Newsroom University of Manchester

Eviction is a ‘deliberate feature’ of the housing system, says new book

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

A new book by Dr Jessica Field from The University of Manchester has revealed that eviction is a ‘deliberate and enduring feature’ of Britain’s housing system, rather than simply being a consequence of a housing crisis.

Eviction: A Social History of Rent, published by Verso, is a detailed look at the complex history of rented housing in the UK, tracing policy evolutions from the late 19^th century to the contemporary private rental sector. It examines how rental policies and housing structures have historically positioned low-income tenants as vulnerable to displacement, showing that the threat of eviction has long been woven into the design of the housing market rather than arising from occasional crises.

The book offers a compelling and often unsettling look at the persistent reality of housing insecurity for low-income tenants in Britain over the past century and a half. It argues that eviction is not an aberration, but is fundamentally ingrained in the nation's housing system, often masked as progress.

Dr Field uses her own family’s story as the heart of the book, focusing on a housing estate in south Leeds nicknamed “Cardboard City.” This neighbourhood, which was built in the 1950s by the National Coal Board (NCB) to house miners and their families, became home to generations of working-class tenants. It was a close-knit community where neighbours supported one another, socialised as close friends, and raised families.

Eviction charts the path of these homes from state-owned worker housing to privately rented properties, detailing cycles of neglect and financialisation. Despite promises of security, NCB properties - like many council houses - suffered from inadequate maintenance, and were eventually sold off to private speculators for a pittance.

In 2017, the property company that now owned the estate announced plans to demolish the homes and build ‘executive’ houses in their place. This would mean evicting seventy households, many of whom had lived there for at least a decade, including Dr Field’s parents. The residents formed a campaign group, Save Our Homes LS26, and fought hard to save their homes - but despite their efforts, most were eventually forced to leave. Dr Field’s parents were evicted in 2022.

In the book, Dr Field shares how the fight to stop the eviction affected her mother’s health and well-being, and how the loss of their home shattered a once-thriving community. She situates those personal experiences in the long history of renting in Britain, showing how renters have always had fewer rights than homeowners and how evictions have often been treated as inevitable or even for the good of the tenants.

Through a mix of personal storytelling and historical research, Eviction challenges the idea that private renting has ever been a secure or fair option for families – even during the apparent post-war golden era of council house expansion. It also highlights the importance of community, neighbourly support and tenant-led activism and celebrates the achievements of many women-led activist movements over the decades.

"My parents fought for five years to save their community from a mass eviction. They lost, but their story reveals a brutal truth about Britain's housing system. For working-class families, the housing crisis isn't new – it's the enduring status quo”, says Dr Field.

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

New research finds that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:18:44 +0100

Communities in the South of England were systematically underfunded in the government’s flagship ‘Levelling Up’ programme, according to new research using a Community Resilience Index (CRI) developed at The University of Manchester.

The study, published in , analysed how £8.64 billion of Levelling Up funding was distributed across 307 local authority districts in England. Using a new Community Resilience Index (CRI) to measure need, researchers discovered that while many northern and coastal areas received more than their “fair share” of investment, the South of England was consistently underfunded.

The findings challenge the dominant narrative of a simple “north-south divide” and reveal that southern communities - particularly in inland areas - were frequently left behind in funding allocations.

Only 36.2% of local authorities received support proportionate to their need - the research shows that 30% of Levelling Up funding would have needed to be reallocated to ensure an equitable distribution across the country

“Levelling Up was designed to help all places build on their strengths and reach their potential - yet our resilience-based analysis shows that many southern communities were overlooked in funding allocations,” said Dr Christine Camacho, lead author of the study. “These areas face significant challenges but did not receive the support needed to strengthen their resilience.”

Among the starkest cases was Havant, in the South East, which received just £12.45 per person in Levelling Up support - 94% less than the £200 per person it would have received under a fair allocation model.

By contrast, several northern districts received far more than their modelled “fair share”. Redcar and Cleveland, for example, secured £469.70 per person - more than double its needs-based allocation. The researchers argue that this unevenness highlights deep flaws in the competitive, ministerial-driven allocation process.

The study emphasises that competitive bidding and ministerial discretion meant funding often flowed to areas with stronger institutional capacity, rather than those with the greatest social and economic need.

The researchers argue that without systematic, needs-driven allocation of investment, future regional policies risk repeating the mistakes of Levelling Up - leaving vulnerable communities in both the North and the South behind.

The authors stress that as the new Labour government moves beyond the Levelling Up brand, future place-based policies must adopt transparent, needs-based criteria. The Community Resilience Index, they argue, offers a robust tool for ensuring resources go where they are most needed.

University of Manchester ranked second in UK for graduate employer interest

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:48:09 +0100

The University of Manchester has been ranked as the UK’s second most sought-after institution by leading graduate employers, according to a newly published report.

Research conducted by High Fliers, published via , ranked Manchester second only to Birmingham, and ahead of Nottingham, Warwick and Bristol.

Now in its 21^st year, The Graduate Market is an annual review of the graduate job market, with this year’s report based on research completed in July 2025 with 100 of the UK’s leading graduate employers. The University of Manchester has maintained its second-place ranking from the previous year.

The report cited how the top five universities attracted the most graduate employers in 2024-2025 for locally-run publicity, university career fairs, on-campus employer presentations, careers service promotions, on-campus presentations and university-specific virtual events.

The University of Manchester is consistently ranked highly in national and international rankings, scoring second in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings for 2025 and 53^rd in THE’s overall list.

The University rose this year to 46^th globally and 13^th in Europe in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). It also ranked 35^th in the world and 11^th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings, and 9^th in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings.

Hiring Now: NSEC Project Manager at UoM

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:05:31 +0100

We are Hiring:

The University of Manchester is recruiting a Project Manager to lead the operational delivery of the (NSEC) - a UK-wide academic network tackling national security and resilience challenges.

This is a fixed-term role, available until 31 January 2029, based within the Thomas Ashton Institute for Risk and Regulatory Research, and working closely with the .

You’ll coordinate and oversee work packages, stakeholder engagement, and communication activities that underpin the success and sustainability of NSEC

Salary: £37,694–£46,049
Location: Oxford Road, Manchester
Hours: Full-time (1.0 FTE)
Closing Date: 4 October 2025

If interested, please .

Main Library re-opens, featuring new study spaces at Muriel Stott

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0100

The changes have considered student feedback to improve spaces within Main Library, focusing on:

A complete refurbishment of the toilets in the Blue stairwell and the creation of additional toilets that now includes all gender and more accessible and female toilet provision across Blue 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Creating a new Cosy Campus space in Library Lounge available from the end of October. This new space will have increased seating capacity, softer seating, acoustic baffles and wall panelling to create a more relaxed, quieter environment. Estates and Facilities will also install additional power sockets for charging laptops and phones. We have worked closely with the Students’ Union to plan this area to meet our students’ needs.

Muriel Stott refurbishment

Muriel Stott study space reopens 22 September 2025
Muriel Stott outdoor courtyard reopens later in Semester 1 (date TBC)

Another important refurbishment was the redevelopment of the Muriel Stott building and central courtyard. As part of the Library’s Imagine2030 vision, the Main Library Redefined project is set to transform the heart of campus life - starting with the Muriel Stott Redevelopment. This new space marks a major step toward creating world-leading environments for research, learning, and student development.

What’s new at Muriel Stott?

A green space at the heart of Main Library, designed with student feedback and usage data in mind
36 bookable silent study spaces with spacious desks, IT provision, charging sockets, and task lighting
A calm indoor study zone optimised for natural light and sensory needs, supporting neurodivergent users
Accessibility upgrades, including six fully accessible desks, rise-and-fall PC kits, and improved layout and entry points
Nature-themed artwork drawn from the Library’s own Special Collections

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of the Muriel Stott redevelopment project. In line with the University’s goals on Environmental Sustainability and the Library’s own Spaces Policy, the project has:

Reused the existing building fabric
Sourced locally made furniture from natural and sustainable materials
Improved insulation and air quality through installing new windows
Reduced electricity use via pre-set lighting systems

From November, the new outdoor courtyard will offer another workspace option for staff and students. It will have both formal study areas that can be used in any weather and more laid-back seating for relaxation.

This redevelopment reflects a commitment to enhancing the total student and staff experience - blending scholarship, technology, wellbeing, and social responsibility into a single, thoughtfully designed space.

Opening hours and booking spaces

Main Library
To book a study space in Muriel Stott, please use

University of Manchester inspire refugee children through hands-on science

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:55:16 +0100

Chemists at The University of Manchester have hosted a series of interactive workshops for refugee children across Greater Manchester, using science to spark curiosity and rebuild confidence for those who have missed out on formal schooling due to displacement and conflict.

Organised in partnership with Rethink Rebuild Society and supported by the Chemists’ Community Fund (Royal Society of Chemistry), 48 children aged nine to 14 visited the University’s state-of-the-art Makerspace facility over three days to take part in a variety of fun and practical experiments, including making batteries out of lemons, testing acidity with natural indicators, and simple filtration experiments.

The initiative is the brainchild of Dr Abdullatif Alfutimie, Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University. Dr Alfutimie first came to Manchester from Aleppo in 2009 to pursue postgraduate study before going on to complete his PhD in 2012. But while pursuing his research career, his home city of Aleppo – once one of Syria’s most vibrant cultural centres – was being devastated by civil war.

Staying closely connected to family and friends affected by displacement and the collapse of education, he began to consider how he might use his own expertise to help displaced students regain educational confidence.

Dr Abdullatif Alfutimie, who led the programme, said: “This event wasn't just about science — it was about recognising curiosity, celebrating identity, and creating a sense of belonging for children who often face immense challenges.

"If we need to rebuild our country or even to contribute to improve this country, we need to educate this generation.

“The enthusiasm from the pupils was truly heartwarming - one parent told us that their child couldn't wait to repeat an experiment at home for their siblings.”

The initiative concluded with a Community Celebration Day at Rethink Rebuild Society’s centre in Manchester, welcoming more than 150 children and family members. Each child received a certificate and a take-home chemistry kit to continue their learning at home. A representative from the Royal Society of Chemistry was also in attendance to present the certificates and celebrate the children’s achievements.

Magda van Leeuwen, Volunteer and Engagement Manager for the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Chemistry Education for Refugee Students is an important initiative that gives young people who have already experienced a lot in their lives hope and opportunities. Programmes like the one Abdullatif has developed show that chemistry really is for all and can be a catalyst for instilling a lifelong passion in our subject.

“Through the Outreach Fund and with the backing of the Chemists’ Community Fund, the RSC is committed to supporting projects that give more people the opportunity to get hands-on scientific experiences. We are proud to have played a small part and want to applaud Abdullatif and his colleagues for their hard work in putting together such a practical and engaging experience for the participants.”

