing around the world. Those that meet or exceed AAALAC standards are awarded accreditation. 

Dr Maria Kamper, Director of the unit 鈥� also known as the biological services facility (BSF) - said: 鈥淭his  accreditation is testament to the University鈥檚 unwavering commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare and quality in research. 

"I would like to thank every member of the BSF team and the wider University community for their contribution to achieving this milestone. 

鈥淭ogether, we look forward to building on this success, fostering an environment where excellence in science goes hand in hand with the highest standards of care and ethics." 

The  application process, which took a year, involved drafting a detailed description of the unit鈥檚  animal care and use programme, outlining its practices, protocols, and commitment to animal welfare. 

The report was followed up by a site visit by an AAALAC Council member, accompanied by an ad hoc consultant, who conducted in-depth reviews of the facilities and operations.

Dr Kamper added: "We feel this achievement can only enhance our reputation among our peers, funding bodies, and industry partners as being at the forefront of responsible, cutting-edge research.

鈥淭hey can rest assured that our dedication to responsible research and animal care is formally recognised by the world鈥檚 leading accreditation body for animals in science.

"Though we celebrate this achievement, our commitment to improvement continues, ensuring that our practice reflects the latest in animal welfare and research integrity. 鈥�

Patrick Hackett,  Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and Establishment Licence Holder at of The University of  优蜜传媒 said:  鈥淲e are extremely proud to have secured AAALAC accreditation for our University.

鈥淭his is a highly prestigious achievement, which is testimony both to our commitment to 优蜜传媒鈥檚 excellence in animal care and research, and to the significant efforts and success of the BSF team working in partnership with a wide range of other colleagues here.鈥�

• Image  from left to right:  Victoria Perks and  Dr Jo Stanley  join  Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and establishment licence holder, Patrick Hackett  who receives the AAALAC accreditation plaque  from  BSF Director Dr Maria Kamper next to  Dr Ian Millar 

The University and Viridis consortium will now work together to further develop its DBFO delivery plans with the aim of reaching financial close by summer 2025.

The redevelopment will create modern, high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation on the Fallowfield campus. It forms part of a phased redevelopment to increase the supply of modern bedrooms and student socialising spaces to provide a supportive residential experience.

The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 proposal to redevelop the Fallowfield Campus to provide more high-quality, modern student accommodation was approved by 优蜜传媒 City Council Planning and Highways Committee in January 2024.

The approved plans encompass the redevelopment of Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall to meet the demand for student bedrooms in inclusive, safe and sociable surroundings.

Located near the University鈥檚 main buildings, the site is well-connected and provides students with a wide range of support services to ensure a world-class student experience. 

On completion, the wider Fallowfield campus will offer up to 5,400 student beds by replacing the existing older accommodation on-site and delivering 3,300 updated bedrooms to meet the growing demand for high-quality, modern bedrooms across the popular campus.   

The redevelopment will be delivered in multiple phases. Demolition of Owens Park Tower and surrounding buildings, which have been closed for several years, is ongoing and due to complete early in 2025.

Achal Bhuwania, Equitix CIO said: 鈥楧elighted that Equitix consortium has been selected to support the University of 优蜜传媒 in its next stage of growth and development, to provide a world-class student living experience. This is further testament to the proven capabilities and commitment to UK greenfield infrastructure as well as supporting British supply chain partners. This win was achieved through our relentless focus on building trust and long-lasting relationships as well as providing best in class solutions with core focus sustainability & value for money.鈥�

GRAHAM CEO, Andrew Bill said: 鈥楪RAHAM is delighted to be working in partnership with the University of 优蜜传媒 to deliver its vision for the Fallowfield Residences Redevelopment Programme. Together, we will focus on creating an exemplar sustainable campus that will enhance the experience of the University鈥檚 next generation of students.鈥�

The University of 优蜜传媒 advisors for the Fallowfield Campus Redevelopment Programme are: RLB, CBRE, Student First Group, QMPF and Pinsent Masons.

The Viridis advisors are: Sheppard Robson (design), Operis (financial and accounting), Osborne Clarke (legal and tax), Howdens (insurance) and WSP (technical)

To view further information and to receive updates on the project, please visit the project website at Fallowfield student campus 

Antibiotics are given to kill bad bacteria, however with just one mutation a bacteria can evolve to become resistant to that antibiotic, making common infections potentially fatal.

