Over 2000 scientists, veterinarians, technicians, and regulators from across Europe and beyond converged on Athens for the sixteenth FELASA Congress to hear BSF Director Dr Maria Kamper’s vision on transformational leadership. 

The Congress is held every three years in different European cities to advance excellence in laboratory animal science. 

FELASA - the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations - develops guidelines and policies on all aspects of laboratory animal science, including training programs, welfare standards, and scientific best practice. 

Representing professionals in over 28 countries across Europe, this year's Congress took place between June 2 and 5 at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre. 

Dr Maria Kamper, Director of the BSF, spoke to a packed audience about how exceptional leadership creates excellence in laboratory animal science.

 Drawing from her philosophy that "people are the heart of our work," Dr Kamper challenged the traditional approach to facility management. 

"We don't just ask our staff to follow protocols," Dr Kamper told the Congress. "We inspire them to see themselves as guardians of breakthrough discoveries. 

“Every refinement they create could spare suffering for thousands of animals. They go to work knowing they are advancing human knowledge while honouring every heartbeat in their care," she added. 

The BSF's Dr Jo Stanley and Mike Addelman from the University's Directorate of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment also addressed the Congress on the University's sector-leading openness agenda in animal research. 

The University - officially recognized as a Leader in Openness - has developed an award-winning website and engagement programme that has become a trailblazer for the sector, demonstrating how transparency fosters public trust, enhances research integrity, promotes collaboration, and exemplifies ethical rigor in the responsible use of animals in research. 

Dr Kamper said: "Being part of FELASA was an extraordinary privilege and represents the kind of strategic leadership that looks beyond daily operations toward future possibilities.

“We are proud of the culture of excellence we have cultivated at Manchester - where our teams don't just meet standards, they set new ones.

 “Our hope is that the transformational approach we've developed here will inspire colleagues across Europe and beyond to lead their teams toward excellence that serves both scientific advancement and compassionate animal care.” 

• To view the presentation by Dr Kamper, click
• To view the presentation by Dr Stanley and Mike Addelman click

In recognition of its longstanding commitment to sustainability, the University will represent the UK as one of the founding members of the International Green Learning and Skills Accelerator, a Times Higher Education initiative set up as part of the

The Pact is run by three UN agencies – the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF - and was established to help tackle the green skills deficit and “advance the just transition to a low carbon and circular economy”.

The Accelerator, and a related research project, will advance this mission by bringing together universities, industries, and policymakers from around the world to share best practice and to develop a globally recognised framework for green skills and learning.

This initiative aims to define, standardise, and promote the green skills necessary for the net-zero economy, aligning education and employment to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “Being invited to help shape the Green Learning and Skills Accelerator as a founding member is a powerful recognition of the University’s long standing leadership in sustainability – and of the expertise, creativity and collaborative spirit of our staff and students.  This initiative brings together universities, city partners, industry and global institutions to tackle one of the most urgent challenges of our time.  It’s a unique opportunity to co-create a scalable, inclusive approach to green learning that supports the transition to a net-zero future – here in Manchester and around the world.”

Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education, added: “It is fantastic to witness The University of Manchester joining the Green Learning and Skills Accelerator programme as a founding partner representing the UK. This once more reinforces the University’s commitment to sustainability as witnessed by their participation in the top ten each year of our .  Times Higher Education’s mission is to connect people, data and insights to help universities make the world a better place and this is a prime illustration of this in practice as we move towards a green economy.”

One of the primary objectives of the project is to offer a consistent definition and taxonomy of what constitutes 'green skills' for the net-zero economy and how to measure it. The initiative is also in support of the Green Jobs for Youth Pact, that has seen a number of governments sign up and show their support at the UN Summit of the Future.

The University of Manchester will work alongside a select group of other global institutions to co-develop a new framework that will guide universities and employers, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge needed teach young people from the offset or re-train the current workforce the skills they need to drive the green economy.