The University of Manchester is recognised as a University of Sanctuary, working to make the University a welcoming and safe place for refugees and asylum seekers. The University’s commitment to supporting sanctuary seekers is embedded across its three core goals: research, teaching, and social responsibility. The city of Manchester is also a City of Sanctuary, part of the . The University works closely with the organisation to help its aim of making Manchester a place that is open and fair.

Read more about Abdullatif’s initiative on the

80 Years of Excellence: Celebrating Occupational Health at Manchester

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:28:03 +0100

On 1 October the University’s (COEH) will mark its 80^th anniversary with a celebratory afternoon of talks and discussion that will incorporate this year’s Lane Lecture.

Established in 1945, COEH is the UK’s oldest and one of the world's earliest centres for occupational health research and education. Its foundation lies in Manchester's industrial history, particularly the cotton industry, with early studies addressing respiratory diseases and lead exposure.

The annual honours , the first Professor of Occupational Medicine (1945–1964). The Centre’s subsequent leaders have each contributed to its growth and enduring reputation: Tommy Scott focussed on research on bladder cancer and hearing loss; Tim Lee broadened the scope to areas such as occupational asthma and lead poisoning, and introduced distance learning; Nicola Cherry expanded the department further with research into neurotoxicity and Gulf War Syndrome, launching the Occupational Disease Ascertainment Network (ODIN) network; and Raymond Agius strengthened environmental health research and online education, securing long term funding for the future.

Current lead, Professor Martie van Tongeren, has transformed the Centre into an interdisciplinary centre offering innovative undergraduate and postgraduate training, attracting students from around the world. Working in collaboration with and the , COEH’s research spans global occupational and environmental health, health inequalities, climate change and health, digitalization and AI, as well as traditional occupational hazards. The Centre is also actively engaged with regulatory bodies, and its balance of basic and translational research supports policy makers.

As COEH enters its ninth decade, the centre continues to build on its founders’ pioneering work while adopting new approaches to train practitioners and address emerging challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with partners COEH remains committed to social responsibility and reducing health inequalities both in the UK and worldwide, continuing to make a significant impact.

Professor van Tongeren commented: “I am proud and honoured to be part of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, continuing the legacy begun by Prof Ronald Lane 80 years ago. As new challenges like AI emerge and longstanding ones like silicosis persist, our mission to protect worker health through research and teaching remains vital. I’m confident COEH will continue to lead the way.”

80^th anniversary event

COEH invites colleagues and guests to commemorate 80 years of pioneering research and education at The University of Manchester on the afternoon of 1 October. The event will bring together past and present staff, students, and guests to honour the Centre’s legacy and explore future progress in occupational health.

The programme will include:

Lightning talks showcasing key achievements and ongoing research initiatives
Forward-looking panel session to explore challenges and opportunities in occupational health
The , presented by Professor Malcolm Sim, former Head of the Monash University Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health in Australia
Closing reception

2025 Lane Lecture

While UK occupational health research, including at COEH, now focuses more on stress and mental health, traditional risks such as occupational respiratory disease continue to be a key priority. The Centre has, in recent years, led efforts to address the dangers of artificial stone (used frequently in kitchen worktops and bathrooms) as workers without proper controls can develop accelerated silicosis—a serious lung disease affecting even young individuals.

Professor Malcolm Sim played a lead role in research and advisory activities to address the silicosis epidemic in Australia among stonemasons working with artificial stone. In this year’s Lane Lecture, Professor Sim will explore artificial stone silicosis further through his talk, ‘The Artificial Stone Silicosis Epidemic: Lessons Learned for More Effective Prevention’.

where you can also find a detailed programme.

Black photography and activism

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:30:27 +0100

‘Visualising the Histories of Black Britain’ at The Photographers Gallery on 19 September 2025 will bring together artists, activists and scholars to explore how photography can illuminate the rich and complex histories of Black and Asian communities in 1970s and 1980s Britain.

(lecturer of modern and contemporary British Art) will introduce how Mumtaz Karimjee engaged with the politics of the photographic image while documenting queer Black feminist activism.

In 1987, the photographer Mumtaz Karimjee published an article titled ‘Black and Asian: Definitions and Redefinitions’ in the British South-Asian grassroots publication, Mukti. Correia will discuss how Karimjee considered the terms ‘Black’ and ‘Asian’ in relation to her own identity and the ways in which these terms were used inclusively and exclusively according to different contexts and settings.

Correia will introduce how Karimjee utilised photography as a mode of social activism while moving between South-Asian and politically-Black contexts to express her social and political concerns and solidarities. Correia will highlight Karimjee’s groundbreaking work picturing anti-racist campaigns for social justice and queer Black activism amidst Section 28 and the AIDS crisis.

Expect thought-provoking discussions, critical perspectives, and inspiring insights into visual culture, identity, and representation.

Visualising the Histories of Black Britain

The Photographers’ Gallery, 16–18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW
Thursday, 19 September 2025
12pm – 5pm
.

HCRI academic starts new ESRC-funded project on age and border policing

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:22:24 +0100

Dr Antoine Burgard, Senior Lecturer in History of Humanitarianism at the Humanitarian & Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), has been awarded an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) New Investigator project (2025-2028) for his project ‘Who is a child? Determining age in British and French border policing, 1918 to the present’.

After the publication of a report on the in July, Dame Angela Eagle, the immigration minister, controversially announced that the British government would test to verify ages of young asylum seekers. Today, being under or over 18 profoundly shapes how people in situations of migration are perceived and treated. Who gets to decided who should be recognised as a child is now one of the most pressing issues in public and policy debates around migration and asylum, in the UK but also in most Global North liberal democracies.

Even though they are more visible today, these debates around the use of age in border policing are not new. Using historical and anthropological case studies from 20th and 21st Century Britain and France, Dr Burgard’s project aims to better understand how and why age has become increasingly important not only to migration processes and experiences but also to the way policymakers and protection actors think about vulnerability.

For more on Dr Burgard’s academic work, visit .

For more on research at HCRI, visit the .

From pubs to plates: Manchester research shows Britain’s social life is shifting

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:13:07 +0100

A new study by experts from The University of Manchester has revealed a major shift in Britain’s social life, as the number of bars and pubs has dropped sharply in recent years while restaurants have expanded.

The research, published in , examined more than 1100 neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester and Nottingham between 2002 and 2019. The team found that bar numbers fell by around 35%, while restaurant numbers grew by a similar percentage over the same period

This trend is part of a nationwide pattern. Across the UK, thousands of pubs have closed their doors in the past two decades, with closures accelerating in recent years as rising costs, changing habits and the Covid-19 pandemic hit the industry hard.

The researchers say the shift is driven by younger generations who are drinking less alcohol and increasingly socialising around food rather than drink. “Our findings show a clear generational move away from alcohol-centred venues,” said lead author Jonathan Wood. “Bars are disappearing from many neighbourhoods, while restaurants are spreading into new areas.”

While bars and pubs once dominated high streets and local centres, the study found that many have vanished altogether from large parts of both Manchester and Nottingham. In 2002, around 43% of Manchester neighbourhoods and 47% of Nottingham neighbourhoods had no bars at all. By 2019, the number of “bar deserts” had increased nearly twenty-fold.

In contrast, restaurants – once concentrated almost entirely in city centres – have grown and spread into suburbs and residential areas. The study shows the likelihood of a neighbourhood having no restaurants fell by at least five-fold during the period

The research also reveals how geography plays a role. Venues are increasingly clustering in central, well-connected areas, often close to retail hubs and good public transport. Manchester’s nightlife, for example, has become more centralised, with popular spots like the Northern Quarter and Deansgate thriving while local bars in outlying neighbourhoods struggle to survive.

By contrast, restaurants have been able to expand further afield, offering more choice in suburban areas. The team suggests this reflects the way people now prefer to spend their leisure time, with eating out seen as a more inclusive and family-friendly activity than drinking.

The decline of pubs and bars has long worried campaigners who see them as vital community spaces. The new research underlines how closures are reshaping neighbourhoods – especially in deprived areas, where pubs once offered affordable social outlets. At the same time, the growth of restaurants may bring new opportunities for local economies, but it also highlights the need for planners and policymakers to adapt to changing consumer habits.

Bad reviews push Airbnb hosts to rethink their positioning, study finds

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:10:15 +0100

A new study from The University of Manchester has revealed that bad reviews often push Airbnb hosts to change the way they position their properties, sometimes with surprising results.

The research, carried out with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the University of Alberta, looked at more than 80,000 Airbnb hosts across major US cities. It found that when guests left negative reviews, hosts were much more likely to switch the category of their property - for example, moving a listing from “loft” to “apartment,” or from “tiny house” to “cottage.”

The study shows that these changes often happen not because hosts are constantly fine-tuning their positioning, but because they are reacting to complaints - in other words, hosts don’t usually rethink how their properties are categorised unless something goes wrong.

“Negative reviews are powerful - they don’t just influence potential guests, but they also make hosts question whether they’ve positioned their property in the right category,” said Dr Karl Taeuscher from Alliance Manchester Business School, the lead author of the research. “If customers say a listing isn’t what they expected, hosts often switch category in the hope of avoiding more complaints.”

The research found that the effect is strongest in categories where customers have diverse and sometimes conflicting expectations. For example, a “villa” or “loft” may mean very different things to different people, while a “houseboat” or “tent” comes with more obvious expectations. In these ambiguous categories, hosts were particularly likely to reposition their property after receiving poor feedback.

Interestingly, when hosts did make a switch, they usually chose categories that were close to their original one. Few hosts took the risk of moving their property into a completely different type. Instead, they tended to opt for categories that accommodate a wider range of features.

The study highlights how small businesses and individuals, like most Airbnb hosts, often don’t have the time or resources to constantly rethink their positioning strategies - instead, they tend to act only when problems arise.

The findings matter beyond Airbnb. Many online platforms, from Amazon to Etsy, rely on categories to help customers navigate. If businesses use categories that don’t quite fit, it can create mismatches between what buyers expect and what they get. This study suggests that finding the right category requires businesses to be receptive to customer feedback and open to revising their initial choice.

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

NSEC Moves to SALIENT to Boost UK Security Links

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:10:05 +0100

NSEC and SALIENT join forces to strengthen government-academic collaborations in national security and resilience.

The Network for Security Excellence and Collaboration (NSEC) is a nationwide community of multi-disciplinary academics with experience, expertise or interest in UK national security and resilience research and government collaborators working to meet the UK’s national security and resilience needs. NSEC coordinates across many stakeholders and initiatives, driving cohesion and accelerating collaborations. By enhancing the diversity and effectiveness of collaboration between academia, government and industry, the network will positively impact across policy and practice.

The network was established in 2014 at Imperial College. NSEC is currently Co-chaired by Professor Fiona Strens (Lincoln University) and Professor Tim Watson (Loughborough University).

We are pleased to announce that the Network for Security Excellence and Collaboration (NSEC) will move from the Joint Security and Resilience Centre (JSaRC), to the , .