The new research, published today in the journal , used high-performance computing to simulate more than 8,000 years of bacterial evolution, allowing scientists to predict mechanisms that control mutation rates. They then made more than 15,000 cultures of E. coli in lab conditions to test their predictions - that鈥檚 so many that if you lined up all of the bacteria in this study, they would stretch 860,000km, or wrap around the Earth more than 20 times!

The tests revealed that bacteria living in a lowly populated community are more prone to developing antibiotic resistance due to a naturally occurring DNA-damaging chemical, peroxide. In crowded environments, where cells are more densely packed, bacteria work collectively to detoxify peroxide, reducing the likelihood of mutations that lead to antibiotic resistance.

The finding could help develop "anti-evolution drugs" to preserve antibiotic effectiveness by limiting the mutation rates in bacteria.

Lead researcher from The University of 优蜜传媒, said: "Antibiotic resistance presents an existential challenge to human health. Bacteria rapidly evolve resistance to the antibiotic drugs we use to treat infections, while new drugs aren鈥檛 being developed fast enough to keep up.

鈥淚f we can鈥檛 keep antibiotics working, routine surgery could be a life-or-death encounter, with common infections becoming untreatable.

鈥淏y understanding the environmental conditions that influence mutation rates, we can develop strategies to safeguard antibiotic effectiveness. Our study shows that bacterial mutation rates are not fixed and can be manipulated by altering their surroundings, which is vital on our journey to combat antibiotic resistance."

Peroxide, a chemical found in many environments, is key to this process. When E. coli populations become denser, they work together to lower peroxide levels, protecting their DNA from damage and reducing mutation rates. The study showed that genetically modified E. coli that is unable to break down peroxide had the same mutation rates, no matter the population size. However, when helper cells that could break down peroxide were added, the mutation rate in these genetically modified E. coli decreased.

The research builds on previous findings by group, which indicated that denser bacterial populations experience lower mutation rates. The current study uncovers the specific mechanism behind this phenomenon, highlighting the role of collective detoxification in controlling mutation rates.

The research team, part of the Microbial Evolution Research in 优蜜传媒 (MERMan) collective, conducted this extensive study with contributions from researchers at all career stages. The lab work was primarily carried out by a PhD student, alongside six undergraduate and master's students, under the guidance of four lab group leaders.

To mark Nancy鈥檚 highly successful tenure, the University鈥檚 优蜜传媒 Engineering Campus Development (MECD), one of the largest educational spaces in Europe, was named the Nancy Rothwell Building in her honour on 24 July at a special ceremony.

With the help of the robots from the University鈥檚 Centre for Robotics and AI, Nancy was presented with a time capsule, an object created for the groundbreaking ceremony of MECD which was attended by the now Prince and Princess of Wales. The time capsule, which will be sealed in a specially designed vault, contains symbols of The University of 优蜜传媒鈥檚 world-class research, letters from staff and students, a miniature replica of the first car to use graphene in its construction and gold foil representing Ernest Rutherford and colleagues鈥� pivotal work leading to an artificial nuclear reaction.

The ceremony also featured a performance of a specially commissioned poem from former Chancellor of the University, and renowned poet, Lemn Sissay.

Nancy鈥檚 tenure has been marked by significant growth, recognition, and development.

Along with being instrumental in the genesis of the remarkable engineering research and teaching facility now named after her, Nancy has presided over the development of the wider campus, including the Graphene Innovation Engineering Centre, the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials, the Paterson cancer research centre, and the redeveloped Alliance 优蜜传媒 Business School.

There has been a transformation of the campus for students, staff and visitors including more open green spaces, and redeveloped cultural institutions which have attracted millions of visitors.

优蜜传媒 remains the most applied to British university for undergraduate study and was rated Silver overall, Gold for Student Outcomes, and Silver for Student Experience in the TEF 2023.

In research, 优蜜传媒 was fifth in the UK for research power in the 2021 REF and by 2022/23, 优蜜传媒鈥檚 research income had grown to 拢257 million, alongside the establishment of the research beacons to drive investment and impact across five key research areas.

Nancy will be remembered for her strong passion for civic engagement and global impact, and she placed social responsibility as one of the main pillars of the institution.

The QS Sustainability Rankings and THE University Impact Rankings both place The University of 优蜜传媒 in the top three in the world for social and environmental impact and top in the UK and Europe. This reflects the enormous progress the University has made in addressing the UN鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals.