This funding will strengthen the sustainability of the network, whilst furthering opportunities for NSEC members. NSEC will still retain a government sponsor in Annette Southgate who leads the (ACE).

Open Research Spotlight: Dr. Ramiro Bravo on OSF

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:57:37 +0100

In this Open Research Spotlight, Research Data Manager Dr Ramiro Bravo speaks with Open Research Specialist Josh Emsley about an exciting new project involving using the tool (Open Science Framework) as a collaborative framework in Core Facilities, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH). This conversation is part of a wider project, led by the , which is engaging with researchers and research support colleagues across the University of Manchester (UoM) to explore how are being adopted in different research contexts.

The challenge: fragmented and under-recognised research practices

Collaboration lies at the heart of research, but in practice it can be unorganised, fragmented, and difficult to manage. As Ramiro explains, “Core Facilities, research groups and institutes frequently operate independently, leading to inconsistencies in data management, documentation and accessibility. This fragmentation can limit data reuse, interdisciplinary collaboration and reproducibility.”

Time and resource constraints add further pressure. “Researchers often lack dedicated time and funding to engage with Open Research tools and frameworks,” Ramiro notes. “Without institutional support, Open Research practices are deprioritised in favour of immediate research outputs”.

For those wanting to engage, there are additional technical and procedural hurdles that stand in the way. “Many researchers are unfamiliar with tools like Protocols.io or OSF,” he says. Without clear guidance, the potential of these platforms to support collaborative, reproducible science is left underrealised.

The impact of these challenges is significant and often unseen. As Ramiro points out, “without clear, open documentation and the sharing of research contributions, the vital role of Core Facilities and technical teams can be overlooked. Missing authorship and inadequate acknowledgement can obscure how research is truly carried out and hinder reproducibility, collaboration and accountability.”

The project: embedding OSF into Core Facilities

Ramiro is leading a project to tackle these challenges head on. “The project will start with a group of Core Facilities designing OSF projects that will serve as a template on how they will collaborate with research groups in the development of research projects,” he explains. “Research groups are creating their OSF projects to start documenting every step of the research lifecycle, including cross-disciplinary collaboration with Core Facilities.”

By embedding OSF into the day-to-day practices of Core Facilities, the project aims to provide a practical, collaborative framework for documenting contributions and supporting transparency.

For Ramiro, OSF’s strength lies in its flexibility. He highlights several features of the tool that are particularly relevant to collaborative research:

Project structure and hierarchical organisation – OSF allows researchers to create projects and component sub-projects, supporting complex, multi-part studies.
Role-based permissions and access control – OSF supports assigning custom roles (read, write, admin) for each user or group, ensuring collaborators can contribute appropriately without compromising sensitive information. This is especially useful when managing external collaborators.
Integrated file storage and version control – OSF supports uploading and organising all research materials (protocols, datasets, manuscripts, scripts, etc.). It integrates with cloud storage services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and other cloud storage providers, ensuring everyone is working with the most up-to-date documents.
Electronic lab notebook (ELN) functionality – while not a traditional ELN, OSF offers a lightweight and interoperable way to record progress, link protocols, and maintain transparency.

Together, these features provide a tool that can streamline collaboration, enhance oversight, and embed transparency into the way research is carried out.

Beyond usage: Ramiro’s role in shaping OSF itself

Ramiro’s involvement with OSF doesn’t stop at adoption. He also identified a gap in the platform: the need to export projects into formats such as PDF for preservation and backup. “There was no way to preserve a project as a complete, portable record,” he explains. “That lack of functionality was a barrier for many researchers.”

To address this, Ramiro secured a grant with the (COS) - the organisation responsible for developing and maintaining OSF - and worked with colleagues in Research IT (Sarah Jaffa and Benito Matischen) to develop a solution. The outcome was a new python library called , allowing users to use the CLI (Command Line Interface) and a that enables anyone including UoM users to export their OSF projects to PDF format.

Ramiro and Benito presented the new tool functionality in Washington DC in August 2025 during a conference (hackathon) hosted by COS. The success of the project has since led to Ramiro being invited to join the OSF Open-Source Steering Committee, helping shape the platform’s future development.

Looking ahead

The next stage of the Manchester project will see OSF rolled out as a collaborative framework in Core Facilities, beginning with a mid-September kick-off meeting, bringing together FBMH Core Facilities, the Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre, and the Lydia Becker Institute. Cancer Research UK is also a potential future collaborator.

For Ramiro, the potential of this project is significant: “Different Core Facilities and research groups can use OSF as a collaborative framework to help document the evolution of research projects. Key benefits include detailed documentation, version control, and privacy controls serving as the foundation of a responsible research culture.”

Conclusion

This spotlight shows how OSF is more than just a tool that individual researchers can use. It is a framework that holds potential to change how research teams collaborate. By embedding open documentation into research practice and contributing directly to OSF’s development, Ramiro’s work demonstrates how openness, recognition, and reproducibility can become part of the everyday life of research.

The Office for Open Research provides institutional access to many essential Open Research tools like , , and OSF. To learn more about what these tools enable, check out the .

If you want to learn more about OSF as a collaborative framework for research projects and data management in your area, contact Ramiro (ramiro.bravo@manchester.ac.uk) for collaboration opportunities and support.

If you liked this spotlight, check out the other posts in this series:

Study highlights digital divide in diabetes healthcare

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:16:00 +0100

Men, black communities and the poorly educated are experiencing significant disparities in accessing game-changing digital healthcare for type 2 diabetes, data scientists from The University of Manchester show.

The peer reviewed meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 71,336 patients from the US, UK, and the Netherlands published in the today (10/09/25), is a wake-up call to policy makers grappling with escalating numbers affected by the disease.

“Our study provides evidence of significant disparities in telemedicine use for type 2 diabetes among men, black communities and those with lower levels of education,” said Nawwarah Alfarwan, a PhD researcher and lead author of the study.

“These groups already face many challenges in accessing essential healthcare services.

“Every 10 seconds, somebody dies from diabetes-related complications worldwide, most of whom have type 2 diabetes, so policymakers really need to think about how to improve access to this crucial form of healthcare.”

Telemedicine has revolutionised the management of type 2 diabetes in primary care by improving access to healthcare services, and consequently health outcomes.

Comprising a range of technology including virtual consultations, wearable devices, mobile health apps and other technologies, health services have successfully used it as a response to increasing prevalence of the disease.

Data from 5 studies comprising 59, 609 patients showed patients with higher education levels had 68.1% greater odds of using telemedicine than those with lower education levels.

The less educated, say the researchers, have lower levels digital and health literacy, and be more likely to have concerns about trust and privacy.

Ten of the studies, comprising 68,355 patients, showed female patients had a 5% higher chance of using telemedicine than men.

The difference can be explained, say the researchers, by women being more actively engaged with healthcare services not only for themselves but also their family.

Existing epidemiological evidence, they add, suggests men’ have lower help-seeking behaviour, stronger preferences for in-person consultations, or lower levels of digital health literacy.

Five of the studies showed that compared to white patients, black patients were less 45% likely to use telemedicine.

Many people within black communities, the researchers argue, have limited access to digital infrastructure, mistrust in healthcare systems, language barriers, and inadequate insurance coverage or digital literacy support.

And 10 of the studies comprising 47 927 patients showed older patients were 2.1% less likely to use telemedicine than younger patients.

Co-author Professor Maria Panagioti , also from The University of Manchester, added: “For patients with type2 diabetes, we show the extent of the digital divide in certain demographics, especially those from minority backgrounds.

“Lack of affordable access to computers, smartphone, and lower levels digital and health literacy all contribute to these inequalities.

“By understanding these disparities and addressing the underlying factors, policymakers could make more inclusive and effective telemedicine interventions.

“They should also consider targeted strategies to improve engagement among men, such as awareness campaigns and tailored interventions.”

The paper is Demographic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Telemedicine Utilisation Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis is published in the

Professor Gerard Hodgkinson receives lifetime achievement award from British Academy of Management

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:24:08 +0100

Gerard P. Hodgkinson, Professor of Strategic Management and Behavioural Science at AMBS, has been awarded the Richard Whipp Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Academy of Management (BAM) in recognition of his various contributions to the field and management research.

About the Richard Whipp Lifetime Achievement Award

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

Professor Hodgkinson’s Reflections

Said Professor Hodgkinson: “I’m delighted and humbled in equal measure, to have received this prestigious award, in recognition of my various contributions to research, BAM, and the wider management research community, over the course of the past 40 plus years.”

A Legacy of Achievement

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

Mentoring programme gives big mental health boost to LGBTQIA+ teens

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:04:37 +0100

A mentoring programme for LGBTQIA+ young people is making a real difference to their mental health, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

The programme delivered by pairs young people aged 13 and over with trained mentors who understand the challenges LGBTQIA+ teens can face. Over regular one-to-one sessions, the mentors offer a safe space to talk, practical advice and support to help build confidence, reduce feelings of isolation and improve overall wellbeing.

LGBTQIA+ young people are more likely to struggle with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression compared to their heterosexual or cisgender peers. Many of these struggles are linked to experiences of discrimination, prejudice or feeling unable to be themselves.

Despite this, there’s been little solid evidence about which support services actually work - until now.

Researchers at The University of Manchester compared the mental health of young people taking part with thousands of other teens from a large wellbeing study. The results were clear: those in Free2B's programme saw a strong and noticeable improvement in their mental wellbeing, much higher than what’s usually seen in similar support programmes.

“Free2B;s programme isn’t just helpful - it’s making a meaningful difference in young people’s lives,” said lead researcher Qiqi Cheng. “We saw real changes in how the participants felt about themselves and their future. Many started the programme feeling isolated, anxious, or unsure of how to cope with the challenges they were facing. By the end, they reported feeling more confident, supported, and hopeful. Programmes like this show that when young people have someone in their corner who understands them, it can completely shift their outlook.”

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

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

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

Creative Manchester appoints Deputy Director and new academic Research Leads

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:21:33 +0100

Since appointing its first research leads in 2022, Creative Manchester has continued to grow, nurturing exciting interdisciplinary research and convening research communities at The University of Manchester and the city region. The three research themes - Creative Industries and Innovation, Civic and Creative Futures and Creativity, Health and Wellbeing - continue to remain relevant and are expanding in line with the aspirations set out in Manchester 2035, The University of Manchester’s new 10-year strategy.

Creative Manchester Director, Professor John McAuliffe, said of the appointments:

The newly appointed Deputy Director, Dr Constance Smith, will work closely with Director, Professor John McAuliffe, the broader Creative Manchester team and management board to develop and coordinate activity across three core research themes, with a focus on internal stakeholders, advancing and coordinating interdisciplinary research and cross-School working.

is a Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures in the Faculty of Humanities. Her research focus is the anthropology of architecture, time and urban change. She is interested in shifting landscapes of buildings, planning and infrastructure and how their materialities inflect ways of engaging with the past and anticipating the future.

Professor John McAuliffe commented:

The Research Theme Leads will work with the senior leadership team to further develop and help coordinate activity across their respective core research themes. They will convene and grow the Platform’s interdisciplinary research communities with both University and external partners, to address strategic opportunities.

Creative Manchester is pleased to announce that Dr Stephen Hicks has been re-appointed as Research Theme Lead for Creativity, Health and Wellbeing. Creative Manchester are also thrilled that Dr Riza Batista-Navarro will formally take up the Research Theme Lead role for Creative Industries and Innovation, following her work as maternity cover for former Research Lead Dr Claudia Henninger. Finally, Creative Manchester looks forward to welcoming Dr Anke Bernau to the academic team as Research Theme Lead for Civic and Creative Futures.

is a Senior Lecturer in Text Mining at the School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Her research focusses on the development of natural language processing methods for information extraction, explainable text classification, machine reading comprehension and language modelling. She has led a number of inter-disciplinary text mining projects, in which she developed computational approaches together with collaborators from various domains such as biomedicine, biodiversity, sustainability and online safety.

is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work (FBMH) and also a member of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives. He has been the Creativity, Health and Wellbeing Research Lead for Creative Manchester since 2022 and has a professional background in child care/protection as a qualified and registered social worker. Steve has been involved in research projects on: LGBTQ parenting; social care and housing needs of older LGBTQ people; communities, neighbourhoods and belonging in modernist housing; and an interdisciplinary project on concerns about air quality/pollution and impact on local communities and environments. He has also been a volunteer in HIV/Aids services; homelessness support for young men and LGBTQ people; and LGBTQ adopters and foster-carers.

is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval Literature and Culture at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures in the Faculty of Humanities. She has worked on a diverse range of topics, including female virginity, poetics, aesthetics, material culture and environmental humanities. She is particularly interested in recent work emerging out of Critical Plant Studies and is co-editing a special issue on 'Plant Temporalities', as well as a volume on the global cultural history of 'nature' in the Middle Ages.

Professor John McAuliffe reflects:

Creative Manchester is looking forward to working with Drs Constance Smith, Stephen Hicks, Riza Batista-Navarro and Anke Bernau, and would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Drs Claudia Henninger and Jenna Ashton for their important and impactful work as Research Theme Leads at Creative Manchester since 2022.

Festival celebrating Manchester’s medieval heritage returns for 2025

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

Thanks to the dedication of The University of Manchester’s Dr Gillian Redfern and the support of the University’s Social Responsibility Fund, the Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival will return to the city on Saturday 27 September. The free, family-friendly festival will once again transform the area into a lively celebration of Manchester’s rich medieval heritage.

Now in its third edition since its launch in 2021, the festival continues its mission to shine a light on an area many residents are surprised to learn exists - the Medieval Quarter. Nestled beside the modern city centre, this historic area stretches from Chetham’s Library and School of Music to Manchester Cathedral, weaving through Shambles Square, the Corn Exchange and the National Football Museum.

The area tells the story of Manchester long before the Industrial Revolution. From the 10th-century parish church that grew into Manchester Cathedral to the 15th-century Collegiate buildings that became Chetham’s Library, the area is steeped in history. At the festival, the public will have the rare chance to explore these spaces for free - normally only accessible by paid tour - making the festival a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s past.

Visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of activities designed to bring medieval Manchester to life:

Saturday Scriptorium – Try your hand at medieval calligraphy using quills, ink and parchment in Chetham’s Library’s Baronial Hall, and take home your masterpiece.
Falconry Displays – Watch birds of prey soar in the courtyard and even try falconry with expert guidance.
Historical Re-enactments – Meet medieval re-enactors from Historia Normannis as they showcase tournaments, crafts, and costumes.
Medieval Drama – Boo, cheer, and hiss along with interactive student performances in Chetham’s Courtyard.
Guided Tours – Discover the story of the Medieval Quarter, including rare access to the remnants of the 14th-century Hanging Bridge, and enjoy tours of Manchester Cathedral.
Music of the Middle Ages – Immerse yourself in the sounds of the era with performances from the Manchester Troubadours.
Family Fun – Browse medieval-themed stalls, enjoy a fashion show, and soak up the atmosphere with food, picnics and live entertainment.

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

Not white, not seen: study uncovers France’s racial blind spot

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:20:34 +0100

A groundbreaking new study from The University of Manchester has challenged traditional ideas of race and national identity in France, revealing how French citizens of Indian descent are navigating their identities in a society that often ignores them.

The research, led by Dr Manuela Latchoumaya from the University’s Department of Sociology and published in leading journal , explores the lived experiences of French people whose families come from former French colonies in India and the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe via the system of Indian indentured labour in the 19^th century.

Despite holding French passports and speaking fluent French, many of these citizens feel excluded from what it means to be “truly” French.

Using interviews with 21 people, the study paints a powerful picture of what it feels like to be treated as invisible in your own country - and how people push back.

“It’s not just about being seen as different,” said Dr Latchoumaya. “It’s about being completely left out of how the French think about who belongs.”

The study found that many French Indians are misidentified as Black or North African, two established categories in France that covertly operate to minoritise people with roots in the French Empire. Others are judged by outdated stereotypes - like being overly traditional or even exotic - based on ideas left over from colonial times. These experiences often begin in childhood and continue into adult life, especially in education, work and healthcare.

But rather than staying silent, many people are speaking up and taking control of their identity. Some proudly reclaim the label Black as a category of visibility, while also identifying as South Asian. Others challenge people who use offensive or outdated terms, and several participants said they now openly name ‘whiteness’ - the idea that being white is the default or “normal” in France - as part of the problem.

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

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

New tool tackles unreliable research trials

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:31:00 +0100

An international group of researchers has developed a new tool which can help identify problematic randomised controlled trials (RCTs), including fraudulent studies, where there are serious concerns about trustworthiness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some, written for a fee by outfits known as “paper mills”, are entirely fabricated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“However, it’s important to stress that our tool is not merely a test for fraud and misconduct- though clearly many problematic studies are examples of that.

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

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

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

Manchester expert wins Royal Society’s highest honour for historian of science

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:18:22 +0100

Professor Sadiah Qureshi, a leading historian at The University of Manchester, has been awarded the prestigious Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture by the Royal Society in recognition of her internationally acclaimed research on science, race, empire and the history of extinction.

The medal is the Society’s highest honour for a historian of science, which is awarded annually for outstanding interdisciplinary contributions that illuminate the relationship between science and the wider human experience. It is named in honour of John Wilkins, John Desmond Bernal and Sir Peter Medawar, whose pioneering work explored the intersections of science, philosophy and society. Previous recipients include some of the UK’s most prominent historians and philosophers of science.

Professor Qureshi’s award acknowledges both her distinguished scholarship in the history of science and her ability to engage wider audiences in urgent debates that shape our present and future. Her work has transformed understandings of how ideas about race and empire have influenced scientific thought from the eighteenth century onwards.

Her research highlights the ways in which science and empire were deeply entangled, showing how racialised worldviews were both informed by and reinforced through scientific practices. She has also made major contributions to the history of natural history, particularly through her recent book on the emergence of extinction as a modern concept.

Published this year to widespread acclaim, explores how the idea of extinction - which is now fundamental to modern science and environmentalism - was only recognised in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By uncovering the cultural, political and imperial contexts in which extinction was first understood, Professor Qureshi demonstrates that what we often take as timeless scientific knowledge is in fact historically contingent, with deep consequences for how societies today approach the climate and biodiversity crises.

Professor Qureshi joined The University of Manchester in 2023 as Professor of Modern History, having previously studied natural sciences and the history of science at the University of Cambridge. She has established herself as a leading public intellectual, contributing to major exhibitions, media debates and policy discussions that seek to make historical perspectives on science accessible beyond academia.

“It is a tremendous honour to receive this medal,” said Professor Qureshi. “The Royal Society’s recognition highlights the importance of placing science within its broader social and historical contexts, especially at a moment when global challenges demand we think critically about our past to imagine better futures.”

“The recipients of this year’s medals and awards have all made outstanding contributions to science and its applications for the benefit of humanity,” said Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society. “They have done so through by furthering our understanding of the processes that govern the world around us, changing the practices of academia to build a more robust and inclusive research environment, and engaging new audiences. I offer my congratulations to all the 2025 recipients.”

Open Research Fellowship Programme – apply now!

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:55:54 +0100

The Office for Open Research is inviting .

The Open Research Fellowship programme seeks to provide a unique opportunity for Fellows to advance their careers while contributing to the work of the Office for Open Research. Notably, the programme offers financial support by covering 0.2 FTE salary costs for up to five Fellows, for a period of seven months (from January to July 2026), subject to Head of School/Service approval.

The programme is open to all University academic, professional, and technical services colleagues (up to and including Grade 7).

Find out more:

You can access full details on the Programme, including how to apply, and how to book onto our on 1 October, via our dedicated webpage:
You can also read about the work of previous cohorts of Fellows via our .
If you have any questions, please the Office for Open Research team.

Applications close on Friday, 24 October.

Three Manchester experts become Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:05:39 +0100

Three academics from The University of Manchester have been recognised as leading experts in their fields by being named as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences.

New Fellows are named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good. Through leadership, research and policymaking, they have deepened understanding of major societal challenges. The Academy comprises over 1,700 Fellows from academia, the public, private and third sectors as well as 46 societies and affiliates, forming a 90,000-strong network that cements the UK’s global leadership in social sciences.

Academy Fellows - who are selected through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact - are elected for their excellence in their fields and their substantial contributions to social science for public benefit.

Joining them is Professor of Public Administration and Head of Politics Liz Richardson, an expert who advances democratic and inclusive policymaking through her knowledge of participatory urban governance, local politics, public services and innovative research methods. Recognised among the Local Government Information Unit’s Top 25 Thinkers, Liz bridges academic insight and civic practice to tackle complex local and global policy challenges. She has co-authored pivotal reports in the UK’s Public Design Evidence Review, shaping how design thinking can reinvigorate public services.

“I am delighted to be an ambassador for social science,” Liz said. “Academic research has the potential to create a more equitable society - such potential is greater when knowledge fosters scientific rigour as well as respect for the experiential expertise of participants.”

Also named as a new Fellow is Professor of Public Policy David Richards, an internationally recognised scholar who specialises in British politics, governance, democracy and institutional reform. His research investigates the relationship between political institutions, public policy and democratic accountability. He has co-authored influential works, including Institutional Crisis in 21st Century Britain, and leads major projects on Treasury–Whitehall financial relations and productivity governance. Widely published and frequently cited in national debate, he bridges academic insight and public discourse, shaping critical conversations about the challenges facing British democracy and the future of effective, accountable government.