Part of this impact is a commitment to be zero carbon by 2038. Nancy has committed significant investment into this important ambition, including a new solar farm, which will produce 65% of the University鈥檚 electricity needs when it opens in Autumn 2025.

As a leader in innovation, 优蜜传媒 is a partner in Northern Gritstone, an investment business focused on university spinouts and IP-rich businesses in the North of England, which announced a final close of 拢312m in 2023.

Nancy has been a strong advocate for extending opportunities to all, including establishing the President鈥檚 Doctoral Scholar Award to give outstanding students from around the world a foundation to support research training, and Humanitarian and Conflict Scholarships for people at immediate risk who have been forced to flee their homes as a direct result of armed conflict.

The University also holds Disability Confident Leader, Silver Race Equality Charter, Silver Athena Swan and a Platinum Award for Public Engagement status, among many others.

The University鈥檚 leadership in civic engagement has been evidenced with the ongoing development of ID 优蜜传媒 - a 拢1.7bn innovation district planned in partnership with Bruntwood SciTech 鈥� and championing 优蜜传媒 as first place in the country to establish a dedicated cross-city region centre to help support higher education students with mental health needs.

In collaboration with other universities in the city-region, Nancy spearheaded a joint Civic University Agreement with the Greater 优蜜传媒 Combined Authority (GMCA) and its ten local authorities to drive social and economic change in the city region.

Further afield, global partnerships were forged with the Universities of Toronto, Melbourne and Chinese University of Hong Kong among others, and significant networks established with alumni and supporters overseas.  Following the naming ceremony, a dinner was held at which a series of individuals spoke warmly about the different ways in which Nancy has contributed to the life of the University, city and higher education sector more widely.

These included, Chair of the Board of Governors, Philippa Hird; Nancy鈥檚 long-time research colleague, Professor Stuart Allan; Nobel Prize winner, Professor Sir Andre Geim; recent medical graduate and award-winning social entrepreneur, Dr George Obolo; and Professor Lord Patrick Vallance, in a personal capacity as he has known Nancy for many years and co-chaired the Prime Minister鈥檚 Council for Science and Technology with her.

This marked the end of a series of formal events to honour her achievements, including on 10 July and the unveiling of her portrait at the Whitworth on 19 June.

Her term of office ends on 31 July 2024, handing over to Professor Duncan Ivison, former Deputy President for Research at The University of Sydney. Nancy will continue her association with the University as an emeritus professor, building on her achievements as an eminent physiologist, which have led to her furthering the understanding of brain injury and stroke. Professor Ivison has also asked her to continue to play an ambassadorial role in relation to fundraising and external relations.

Philippa Hird, Chair of the University鈥檚 Board of Governors said: 鈥淣ancy鈥檚 leadership and her overriding belief that The University of 优蜜传媒 is a global force for good and for opportunity have underpinned the many achievements of her 14 years. It has been a great honour to work with her.鈥�

Nancy鈥檚 thoughts on her tenure are featured in an interview for the most recent University of 优蜜传媒 Magazine.

MFT researchers say it is likely this is because of the platinum-based chemotherapy that is widely used to treat ovarian cancer.

This is the largest study of breast cancer after ovarian cancer diagnosis to date and was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 优蜜传媒 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that greatly raise the risk of developing cancer if they become altered (or mutate).

estimates there is a 72% risk of developing breast cancer by age 80 for people with BRCA1 and a 69% risk for people with BRCA2 gene mutations. However, this did not specifically assess the risk of breast cancer following ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Two studies* that have addressed this had follow up largely limited to 10 years and had no breakdown by gene. These studies estimated risk of breast cancer after ovarian cancer diagnosis to be 11% in 79 women and 7.8% in 509 women.

In this latest study, MFT researchers reviewed the history of breast cancer in 701 women with ovarian cancer who had the faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

Women included in the study had attended specialist genetics clinics at MFT, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Incidence of breast cancer was assessed annually by age group and for up to 15 years following ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Their analysis has shown for those with the faulty gene, the likelihood of developing breast cancer in the first five years after an ovarian cancer diagnosis is significantly lower than for those without ovarian cancer.

The study was led by Professor Gareth Evans, Consultant in Medical Genetics and Cancer Epidemiology at MFT and The University of 优蜜传媒 and NIHR 优蜜传媒 BRC Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Co-Theme Lead. He said: 鈥淢any women we speak to who have a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer immediately ask about bilateral mastectomy (removal of both breasts) as an option to manage their cancer risk. Many are upset to hear they need to delay this to the required two-year point of disease-free survival from ovarian cancer.

鈥淥ur findings mean we can reassure women that their risk of breast cancer in the first two years (short term) after diagnosis is relatively low at around 2% to 2.5%. This is likely because of the effects of platinum-based chemotherapy, which is widely used to treat ovarian cancer, resulting in control and potentially complete eradication of breast cancers that otherwise could have occurred in the first five years.鈥�

The results, published in , show that for those with ovarian cancer and the BRCA2 gene, the low rate of breast cancer continues until 10 years of follow up. Their breast cancer risk after ovarian cancer diagnosis was 3.3% at 2 years, 6.2% at 5 years, 10.4% at 10 years, and 20.3% at 15 years.

For those with the faulty BRCA1 gene, incidence of breast cancer was lower between 0 and 5 years after ovarian cancer diagnosis, but risk increased between 5 and 10 and after 10 years of follow up. Their breast cancer risk after ovarian cancer diagnosis was 2.1% at 2 years, 5.0% at 5 years, 15.0% at 10 years and 29.1% at 15 years.

The researchers say women need to be aware of these increases, especially after 10 years.

Professor Evans said: 鈥淔or those with BRCA2, lower rates of breast cancer continue until 10 years of follow up as this gene is more sensitive to chemotherapy than BRCA1.

鈥淚n women with good long-term life expectancy the higher risks of breast cancer after 10 years, particularly in BRCA1, should be discussed with their clinicians. This includes presenting all the available options such as MRI screening and risk reducing mastectomy.鈥�

The Screen and Treat with Aspirin to Reduce Pre-eclampsia (STARshiP) study is led by researchers from Saint Mary鈥檚 Managed Clinical Service, part of 优蜜传媒 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), in collaboration with The University of 优蜜传媒 and the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Nottingham.

With the study of 200,000 women and their babies, STARshiP represents one of the largest endeavours in pregnancy screening research.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and sponsored by The University of 优蜜传媒, the trial aims to transform antenatal care of the condition.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy (from 20 weeks) or soon after their baby is delivered.

Early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

Though the condition occurs in up to 8% of pregnancies, there are currently few ways to predict which patients may be at risk.

With the aim of improving the detection of women at higher risk of developing the condition and offering aspirin as a preventative treatment, the STARshiP study will quantify the benefit of the screening, offered by the researchers at the same time as the early pregnancy scan.

Key features of the STARshiP study include:

• Combined Screening Technique using the Fetal Medicine Foundation Test: The STARshiP study will implement a new screening method for pre-eclampsia which includes additional measurements taken during the first trimester ultrasound scan and a blood test to measure placental hormones.
• Aspirin Treatment to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia: Pregnant people identified as high-risk through the new screening process will receive aspirin treatment as per the current NHS standard care. Aspirin is a safe, cost-effective treatment which has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of pre-eclampsia.
• Efficient Trial Design: The STARshiP study is designed in a way that the screening test will be rolled-out across participating maternity hospitals, with all participating hospitals having implemented the screening test by the end of the study. This type of research study is called a 鈥榮tepped wedge clinical trial鈥� and is an efficient way of conducting a clinical trial, resulting in everyone having the opportunity to try implementing the test during the study.

The STARshiP study will span across 18 maternity hospitals in the North of England and East Midlands regions. At MFT it will be rolled out by Saint Mary鈥檚 Managed Clinical Service (MCS), across its three sites: Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, North 优蜜传媒 General Hospital and Wythenshawe Hospital.

Professor Jenny Myers and Dr Lucy Higgins are joint chief investigator of the STARshiP trial.

Professor Myers, Clinical Professor at The University of 优蜜传媒 and Consultant Obstetrician, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, said: "The immense promise this trial has in demonstrating the impact of a more effective screening test for pre-eclampsia and reducing the burden of this devastating pregnancy complication is more relevant than ever.鈥�

Dr Higgins, Senior Clinical Lecturer at The University of 优蜜传媒 and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, said: "By integrating improved early screening, we aspire to mitigate the risks associated with this condition and improve maternal and fetal outcomes."

Marcus Green, CEO of Action for Pre-eclampsia (APEC) said: 鈥淲omen need to know if they are at risk of pre-eclampsia both so they can be prepared and to ensure clinicians target the right care to them. This study will hopefully help find one more piece in the pre-eclampsia jigsaw and we will be fully supporting the trial.鈥�

Dr Jane Harvey, a representative from the Patient and Public Involvement Group (PPI) said: "I never thought I was at risk of pre-eclampsia, when it happened it was terrifying. It is absolutely fantastic that this new test could potentially prevent this life-changing disease from affecting the lives of so many families."