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

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

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

UK Data Service expertise helps government listen to researchers on the future of health data

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:39:49 +0100

Work led by Professor Vanessa Higgins (Professor of Data Literacy in the Social Sciences and Service Director of Training and User Support, ) and (Professor of Social Gerontology and Deputy Director, UK Data Service) has made headlines in following the UK Data Service in June, which brought national attention to the future of the (HSE).

Drawing on their expertise in population data, large scale social surveys, and the use of data to inform fair and effective health policy, the Manchester academics highlight the vital role of robust evidence in ensuring policy keeps pace with societal change.

Launched in 1991, the Health Survey for England, has been the backbone of health policy evidence for more than three decades, providing annual, nationally representative data to monitor the nation’s health and guide healthcare delivery. At the June 2025 conference, the government confirmed that NHS England would no longer run the survey. While details of any replacement are yet to be confirmed, discussions are under way on the future of population health surveys in England.

Since the conference, The UK Data Service has acted swiftly to ensure researchers’ voices are heard in the national debate:

Boosting consultation responses – negotiating with (DHSC) and the (ONS) to re-open a user consultation on the future of population health surveys for three weeks in July, generating a further 140 responses from health survey users.
Showcasing impact – collaborating with a key health survey user to publish a Data Impact blog highlighting the importance of the survey: .
Supporting decision-makers – at DHSC/ONS’s request, preparing a written summary of the Health Survey for England’s value and impact, including user testimonies, to feed into their internal report (due end of September), and advising on an expert peer-reviewers.

Through this work, Manchester academics and the UK Data Service are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Health Survey for England, influencing how health data will be collected to meet the challenges of a changing world.

Major new book asks whether addressing climate change requires stability or conflict

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

A landmark new book is set to change how we think about tackling the climate crisis. It asks a big question: when it comes to climate change, is it better to ‘lock in’ steady, long-term policies, or do we need dramatic political conflict and protests to force real change?

Stability and Politicization in Climate Governance is co-edited by and - both leading politics experts from The University of Manchester - alongside from the University of Massachusetts Boston (USA). The book highlights that the debate between ‘stability’ and ‘politicisation’ isn't as simple as it seems.

For a long time, many policymakers believed that ‘stability’ was the key to successful climate action. This stability meant creating predictable rules that encourage businesses to invest in green solutions, or making laws that are difficult to roll back in the future.

However, the book reveals a significant problem: often, trying to keep things stable just means nothing really changes, which can actually slow down efforts to cut carbon. Studies in the book also show that a focus on stability can perpetuate existing inequalities, making it harder for marginalised communities to participate in climate action.

On the other hand, "politicisation" means bringing climate issues into the public spotlight, challenging powerful interests and sparking debate. The book shows how social movements like the Fridays for Future school strikes in Germany have successfully pushed governments to adopt more ambitious climate strategies. This kind of public pressure can show who really has the power and lead to significant policy changes, like demanding deadlines for phasing out coal.

However, building pressure isn't equally easy or safe for all communities. For some groups, like Muslim climate activists in the UK, engaging in protests can be risky because of existing unfairness in society. As one Muslim climate campaigner noted, "when you think about climate change, it is a social justice issue".

The book’s main message is that stability and politicisation aren't always opposites - they often interact in complex ways. What appears stable may hide underlying conflicts which eventually burst out, while political conflicts can sometimes lead to new forms of stability.

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

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

Tyndall Centre at 25: UK must step up climate ambition, report warns

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0100

The UK now uses less energy than almost anyone anticipated 20 years ago, but opportunities to act on this potential were largely missed, according to a new report published by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at The University of Manchester today.

’, published to mark the Centre’s 25th anniversary, looks back at the Tyndall Centre’s own energy scenarios, alongside more than 80 others produced in the 2000s. The study found that while most scenarios assumed some level of reduction in energy demand, only one - Tyndall Centre’s “Red” scenario - came close to predicting the UK’s actual energy demand in 2022.

The researchers say this mismatch reveals that early scenarios often focused on untested technologies while overlooking practical and proven ways to reduce energy use, such as improving public transport, insulating homes, and reducing air travel.

They identified that these modelling choices often influenced policy debates, with optimism about new technologies often overshadowing everyday solutions, potentially limiting the scope of decarbonisation deemed possible by policymakers.

By comparing the envisioned futures with the UK energy system changes that actually emerged, the authors show where foresight was limited, where assumptions proved overambitious, and where genuine transformation was underestimated.

The report also reflects on two decades of Tyndall Centre’s research. Starting with the Royal Commission’s 60% carbon cut target by 2050, the Tyndall Centre helped bring carbon budgets to the centre of UK climate policy and highlighted the need for action across all sectors, including aviation and shipping,.

The authors argue that energy scenarios aiming to support an urgent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, must explore a wider range of options, with greater focus on proven solutions such as efficiency, lifestyle change, and equity. Doing so would open up more options for policymakers to deliver on their climate ambition, reduce reliance on unproven technologies, and align the UK’s energy pathways more closely with climate science.

Decarbonising the UK revisited is being launched at the Tyndall Centre’s 25^th Anniversary Conference at the University of East Anglia (UEA) on Monday, 8 September. Our Critical Decade for Climate Action is a major meeting for 300 researchers from 20 countries.

The report is part of a wider project at Tyndall Centre that explores how energy scenarios influence policy and what lessons can be drawn halfway through this critical decade for climate action.

Read the full report

Applications open for 2025-26 Open Research Fellowship Programme

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 06:30:00 +0100

The seeks to provide a unique opportunity for Fellows to advance their careers while contributing to the work of the . Notably, the programme offers financial support by covering 0.2 FTE salary costs for up to 5 Fellows, for a period of seven months (from January to July 2026), subject to Head of School/Service approval.

The programme is open to all academic, professional, and technical services colleagues at The University of Manchester (up to and including Grade 7). Applications close on Friday, 24 October. The project-based application process ensures that Fellows are selected based on the merit and potential impact of their proposed Open Research projects.

Fellows will contribute to the work of the Office for Open Research with domain expertise and will participate in an Open Research community of practice at the University, networking with other Fellows, and proactively sharing best practice with their peers.

For further information and details about the application process, please see the or email the team: openresearch@manchester.ac.uk

80 Years of Occupational Health at Manchester

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:33:00 +0100

Registration ! Join us to celebrate 80 Years of Occupational Health Research at the University of Manchester.

The and the are delighted to invite you to a landmark event marking eight decades of research, training, and impact in Occupational Health at The University of Manchester.

Date: Wednesday 1st October 2025
Venue: 18th floor, Hyatt Regency, 55 Booth St W, Manchester M15 6PQ
Time: 13:00 – 20:00 BST (multi part event - see important info below)
Register: Register on Eventbrite

From lightning talks and panel discussions to the prestigious Lane Lecture — delivered this year by Professor Malcolm Sim on The Artificial Stone Silicosis Epidemic: Lessons Learned for More Effective Prevention, and introduced by Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester — this is a unique opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future of occupational health.

Secure your free place now: (registration closes 24/09/2025)

Important:

The event is divided into multiple sessions. Please ensure you select tickets for each part that you wish to attend.
Due to capacity, attendees without a valid ticket for a specific session may be asked to leave that part of the event.
View the Full Programme (PDF):
Accessibility & Queries: If you have any queries, or need to discuss a PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) or other adjustments to support your attendance, please email: ashton@manchester.ac.uk

Innocence success in the United Nations

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:39:49 +0100

Since its inception, the Task Force has submitted over 15 reports to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (HRC), with further work actively underway.

At The University of Manchester Law School, , Suzanne Gower, and Nicola Campbell, along with volunteer students from the , have contributed pro bono research to support the Task Force’s efforts. Their briefing materials recently informed a report submitted to the HRC in August against the treatment of incarcerated individuals in Vietnam.

The HRC report strongly reflects the Task Force’s central message: international law requires a mechanism to prove innocence and secure exoneration, alongside the right to appointed legal counsel and access to essential resources for pursuing such claims. Additionally, compensation must be provided upon exoneration.

As more experts encourage UN bodies to endorse these principles, the case for recognising them as universal human rights grows stronger. A critical mass of support is steadily taking shape. The Manchester Innocence Project is helping lead the way as part of the Task Force.

Claire McGourlay reflects:

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

You can listen to our Talk200 podcast with Nazir Afzal on the limits to equality – access to justice and scandal here.

Congratulations to Keir Monteith KC, Honorary Professor of Law

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:30:11 +0100

On his promotion, Keir commented:

Keir was appointed as a SALC in 2022.

Along with Eithne Quinn, SALC’s Professor of Cultural and Socio-Legal Studies, Keir was lead author of the report . A follow-up report this year will coincide with the end of the 5-year Judicial Inclusion & Diversity Strategy.

Keir has worked closely with Creative Manchester since 2023, under its Creative and Civic Futures banner – particularly in relation to the AHRC project, on which Keir was Lead External Advisor.

He was recognised as newspaper earlier this year.

Keir is a part time Criminal Court Judge, a judicial tutor and is a leading silk who represents clients facing heavyweight criminal allegations. He has been instructed in numerous murders, industrial scale Class A drug importations and conspiracies, escape from custody cases and appeals against conviction and sentence. Keir is ranked for criminal law in Chambers UK and the Legal 500 and was shortlisted for Financial Silk of the Year at Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024. He practices from Garden Court Chambers, is a SHiFT trustee and a member of the JUSTICE Council. Keir acted as counsel for Ade Adedeji in the historic Manchester 10 appeal, leading to the quashing of Ade's wrongful conviction. He also drafted the CCRC application for the Moss Side miscarriage of justice case.

Keir is a founding member of Art Not Evidence campaign, launched to advocate for a limitation on the use of creative expression as evidence in criminal trials.

Keir and Professor Eithne Quinn, jointly authored the ground breaking report . In early 2025, they both made a submission to the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts on the issue of racial bias. A follow-up report this year will coincide with the conclusion of the 5-year Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Keir also assisted in advising on aspects of the University of Manchester report 'Compound Injustice' authored by Professor Eithne Quinn, Erica Cane, and Will Pritchard.

New research calls for global action on micro and nanoplastics in the atmosphere

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:20:55 +0100

Scientists at The University of Manchester are calling for the creation of a global network of air monitoring stations to track the movement of airborne plastic pollution, which may be travelling further and faster around the planet than previously thought.

In a new review, published in the journal today, the researchers have examined the current scientific research on how tiny plastic fragments – called micro and nanoplastics – enter the air, where they come from, and the mechanisms that transport them across vast distances.

The study reveals significant gaps in knowledge and understanding of airborne plastic pollution, driven by inconsistent measurement techniques, limited data, oversimplified simulations, and gaps in understanding atmospheric cycling mechanisms.

One key uncertainty is the scale of plastic entering the atmosphere. Current estimates vary wildly - from less than 800 tonnes to nearly 9 million tonnes per year - making it difficult to assess the true global impact. It also remains unclear whether the dominant contributors are land-based, such as road traffic, or marine based, such as sea spray.