Jane Daniels, Professor of Clinical Trials at the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Nottingham, said: 鈥淣CTU are excited to be coordinating another large screening study in pregnancy. Although these studies take time, we hope that the results will ensure the best method of identifying at-risk pregnancies, is available for everyone.鈥�

The experts from Prostate Cancer UK, The University of 优蜜传媒 and other institutions argue changing the NHS guidelines will allow GPs to proactively speak to men who are most at risk of getting the disease.

They today publish a paper in the supporting changes that would see healthcare professionals telling at men about their risk and giving them the choice of a free PSA blood test, a potentially life-saving conversation.

Prostate cancer often has no symptoms in its earlier, more treatable stages, so it鈥檚 crucial men know about their risk of getting the disease and think about the option of getting a PSA blood test, even if they feel healthy.

However, in the current system the men who are the most likely to get prostate cancer 鈥� including Black men and men with a family history of the disease 鈥� aren鈥檛 told about their higher risk by GPs.

Current data shows only half (53%) of men with prostate cancer get an earlier diagnosis, which falls significantly short of the NHS鈥檚 target of 75%.

Black men have double the risk of both getting prostate cancer and dying from the disease, while men living in deprived areas of the UK are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with incurable disease.

Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer also tend to develop the disease at a younger age 鈥� from 45 鈥� potentially losing decades of healthy life and leaving them and their families to deal with economic hardship and emotional trauma.

Prostate Cancer UK estimates that updating the NHS guidance, and implementing plans for raising awareness about the changes, could be delivered in just twelve months.

Amy Rylance, Assistant Director of Health Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 鈥淟eaving men in the dark about their risk means too many men are getting diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer, and this disproportionately affects Black men and men living in deprived areas.

鈥淧rostate Cancer UK welcomes the new Government鈥檚 promises to increase earlier cancer diagnoses and to address gross health inequalities. Our message to the Government and MPs in the Commons is that we鈥檙e here to help you deliver those promises. Updating NHS prostate cancer guidelines could drive forward significant progress in just a year and, crucially, would give men a fairer chance of living longer.鈥�

In the PSA Consensus paper the panel of clinicians and experts have agreed for the first time that the PSA blood test is a cheap, safe, and effective way of identifying which men would benefit from having further tests 鈥� in the first instance an MRI scan.

Dr Sam Merriel, one of the authors of the paper, is a GP and Academic Clinical lecturer at The University of 优蜜传媒.

He said: "As a GP, it's frustrating that current Department of Health and Social Care guidelines on PSA testing in men without symptoms provide very limited detail for us and our patients. It is unclear what should be done for men at higher risk of prostate cancer, how often men who choose to have the PSA blood test should have one, and when it would be in a man鈥檚 best interest to stop testing.

"There has long been disagreement about the benefits and harms of the PSA blood test. However, with the publication of this new paper, we've shown there's broad agreement among the top minds in urology and prostate cancer care that the PSA blood test is simple and safe 鈥� and that GPs should consider proactively discussing the test with Black men and men with a family history from the age of 45. 

鈥淚ncreases in PSA testing are likely to pose a substantial challenge to primary care resources which are already overstretched. The Government should provide NHS primary care with the necessary resources for men to be able to access PSA blood tests if they choose to do so, according to the current PSA testing guidelines for men without symptoms."

鈥淲e鈥檝e been working to restore the moorlands of the Peak District and South Pennines for the last 21 years,鈥� said Tom Spencer, Senior Research and Monitoring Officer at Moors for the Future Partnership. 鈥淭his restoration work is based on scientific evidence and the research with The University of 优蜜传媒 and the University of Newcastle shows the natural flood management benefits of planting sphagnum and the opportunities for upscaling to extend these benefits, especially considering the increased risk of extreme weather events.鈥�

"This study is exciting because it shows that small changes over large areas really can stack up to make a big difference,鈥� said Newcastle University鈥檚 Dave Milledge, who also worked on the study. 鈥淚t also demonstrates that it is possible to make changes that are good for carbon storage, for ecosystems and for people downstream, as well as showing that changes in the hills can make a difference further downstream. But we need to remember that different places and different interventions will behave differently - not all peatland restoration will deliver flood risk benefit, nor should it be expected to."

鈥淭hese findings are very promising in terms of the potential flood risk reductions that can be achieved by using upstream Natural Flood Management interventions in the peatland headwaters of the catchment,鈥� said David Brown from the Environment Agency. 鈥淯tilising detailed plot-scale observations and upscaling using the modelling approach has demonstrated what could be possible - the trick now is to continue with the upland restoration.鈥�

• Developing and publishing criteria to support the decision about when the ABPEs will replace the MYEs, in consultation with key stakeholders such as the Welsh Government; 
• Strengthening the governance structure and decision-making responsibilities for the production and development of the ABPE, and managing any risks associated with funding, capability and prioritisation; 
• Publishing a plan for addressing the recommendations and suggestions in .  
• Understanding and quantifying the quality and uncertainty of the data inputs to the DPM, especially the Statistical Population Dataset (SPD) and the migration data, and implementing regular assumption checking and validation; 
• Publishing more information on the quality and methodology of the ABPEs, including the strengths and limitations of the data sources, the coverage of special population groups, and the impact of data and methods changes over time; 
• Improving its quality assurance process; 
• Implementing and publishing a revisions policy for the ABPEs, based on user feedback and analysis of the scale and frequency of revisions; 
• Creating and implementing technical and expert user groups to provide independent and external challenge and assurance on the methods used in the DPM; 
• Developing and implementing a user engagement strategy specific to the ABPEs, to understand and meet user needs, communicate plans and updates, and manage user expectations; 
• Being open to scrutiny from key stakeholders and users and responding appropriately to their feedback and queries; and 
• Improving and tailoring the communication of the methods and quality of the ABPEs, considering the differing technical expertise of population statistics users. 

These recommendations build on the positive progress ONS has made in publishing a suite of information related to these statistics today. Taking the actions outlined in the recommendations will ensure that users have more confidence in the new method, and therefore the ABPEs themselves. 

鈥淲e welcome the work of the Office for Statistics Regulation which, along with input from our users, helps inform our development of these important statistics," said Mary Gregory, Interim Director of Population Statistics for ONS. 鈥淲e welcome the work of the Office for Statistics Regulation which, along with input from our users, helps inform our development of these important statistics. Today, we鈥檝e provided an update on our progress towards admin-based population estimates (ABPEs). We鈥檝e sharing these new data to help users understand the new approach, share their feedback with us, and take time to consider what it means for them before we move to the ABPEs as our official estimates of the population.

"Although these ABPEs are at a research and development stage, our intention is for them to become our official measure of the population in 2025, dependent on meeting the acceptance criteria we will publish later this year. We will take into account the feedback we receive following engagement, and will only transition to the new approach once we are confident they are of the high standards that our users need. We will be working closely with the Office for Statistics Regulation as we seek accreditation of the ABPEs, and our long-term international migration estimates.鈥�

Professor Arkadiusz Wi艣niowski said: "The OSR鈥檚 report evaluates the progress the Office for National Statistics made with developing new population estimates that are based on administrative data sources. Population estimates are crucial for making decisions about our lives, such as funding of the A&Es, number of GPs per areas, new schools or infrastructures. They also underlie most of the economic, health and other indicators, including those used to measure progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. The new admin-based population estimates are meant to replace the current estimates that suffer from various issues, as well as potentially replace future censuses.

"My role was to assess a sophisticated statistical model (Dynamic Population Model) that is developed by the ONS and how it is used to produce those population estimates. I was happy to be involved because, firstly, the development of such models is my main area of research and, secondly, I believe the ONS鈥� work is ground-breaking and highly innovative globally. I think it is essential that all assumptions made in the DPM are appropriately described and tested, which will ensure that the population estimates are of highest possible quality. This, in turn, will ensure user trust and confidence in population statistics.鈥�

In total 68  of the most promising research leaders will be funded 拢104 million to lead research into global issues and to commercialise their innovations in the UK.

UKRI鈥檚 flagship Future Leaders Fellowships allow universities and businesses to develop their most talented early career researchers and innovators and to attract new people to their organisations, including from overseas.

Dr Fiona Whelan is a Senior Lecturer in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at The University of 优蜜传媒 whose research focusses on combining classical microbiology techniques with cutting-edge bioinformatic methodologies.

Fiona was previously a University of Nottingham Anne McLaren Fellow (2020-3) and Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Independent Fellow (2018-20). She moved to the UK from McMaster University, Canada where she conducted her PhD research on the human microbiome.