Such large uncertainties raise the concern that airborne plastics, which pose potential risks to human and environmental health, may have a more extensive presence and influence than previously captured by current monitoring and simulation systems.

Each year, the world produces over 400 million tonnes of plastic, with a significant proportion ending up as waste. Over time, these plastics breaks down into microscopic particles called microplastics (less than 5mm) and nanoplastics (smaller than 1 micron), which are increasingly being found in the air we breath, oceans and soil. These particles can move thousands of miles within days and have even remote regions like polar ice zones, desserts and remote mountain peaks.

While our understanding of the problem has grown rapidly, limited real-world data, inconsistent sampling methods, and computer models that oversimplify how plastic behaves in the air, means that key questions remain unanswered.

To address these concerns, the authors are calling for future research efforts to focus on three critical areas:

Expanding and standardising global observation networks
Improving and refining atmospheric modelling
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI)

They say this integrated approach could transform how we understand and manage the plastic pollution crisis.

Full title: A Review of Atmospheric Micro/Nanoplastics: Insights into Source and Fate for Modelling Studies

Journal: Current Pollution Reports

DOI: 10.1007/s40726-025-00375-5

Link:

Scientists develop groundbreaking ‘blood on demand’ technology to revolutionise emergency transfusions

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:57:21 +0100

The technique, created with industry partners CryoLogyx, has the potential to revolutionise how blood is stored and delivered in emergencies, remote locations, and military operations.

Led by Dr Fraser Macrae from Leeds and from Manchester, the research is published today in journal.

Rather than using traditional cryoprotective agents – substances which protect cells by preventing ice, the team developed a cocktail which includes a new class of macromolecule which protects cells by preventing damaging ice from forming inside them, known as polyampholytes.

Beating the clock: delivering on-demand blood

Red blood cell transfusions are critical for treating trauma, anaemia, and complications from chemotherapy or surgery. However, refrigerated red blood cells have a shelf life of just 42 days, creating logistical challenges for maintaining a reliable blood supply – especially in crisis situations or remote regions.

To allow blood to be banked for future use, cryopreservation (freezing) is an essential technology. Currently, glycerol is used as a cryoprotectant – a substance which protects the blood from cold stress by preventing ice from forming within the cells. However, it comes with a major drawback: a laborious and time-consuming thawing and washing process that can take over an hour per unit of blood. This delay can be life-threatening in emergencies and complicates its use in, for example, crisis or military situations.

The new method reported today, addresses this washing speed problem. By combining three cryoprotectants – polyampholytes (a type of polymer), DMSO (a cryoprotectant typically used for stem cells), and trehalose (a sugar) – the researchers have developed a formulation (PaDT) that not only preserves red blood cells effectively but also reduces the post-thaw washout time by over 50 minutes compared to glycerol.

How it works

The PaDT formulation leverages the unique properties of its three components:

Polyampholytes: unique polymeric cryoprotectants which have many beneficial properties including preventing ice forming inside cells.
DMSO: a permeating cryoprotectant that enters cells quickly replacing water molecules, stopping ice from forming
Trehalose: a sugar found in extremophiles like tardigrades; trehalose protects cells from dehydration and stabilises proteins and membranes.

Together, these agents work to protect RBCs during freezing and allow for a simplified, low toxicity thawing process.

What’s the prognosis, doc?

This breakthrough has the potential to transform emergency medicine. With this new method frozen blood could be stockpiled and rapidly deployed in disaster zones, on the battlefield, or in rural hospitals – without the need for constant donations or complex equipment.

The research team is now exploring how this method can be integrated into automated systems for large-scale blood processing. They are also investigating its potential for preserving other cell types, including stem cells and platelets.

Journal: Cryobiology

Full title: Towards blood on demand: Rapid post-thaw isolation of red blood cells from multicomponent cryoprotectants

DOI/link:

Most women have positive experience of NHS maternity services, study shows

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:02:00 +0100

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alexander Heazell, is Professor of Obstetrics at The University of Manchester, Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at St Mary’s Hospital, and Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre.

He said: “We analysed a total of 1,071 women’s written responses about their antenatal care, of which 89% reported a positive experience. 86% had positive experience of labour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And that will enable the core recommendations of SBLCBv2 to be personalised to individual service users, promoting safe maternity care and improved maternity experience.”

Examples of representative anonymised quote from service users:

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

“I felt really dismissed by the midwives when I kept saying the baby wasn’t moving and I didn’t feel well

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

“While yes I got growth scans nothing was ever explained and I wasn’t able to ask any questions”

“The staff were attentive and provided me with all the information I required. This was offered and also given 24 hours a day with no bias.”

“The administration side of things was not great. I was forgotten about on numerous occasions. Letters were sent out with appointment dates that didn’t exist. I would turn up and people weren’t expecting me.”

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

How one man’s life is reshaping criminological thinking

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The University of Manchester’s will officially launch next week, a powerful new book set to redefine how criminology is taught and understood. The book offers a fresh take on academic theory, told through the compelling story of William ‘Billy’ Mahaffey, a former soldier, prisoner, and now, community role model.

Through Bringing Criminological Theory to Life, we’re taken on a journey that spans a troubled childhood, through addiction and incarceration, military service, to education, athletic achievement, and community leadership. A powerful mix of expert insight and real-life experience conveys the challenges of crime, the impact of punishment, and the potential for change.

Each chapter explores a key turning point in Billy’s life to interrogate criminological concepts, including the long-term impact of childhood experiences, the military-to-prison pipeline, and the role of education, sport, and networks supporting journeys out of crime and identity transformation.

“This book is a new kind of criminology,” said , Senior Lecturer in Criminology at The University of Manchester. “It breaks down barriers between academic theory and human experience, and makes the case for a more compassionate, context-aware understanding of crime and change.”

Hosted by the at The University of Manchester, the launch event will continue these conversations, featuring contributions from Billy himself, co-editors Dr Emily Turner, , (University of Manchester) and (University of Liverpool), as well as chapter authors from leading institutions across the UK.

Inspired by teaching methods that embed real-world experience into theory, this book is a call to rethink traditional approaches to education and criminal justice. Billy, now a father of two and active in his community, has rebuilt his life after years of instability, addiction, and imprisonment. His story is one of persistence and personal accountability, offering a powerful reminder that change is possible, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

“I never imagined that my life story would be used in this way,” said Billy.

From policymakers to practitioners, academics to support workers, these insights aim to challenge assumptions and inspire change across the justice system and beyond.

Join us for the ‘Bringing Criminological Theory to Life: A Lived Experience Approach to Crime and Desistance’ launch event, which includes contributions from leading criminologists at The University of Manchester, University of Hull, Anglia Ruskin University, Royal Holloway University of London, and the Prison Reform Trust.

New report highlights how UK asylum system can distort memory through trauma

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:36:17 +0100

The report, based on a peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of Social Philosophy, is authored by , Lecturer in Political Theory within The University of Manchester , and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. It explores how social and political institutions, particularly the asylum system, can disrupt people’s autobiographical memories. This can lead to inconsistencies in their accounts, which may be unfairly interpreted as dishonesty during asylum interviews.

Read the or access the .

The authors use the UK asylum system as a case study to show how institutional stress can affect memory. They argue that the system itself—through long waiting times, hostile environments, and public protests—can cause or worsen trauma, which in turn affects how people recall and communicate their experiences.

The report recommends reforms to reduce stress and improve fairness, including better living conditions, trauma-informed interview practices, and training for officials to understand how trauma affects memory. The authors stress that these changes are essential to ensure that people seeking asylum are treated with dignity and that their rights are respected.

AMBS completes innovative KTP with leading law firm

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:47:00 +0100

By combining artificial intelligence, data science and decision theory, we’ve helped the firm enhance decision-making at scale.

Through a part-funded by Innovate UK, our team at Alliance Manchester Business School supported the development of Ivy – an insurance intelligence tool that draws on historic data to recommend optimal settlement strategies.

Designed to enhance, not replace, human judgement, Ivy helps claim handlers make faster, more informed decisions. It is already improving operational performance and delivering better outcomes for DWF’s clients.

“The benefits of using good quality data and shifting towards a data-empowered culture are expected to be long-lasting,” said , academic lead on the project.

“This project demonstrated the value of collaboration between domain experts and data science professionals. Adequate knowledge of the data and thought process of the users were key to the success of the project,” said Dr Mayowa Ayodele, KTP Associate.

The tool’s development also draws on Dr Papamichail’s research into AI explainability at the , and highlights the growing role of human-centred design in transforming legal services.

DWF is also a partner in The University of , which brings together law firms and academics to drive innovation in legal services.

Read the to explore how Ivy is reshaping insurance claims and decision-making at DWF.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership between AMBS and law firm graded ‘outstanding’

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0100

The project brought together expertise from , the , and the , combining advanced data science with behavioural psychology profiling to improve how legal services are delivered.

JLG was already a member of The University of , which brings together academics and legal professionals to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the sector.

Building on this relationship, the firm partnered with AMBS to integrate data science and behavioural insights in addressing key organisational challenges.

Working in collaboration with Jackson Lees Group, we developed and embedded an AI-powered decision support tool, alongside new approaches to personalise client communication and strengthen staff engagement.

The partnership has also contributed to long-term strategic change and sustainable growth within the organisation.

“Our KTP with the University of Manchester has been a transformative journey for the MAPD Group. Achieving the 'Outstanding' grade is a testament to the collaborative efforts, hard work and dedication of all those involved,” said Brian Cullen, CEO.

Read the to see how this collaboration is setting new standards in legal innovation.

KOSTAT-UNFPA Population Seminar 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:12:50 +0100

Held in Seoul, the seminar brought together 30 international scholars for a week of intensive workshops. The training was methodologically rigorous and highly relevant to Rahul's PhD research on migration dynamics in the Global South.

Practical sessions included the implementation of Cox Proportional Hazards models and Kaplan-Meier estimators using R. A highlight was a constructive meeting with Professor Yabiku and colleagues concerning future work and collaboration on research on migration.

KOSTAT-UNFPA Summer Seminar on Population

The Summer Seminar on Population was first launched by the East-West Center (EWC) in 1970 and quickly gained recognition as a leading population seminar series. In 2013, responsibility for population activities was transferred to Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), which hosted the first KOSTAT Summer Seminar on Population in 2014.

Since 2017, the seminar has been co-hosted annually by KOSTAT and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), continuing its mission to advance population studies and statistical capacity building.

The seminar serves as an international platform for government statisticians, graduate students, and population experts to exchange ideas, share research, and strengthen statistical capacity in population-related fields. Over the years, participants from more than 20 countries have taken part in the programme.

Decades of research informs NICE guidance on leg ulcer treatment

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:24:38 +0100

Research on venous leg ulcer treatments, doggedly pursued by two University of Manchester academics since 1989, has greatly influenced NICE issued this month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The contribution of these findings to NICE’s late-stage assessment underscores the importance of NIHR studies like VenUS 6 in strengthening the clinical evidence base in wound care and informing national recommendations that support best practice in patient care.”