She said: 鈥淚 am so excited to join this cohort of UKRI Future Leaders Fellows. My research programme 鈥� focussed on understanding how bacterial interactions within mixed microbial communities contribute to pathogenicity and disease progression in cystic fibrosis 鈥� is interdisciplinary in nature.

鈥淭his Fellowship gives me the unique opportunity to assemble a world-leading, interdisciplinary team who will have the experience and expertise to answer these important questions and 鈥� ultimately 鈥� hopefully improve the lives of individuals with cystic fibrosis.鈥�

Dr Laura Richards, a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow based at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of 优蜜传媒, has been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to launch a project called AQUAROAD.

AQUAROAD aims to create a roadmap towards improved groundwater quality management in the context of the Global South by bringing together interdisciplinary approaches to understand (bio)geochemical controls and to support evidence-based decision making for effective remediation strategies for water supplies used for drinking.

The approach, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, will be developed and demonstrated in contrasting areas in India and East Africa, with flexibility for future adaptation.

Dr Richards said: 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled and deeply grateful to have been awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship. This fellowship is an exciting springboard for ambitious research with an excellent network of collaborators and potential for positive impact on society.鈥�

UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: 鈥淯KRI鈥檚 Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with long-term support and training to develop ambitious, transformative ideas.

鈥淭he programme supports the research and innovation leaders of the future to transcend disciplinary and sector boundaries, bridging the gap between academia and business.  

The fellows announced today demonstrate how these awards continue to drive excellence, and to shorten the distance from discovery to prosperity and public good.鈥�

The breakthrough, published in the journal , could significantly improve accessibility of essential protein-based drugs in developing countries where cold storage infrastructure may be lacking, helping efforts to diagnose and treat more people with serious health conditions.

The researchers, from the Universities of 优蜜传媒, Glasgow and Warwick, have designed a hydrogel 鈥� a material mostly made of water 鈥� that stabilises proteins, protecting its properties and functionality at temperatures as high as 50掳C.

The technology keeps proteins so stable that they can even be sent through the post with no loss of effectiveness, opening up new possibilities for more affordable, less energy-intensive methods of keeping patients and clinics supplied with vital treatments.

Protein therapeutics are used to treat a range of conditions, from cancer to diabetes and most recently to treat obesity and play a vital role in modern medicine and biotechnology. However, keeping them stable and safe for storage and transportation is a challenge. They must be kept cold to prevent any deterioration, using significant amounts of energy and limiting equitable distribution in developing countries.

The medicines also often include additives 鈥� called excipients 鈥� which must be safe for the drug and its recipients limiting material options.

The findings could have major implications for the diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries.

, is one of the paper鈥檚 corresponding authors. He said: 鈥淚n the early days of the Covid vaccine rollout, there was a lot of attention given in the news media to the challenges of transporting and storing the vaccines, and how medical staff had to race to put them in people鈥檚 arms quickly after thawing.  

鈥淭he technology we鈥檝e developed marks a significant advance in overcoming the challenges of the existing 鈥榗old chain鈥� which delivers therapeutic proteins to patients. The results of our tests have very encouraging results, going far beyond current hydrogel storage techniques鈥� abilities to withstand heat and vibration. That could help create much more robust delivery systems in the future, which require much less careful handling and temperature management.鈥�

The hydrogel is built from a material called a low molecular weight gelator (LMWG), which forms a three-dimensional network of long, stiff fibres. When proteins are added to the hydrogel, they become trapped in the spaces between the fibres, where they are unable to mix and aggregate 鈥� the process which limits or prevents their effectiveness as medicines.

The unique mechanical properties of the gel鈥檚 network of fibres, which are stiff but also brittle, ensures the easy release of a pure protein. When the protein-storing gel is stored in an ordinary syringe fitted with a special filter, pushing down on the plunger provides enough pressure to break the network of fibres, releasing the protein. The protein then passes cleanly through the filter and out the tip of the syringe alongside a buffer material, leaving the gel behind.

In the paper, the researchers show how the hydrogel works to store two valuable proteins: insulin, used to treat diabetes, and beta-galactosidase, an enzyme with numerous applications in biotechnology and life sciences.

Ordinarily, insulin must be kept cold and still, as heating or shaking can prevent it from being an effective treatment. The team tested the effectiveness of their hydrogel suspension for insulin by warming samples to 25掳C and rotating them at 600 revolutions per minute, a strain test far beyond any real-world scenario. Once the tests were complete, the team were able to recover the entire volume of insulin from the hydrogel, showing that it had been protected from its rough treatment.