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

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

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

James Webb Space Telescope reveals hidden heart of the Butterfly Nebula

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:49:20 +0100

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed extraordinary new details in the heart of the famous Butterfly Nebula, one of the most striking planetary nebulae in our galaxy.

Located around 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, the Butterfly Nebula is one of the best studied planetary nebulae. Its ‘wings’ of glowing gas were previously but Webb’s new observations, published in today, go even further, uncovering hidden structures and finally pinpointing the nebula’s elusive central star.

Planetary nebulae like the Butterfly form when stars heavier than the sun reach the end of their lives, casting off their outer layers of gas and dust. The Butterfly Nebula is what astronomers call a bipolar nebula, meaning that it has two lobes of gas that spread in opposite directions to form the ‘wings’ of the butterfly. At its centre, a dense band of dusty gas called the torus, which poses as the butterfly’s ‘body’. This structure energises the nebula and may be responsible for its insect-like shape by preventing gas from flowing evenly in all directions.

Using James Webb’s , scientists have now been able to see through this dusty torus for the first time, providing an unprecedented view of its complex structure.

By combining images at many different wavelengths with complementary data from the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array in Chile, the international team of researchers, including from The University of Manchester, discovered the butterfly’s central star, one of the hottest ever found in our galaxy, with a scorching surface temperature of around 220,000 Kelvin.

Although this intense heat powers the nebula’s colourful glow, earlier telescopes lacked the sensitivity and resolution needed to see through the thick layer of dust, making the star impossible to detect at visible wavelengths.

Professor Albert Zijlstra, a co-author of the paper from The University of Manchester, said: “This is an extraordinary discovery. We’re looking at one of the hottest stars ever found - an object so elusive that even Hubble couldn’t detect it for decades. Thanks to JWST, we’ve finally uncovered it, concealed within its own dense shroud of dust.

“Surrounding the star is a massive dark torus, the heaviest ever observed around such an object, containing more material than our own Sun. Even Webb can’t fully pierce through it. Inside, the environment is sheer chaos; powerful radiation and stellar winds tearing into the surrounding cloud. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

“Most planetary nebulae appear graceful and symmetric, but this one is still at the beginning of its transformation – it’s more like a butterfly struggling out of its cocoon than the elegant shapes we’re used to seeing.”

The Webb data revealed that the torus is composed of crystals similar to quartz as well as unusually large grains of dust, suggesting they have been growing for a long time. Outside the torus, the team observed jets of iron and nickel blasting away from the star in opposite directions, along with a multilayered structure made up of different atoms and molecules.

Perhaps most intriguing was the discovery of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. On Earth, these molecules are found in smoke from fires or even burnt toast – but they have never before been seen in an oxygen-rich planetary nebula. The team believes the PAHs may form when a bubble of stellar wind bursts into the surrounding gas.

The finding provides an important glimpse into the details of how these molecules form.

***

Journal:

Full title: The JWST/MIRI view of the planetary nebula NGC 6302 – I. A UV-irradiated torus and a hot bubble triggering PAH formation

DOI:

Link:

University of Manchester welcomes legacy pledge to establish medical and musical bursaries

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 08:39:25 +0100

Switzerland-based alumna, Dr Sheila W Weir has pledged a transformational gift to The University of Manchester in her will to establish The Dr Sheila W Weir Bursaries.

Intended to fund future medical and music students in need of support, Dr Weir hopes the bursaries will help others experience the world-class education at Manchester she has benefitted from over her long career.

Dr Weir has an extensive background in pharmacology, joining Manchester after completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. While she initially wanted to study medicine, she didn’t qualify for a grant.

For Sheila, this outcome paved the way to completing a PhD in Pharmacology at Manchester in 1985. Her work contributed to the eventual spark of interest worldwide in the field of potassium channels and their modulation by drugs.

After leaving academia, Sheila spent 30 years in drug development at the one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. But her keen interest in learning continued as she taught at ETH Zürich and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland along the way.

Dr Weir said of her donation: “The greatest gift I can give is making a difference in the life of another human being. Especially if that person is young, from an underprivileged background and dreams of attending University."

Professor Ashley Blom, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester said: “We are honoured by Dr Weir’s forward-thinking commitment to support Manchester’s future music and medical students.

“Her generosity will continue Manchester’s rich history of musical vibrance and medical excellence, enabling talented individuals to pursue their ambitions regardless of the obstacles they may face. We thank Dr Weir for her unwavering faith in our students and for helping to make their dreams a reality.”

In addition to funding medical bursaries, the musical bursaries reflect Dr Weir’s passion for music, which has been a constant in her life from an early age.

Amy Harris, Legacy Officer at The University of Manchester said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Dr Weir to transform her hopes for the future into tangible support that will shape the lives of students, and their communities, for generations to come.”

Dr Weir is one of a growing number of alumni, staff and other supporters who have chosen to support the University with a legacy gift. Donors are welcomed to the , which recognises their generosity through a programme of special events and communications.

For more information about leaving a gift in your Will, visit the University’s website.

University of Manchester powers up brand new solar farm delivering clean energy to campus

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0100

From Monday (1 September), The University of Manchester will begin powering its campus with clean, renewable electricity from a major new solar farm, marking a key milestone in its goal of becoming zero carbon by 2038.

The energisation of Medebridge, located in Ockendon, Essex, means that up to 65% of the University’s electricity demand will now be met from exclusive ‘new-to-earth’ renewable infrastructure.

Developed in partnership with leading UK clean energy firm Enviromena, the project is part of a 10-year (CPPA), facilitated by EDF and supported by Inspired PLC, the UK’s leading energy and sustainability advisor. It is the UK’s largest solar CPPA with an educational institution.

The development represents the University’s long-term commitment to sustainability and energy resilience.

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester, said: “The University’s new long-term solar power agreement is a landmark moment in our journey to zero carbon. By entering into this corporate Power Purchase Agreement, we are directly supporting the development of new UK renewable energy while significantly cutting our own emissions.

“Universities have a vital role to play in tackling the climate crisis, not just through research and education but by taking bold, practical action. At Manchester, we’re proud to be the only university ranked in the global top ten every year for social and environmental impact in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and we remain determined to lead by example to help create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our partners, including Inspired, Enviromena and EDF, whose expertise and support have been essential in making this project a reality.”

Lee Adams, Chief Commercial Officer at Enviromena, added: “We’re incredibly proud to see Medebridge go live. It’s our largest and most complex project to date and a major step forward in the UK’s net-zero journey.

“By securing a long-term commitment with a top-tier academic institution, this project proves how large-scale renewables and corporate sustainability can align to deliver real impact.”

The construction of Medebridge commenced in April 2024. Comprising of around 104,000 solar panels across 175 acres (roughly the size of 70 football pitches), the site will generate more than 72 GWh of electricity annually, 80% (58GWh) of which will be purchased directly by the University over the next decade. The move will reduce University carbon emissions by 12,000 tonnes of CO2e each year - enough to power 21,000 homes.

In addition to emission reduction, the site will also create a significant biodiversity net gain. Enhancements to the existing hedgerows and planting of native grassland and wildflower meadow beneath and around the solar arrays will encourage nesting opportunities for wildlife and improved habitat connectivity.

Since the CPPA was agreed, Inspired have supported the Enviromena team to connect Medebridge to the UK grid to facilitate the delivery of this power to the University via a sleeving arrangement.

Richard Sullivan, Managing Director of I&C and Estate Intensive at Inspired, said: “CPPAs are an increasingly popular choice for organisations seeking to decarbonise as they offer up to 100% renewable power and much-needed additionality to the grid. Now a solar farm in Essex supplies The University of Manchester with renewable energy.

“This is the culmination of years of meticulous contract negotiations and support our technical experts have provided, and we are delighted for the project to have reached this point. We look forward to powering our partnership on with The University of Manchester and Enviromena alike.”

Following a successful tender bid in 2025, The University of Manchester has also extended its procurement contract with Inspired to 2030, providing energy security and ongoing CPPA in-life management.

EDF, Britain’s largest buyer of renewable electricity, is playing a key role in delivering and running the agreement that enables renewable electricity from Enviromena to power The University of Manchester. As part of this CPPA, EDF takes the variable output from the solar farm and turns it into steady, predictable blocks of power before adding it to the University’s energy supply contract. This ensures a smooth and reliable supply of renewable electricity, while delivering the transparency, reliability and carbon savings the University expects from a major renewable energy initiative.

Tom Abbott, PPA Director at EDF, said: “We’re proud to help The University of Manchester turn its sustainability ambitions into reality. By bringing power from Medebridge Solar Farm through this tailored CPPA, we’re showing how smart partnerships can unlock big wins for decarbonisation. Our balancing, shaping, and sleeving services mean the University gets dependable clean power - and a clear path towards its net zero goals.”

The Medebridge partnership adds to the University’s growing portfolio of environmental and sustainability initiatives from big changes, such as ending all investments in fossil fuels, and completing three zero carbon buildings, to the smaller ones, such as placing food waste bins in every University building, using peat free compost across campus and the .

The University of Manchester was recently ranked in first place in the UK and Europe and second in the world for benefitting society and the environment by for the third year running and was chosen to lead a pioneering global programme by United Nations designed to empower education’s role in the transition towards net zero.

Economics student among top three in UK for placement performance

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:48:24 +0100

Niamh Walsh, BA (Hons) Economics student, was recognised as the third best-performing intern across the nation during her year in industry with Enterprise Mobility.

Niamh was selected as the best performer in the South East, representing the region at the company’s Intern of the Year Finals 2025 where she came third.

Over 450 students took part in the scheme nationwide.

Niamh said:

The competition involved Niamh pitching her business improvement ideas to a panel of senior leaders at the company’s European Head Office.

She was celebrated for her achievement earlier this summer, with a member of the School’s Curriculum and Programmes team accompanying her to the awards ceremony.

Niamh added:

Blood test detects ovarian cancer with high accuracy, study finds

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:01:13 +0100

A new blood test pioneered by diagnostics company AOA Dx (AOA) can detect ovarian cancer in symptomatic women with high accuracy a by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Colorado has found.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“By using machine learning to combine multiple biomarker types, we’ve developed a diagnostic tool that detects ovarian cancer across the molecular complexity of the disease in sub-types and stages” said Dr. Abigail McElhinny, Chief Science Officer of AOA Dx. “This platform offers a great opportunity to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer potentially resulting in better patient outcomes and lower costs to the healthcare system.”

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

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

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

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

Professor Emma Crosbie, Professor at The University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant in Gynecological Oncology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), said: “AOA Dx’s platform shows significant promise for ovarian cancer early detection, offering a practical solution for symptomatic women.”