The team then tested samples of beta-galactosidase in the hydrogel, which was stored at a temperature of 50掳C for seven days, a level of heat exceeding any realistic temperature for real-world transport. Once the enzyme was extracted from the hydrogel, the team found it retained 97% of its function compared against a fresh sample stored at normal temperature.

A third test saw the team put samples of proteins suspended in hydrogel into the post, where they spent two days in transit between locations. Once the sample arrived at its destination, the team鈥檚 analysis showed that the gels鈥� structures remained intact and the proteins had been entirely prevented from aggregating.

is the paper鈥檚 other corresponding author. He said: 鈥淒elivering and storing proteins intact is crucial for many areas of biotechnology, diagnostics and therapies. Recently, it has emerged that hydrogels can be used to prevent protein aggregation, which allows them to be kept at room temperature, or warmer. However, separating the hydrogel components from the protein or proving that they are safe to consume is not always easy. Our breakthrough eliminates this barrier and allows us to store and distribute proteins at room temperature, free from any additives, which is a really exciting prospect.鈥�

The team are now exploring commercial opportunities for this patent-pending technology as well as further demonstrating its applicability. 

Researchers from the University of East Anglia and Diamond Light Source Ltd also contributed to the research. The team鈥檚 paper, titled 鈥楳echanical release of homogenous proteins from supramolecular gels鈥�, is published in Nature.

The research was supported by funding from the European Union鈥檚 Horizon 2020 programme, the European Research Council, the Royal Society, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the University of Glasgow and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Recent scholarship asserts that ITs can prevent deforestation and other ecologically destructive practices. However, as lead author Dr Bowy den Braber explains: 鈥淐arefully weighing up the benefits and drawbacks of different land use options can help policymakers maximise progress towards both conservation and development goals.鈥�

Co-author Dr Marina Schmoeller, who recently completed her PhD at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said: 鈥淲e highlight the importance of indigenous territories for protecting biodiversity, which is timely considering the ongoing debates in the Brazilian Supreme Court that could potentially limit Indigenous people鈥檚 claim for lands not only in the Amazon, but in the whole of the country."

Dr Karl Evans, University of Sheffield, remarked that: 鈥淧rotected areas and Indigenous Territories are highly effective at reducing deforestation in the Amazon. Protecting forests does more to support local people鈥檚 livelihoods and well-being than opening them up to large agri-business and mining, while also addressing the climate and biodiversity emergencies.鈥�

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Read the full, open access paper in  
路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Read the
路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Read more about our research

鈥淲e strongly endorse Professor Courtney鈥檚 nomination on the basis of his academic standing within the community and his unwavering commitment to the development of professional colleagues, early career researchers and students within our field,鈥� said Dr Paul Armstrong, on behalf of the Critical Educational Leadership and Policy research group. 鈥淗is influence on our group - and through this, the wider field of educational leadership, management and administration - cannot be overstated.鈥�

鈥淚 unreservedly endorse Professor Courtney for this award - his steadfast dedication, active involvement and exemplary contributions have significantly enriched the BELMAS community, making him an outstanding candidate for this prestigious honour,鈥� said Dr Ruth McGinity from University College London. 鈥淗e has been a dedicated member of BELMAS for many years, and has made a profound and sustained commitment to the society's mission to enhance knowledge and scholarship in the field of Educational Leadership, Management and Administration and to create a space for research and practice to meet.鈥�

鈥淧rofessor Courtney is an exemplary colleague, an inspiration to many of us, and a go-to source for knowledge, support and wise advice - I recommend him without reservation for the BELMAS Distinguished Service Award,鈥� said Professor Steven Jones from The University of 优蜜传媒. 鈥淎s well as being an excellent mentor to his students, his experience and insight is often in demand from junior colleagues, and his feedback is sought for all kinds of scholarly writing. Unlike some eminent professors, he is approachable and thoughtful, providing guidance that is robust but always fair.鈥�

鈥淪teven deserves this award due to his commitment and passion for BELMAS and educational leadership 鈥� he is a true leader in every sense,鈥� said Dr Victoria Showunmi from University College London. 鈥淗is contribution to social justice and leadership is something that also must be celebrated - being a high-profile male leader who is from the LGBTQ+ community makes him a great role model for others entering the field.鈥