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

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

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

Manchester researchers help reveal asteroid Bennu’s complex origins

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:49:21 +0100

New analyses of the samples taken from asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx have revealed new insights into its origin – and The University of Manchester’s scientists have played a key role.

A series of three new papers published this week in Nature Astronomy and Nature Geoscience, reveal that Bennu is a mix of dust formed in our solar system, organic matter from interstellar space and stardust that predates the solar system itself. The asteroid is thought to have formed from fragments of a larger parent asteroid destroyed by a collision in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

In the first paper, co-led by researchers at the University of Arizona and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, published in the journal , Manchester researchers studied the gases trapped inside Bennu’s samples – in particular xenon, which is a very rare gas. Their measurements showed that Bennu’s gases resembled those found in some of the most primitive meteorites found on earth and materials returned from asteroid Ryugu by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission.

When combined with other elemental and isotopic analyses, the results suggest that Bennu’s parent body contained material from a range of origins, close to the Sun, far from the Sun, and even some grains from beyond our solar system.

The findings also show that while much of the materials in the parent asteroid had been affected by water and heat, some of the material had escaped various chemical processes and retained its original chemical signatures. Some even survived the extremely energetic collision that broke it apart and formed Bennu.

The studies also show that while some of Bennu’s original material survived unchanged, similarly, much of it was transformed by reactions with water. Minerals in its parent asteroid likely formed, dissolved, and re-formed over time, with up to 80% of Bennu’s material now made up of water-bearing minerals.

These findings were reported in a second paper the paper published in co-led by the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and included contributions from Professor Rhian Jones at The University of Manchester.

In the third paper, co-led by Lindsay Keller at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Michelle Thompson of Purdue University, also published in , researchers found microscopic craters and tiny splashes of once-molten rock – known as impact melts – on the sample surfaces - signs that the asteroid was bombarded by micrometeorites. These impacts, together with the effects of solar wind, are known as space weathering and occurred because Bennu has no atmosphere to protect it.

Lindsay Keller at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, said: “The surface weathering at Bennu is happening a lot faster than conventional wisdom would have it, and the impact melt mechanism appears to dominate, contrary to what we originally thought.

“Space weathering is an important process that affects all asteroids, and with returned samples, we can tease out the properties controlling it and use that data and extrapolate it to explain the surface and evolution of asteroid bodies that we haven’t visited.”

As leftovers from the formation of planets 4.5 billion years ago, asteroids like Bennu provide a valuable record of solar system history. Unlike meteorites that fall to Earth, which often burn up or are altered in the atmosphere, Bennu’s pristine samples give scientists a rare opportunity to study untouched material.

The project brings together researchers from NASA, universities and research centres around the world – including the UK, the United States, Japan and Canada – to study Bennu’s samples and unlock new insights into the origins of the solar system.

For more information on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, visit:

Art and Religion: FN Souza at Bradford Cathedral

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:45:18 +0100

(Lecturer of modern and contemporary British Art) will lead a conversation about the Goan artist Francis Newton Souza at Bradford Cathedral on Friday 3rd October 2025.

In Conversation: F N Souza in Focus has been organised to accompany the exhibition Jesus- Guru, Avatar, God? at Bradford Cathedral, organised by the Methodist Modern Art Collection (5 September -12 October 2025).

The exhibition features two works, The Crucifixion by Francis N Souza, and Dalit Madonna by Jyoti Sahi, and considers Christianity from South Asian perspectives.

Born in Goa in 1924, FN Souza lived and worked in London during the 1940s and 50s, before moving to New York in 1967. Alice Correia will introduce his work with the context of British modernist painting and consider his preoccupation with Christian imagery.

Throughout his career, Souza painted multiple Crucifixion scenes, including the work acquired by the Methodist Modern Art Collection in 1962.

Correia will reflect on the hybrid Catholic visual culture that developed in Goa – a former Portuguese colony on the west-coast of India – during the 16th and 17th centuries, and will consider the possible impact of Goa’s Baroque ecclesiastical architecture on Souza’s work.

Event Details

Name: In Conversation: F N Souza in Focus
Location: Bradford Cathedral
Date and Time: Friday 3 October, 6-9pm
Reserve your spot on the website.

TropiConnect Launches Digital Trade Platform to Redefine Global Agriculture

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:18:58 +0100

TropiConnect, a Manchester-based agri-tech startup founded by University of Manchester alumnus Mark Cuthbert, has officially launched its innovative agri-trade platform: .

With several successful pilots, the platform empowers farming cooperatives across Africa by connecting them directly with global buyers, enabling transparent, sustainable, and fair trade in tropical agriculture.

The launch follows TropiConnect’s recent recognition as the Venture Further Award (VFA) Winner, presented by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, celebrating the startup’s vision to transform agricultural supply chains with technology.

TropiConnect is already partnering with farmer cooperatives representing over 200,000 farmers across East and West Africa, while building high-level collaborations with Innovate UK, the United Nations, and government organisations across the continent. From coffee and cocoa to cashew nuts, sesame seeds, and tropical fruits, TropiConnect is positioning itself as the go-to gateway for sourcing Africa’s finest agricultural products in one trusted platform. Leveraging AI and blockchain technology, the platform ensures traceability, competitive pricing,and efficient trade facilitation.

The company’s close ties with the University of Manchester’s innovation ecosystem have been instrumental in its growth. Support from the University’s R&D collaborations, has strengthened TropiConnect’s ability to scale and innovate.

For more information, visit or

Welcoming TAI's new Deputy Director

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:02:00 +0100

As 's term as Deputy Director of the Thomas Ashton Institute comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our sincere thanks for his outstanding leadership and contributions over the past three years.

Richard has played a pivotal role in shaping the Institute’s direction — from strengthening our engagement with Government, to helping secure the . His expertise, collaborative approach, and good humour have left a lasting impression on the core team and our wider network. We’re incredibly grateful for all he’s done and look forward to continuing to work with him in other capacities.

We’re also delighted to welcome as our new Deputy Director (UoM), effective from 1st September. We’re confident he will bring valuable insight and energy to the role, and we look forward to working with him as we continue to grow and evolve.

As we mark this transition, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Richard once again and warmly welcome Martie to the team. With fresh perspectives and continued collaboration, we’re excited about what lies ahead for the Thomas Ashton Institute as we build on our achievements and pursue new opportunities to advance risk and regulatory research.

University of Manchester launches radiotracer partnership with Alliance Medical

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:04:35 +0100

The University of Manchester has forged a new partnership with Alliance Medical to fast-track the development of the next generation of radiotracers.

Alliance Medical has signed a long-term lease agreement to take up residence at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC), a University research facility based on the site of the Christie Hospital in Withington, a cancer care, research and education hub. WMIC is home to state-of-the-art radiochemistry facilities, including a cyclotron.

Through the partnership both parties will work collaboratively, combining the academic expertise at the University with Alliance Medical’s extensive industry experience. Alliance Medical works with the NHS to offer PET-CT diagnostic procedures to over one hundred thousand cancer patients in England per year, while also working within the fields of paediatrics, urology and neurology, among others.

Alliance will invest around £10m in the facility to rebuild a state-of-the-art radiopharmacy, which will support future academic research cooperations.

Professor Allan Pacey, Deputy Vice President and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester said: “We are delighted to have entered into this agreement with Alliance. This will open the doors for new and exciting research opportunities for our staff involved in finding new ways to detect and treat cancers and other medical conditions where radiotracers are important tools.”

Professor Stavros Stivaros, Director of Imaging at The University of Manchester said: “This is an exciting collaborative long-term working agreement, which will revitalise the University’s opportunities for state-of-the-art radiochemistry-based research. Research that spans from pre-clinical right through to diagnostics and therapies, across all age groups of patients.”

As manufacturers of radiotracers, Alliance Medical has production facilities across Europe but its partnership with the University paves the way for a presence in Manchester, a renowned UK medical research hotspot. The University will in turn benefit from Alliance Medical’s significant investment in research activity and the upgrade of its radiochemistry production facilities.

Howard Marsh, Chief Financial Officer for Alliance Medical Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with The University of Manchester to add an additional facility into our network that benefits patients in Manchester and the surrounding areas.”

Axel Schmidt, Managing Director of Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy said: “This cooperation is another testament to the fast-growing field of, and interest in, radiopharmaceuticals. It will further expand our involvement in the development and commercialization of own- and third-party innovative tracers for oncology, neurology and cardiology.”

The University will also utilise local access to commercial radiotracers for preclinical and clinical PET-MR imaging research. With Alliance Medical beginning its operations on the site in Autumn 2025, it is hoped production of radiotracers will begin within two years, with these tracers to be delivered to hospitals to improve patient care and diagnostic offerings.

Making the cleanest graphene ever

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:00:00 +0100

Researchers at the , have produced the cleanest graphene yet, allowing quantum phenomena to appear in magnetic fields as weak as the Earth’s own.

The breakthrough, reported in by a team led by Professor Andre Geim, was achieved by placing a sheet of graphene just three atoms below cleaner bulk graphite. This “proximity mirror” cancels out unwanted electric fields, reducing disorder in graphene by a factor of 100.

"Think of it like creating the ultimate clean room, but for electrons," explains first author Dr Daniil Domaretskiy. "We’ve removed almost all the ‘dirt’ that disrupts smooth flow of electric current. You can suddenly see effects that were hidden, like wiping clean a fogged-up window."

In quantum materials, disorder hides delicate effects and can prevent new physics from emerging. Researchers normally go to great lengths to remove impurities and minimise interference, but in graphene the team has now pushed this to an extreme: just one uncontrolled electron per 100 million carbon atoms remains across an entire device.

This record-low disorder means that electrons travel faster and further than ever before. Key benchmarks of material quality, such as Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations, are now visible at fields below 10 Gauss. The celebrated quantum Hall effect appears below 50 Gauss, far weaker than a fridge magnet.

The concept is straightforward: the nearby graphite acts like an electrical mirror, cancelling random electric fields in the graphene layer. The challenge was engineering the mirror close enough, three atoms apart, without damaging the graphene.

“Now that we know how to make things this clean, it opens the door to exploring phenomena that were out of reach,” said co-author Dr Zefei Wu. “This is just the beginning.”

The team expects their ‘proximity-mirror’ technique to become standard for probing quantum phenomena in two-dimensional materials, enabling new discoveries in superconductivity, magnetism and exotic quantum phases, which would all benefit from the ultraclean electronic conditions to clearly emerge.

The work involved collaborators from Lancaster University, the National University of Singapore, and the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Proximity screening greatly enhances electronic quality of graphene

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09386-0

The is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at The University of Manchester, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field – a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by £13m leading-edge facilities, such as the largest class 5 and 6 cleanrooms in global academia, which gives the NGI the capabilities to advance underpinning industrial applications in key areas including: composites, functional membranes, energy, membranes for green hydrogen, ultra-high vacuum 2D materials, nanomedicine, 2D based printed electronics, and characterisation.