Professor Jennifer O’Brien, Academic Lead for Sustainability Teaching and Learning, who has been leading on the project, said: "Universities are uniquely positioned to drive the green skills agenda through our world-class research, teaching, and partnerships. By engaging with our talented and diverse students and academics from not only our own community but across the globe, alongside our cross-sector collaborators, we are ensuring that green education is inclusive and has impact. This project will build on existing best practices and push us forward in creating thriving, sustainable futures for all, through transformative learning experiences."

As a globally connected, civic university, The University of Manchester will use its connections to bring in alumni and partners from across the world have an input into the new framework. It also hopes to feed into city-wide plans to support its ambitious zero carbon goal for 2038.

The programme will involve extensive research and collaboration with universities, industries, and policymakers with the goal of creating an  inclusive, scalable Accreditation Framework to support, guide and give recognition to universities and colleges as Green Learning and Skills Providers.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester, said: “As one of the world’s leading universities for social responsibility and sustainable development we know that our students – as future citizens, leaders and skilled professionals – will play a key role in addressing the climate and nature crisis. We’re look forward to playing a leading role in the critical task of defining and championing the sort of education we need to create a more sustainable world.” 

The University of Manchester has been consistently ranked as a leader in sustainability. It is the only university in the world to rank in the top ten for social and environmental impact in every year of the .

The University has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental impact, aligning with its core mission of social responsibility. In 2022, it divested from coal, oil, and gas, reducing the carbon intensity of its investments by 37%. All the University’s degree programs are aligned with the , and its research platform, which includes the , combines world-leading research across disciplines to develop sustainable solutions for urgent environmental challenges. The University also recently signed a landmark deal that will see up to 65% of its electricity demand supplied through a brand-new renewables project.

The report, presented in Helsinki on 6 June, addresses persistent barriers to public-private research and development (R&D) partnerships, and proposes a series of strategic reforms. Professor Georghiou chaired the international expert panel behind the study, commissioned as part of the EU’s Horizon Europe Policy Support Facility.

Speaking to an audience of 300 stakeholders from across Finland’s innovation ecosystem, Professor Georghiou outlined the report’s findings, which call for a cultural shift in academia, more robust incentives for collaboration, and streamlined government support systems. He later presented the final report personally to Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, accompanied by cabinet ministers and business and research leaders - an indication of the importance attached to the recommendations at the highest level of government.

Professor Georghiou, part-time Associate Vice-President and Professor in AMBS, said: "While I hope that the report will be of general interest, the demonstrated importance which the Finnish government attach to the impact of university research is also significant. In a time of economic difficulty for Finland, they have nonetheless decided to increase research spending to 4% of GDP. The UK figure is currently 2.9%."

The report highlights the need to reinvigorate collaboration through long-term strategic partnerships, better incentives for researchers, and improvements to the visibility and accessibility of research infrastructure—particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also underscores the importance of building a skilled workforce and supporting scale-ups to remain rooted in the Finnish innovation ecosystem.

The significance of the work extends beyond Finland. The European Commission has invited Professor Georghiou to present the report at a meeting of research ministry heads from all EU and associated countries in Gdańsk, Poland, later this month.

The full report, titled Support to Finland on improving R&D collaboration between research organisations and the private sector, is available for download from the .

The report is the first to analyse the impact of the Government’s 2019 drive to increase the numbers of these workers, who connect patients to activities and support in their communities which boost health and well-being.

The 2019 NHS Long-term Plan pledged NHS England funding to provide 1,000 trained social prescribing link workers in place by the end of 2021 - and to ensure that every patient in England could access the service by 2022.

This National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded study - led by researchers from The University of Manchester and co-authored with the University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University and University of Bristol- indicates that the scheme has led to improved outcomes and experience of and or both patients with long-term conditions and mental health needs. However, researchers were unable to pinpoint any noteworthy impact on loneliness and isolation.

The study combined administrative workforce data and information from the General Practice Patient Survey between 2018 and 2023, which includes more than 4.1million responses in total. It calculated the impact of adding one full-time equivalent (FTE) link worker per 50,000 patients to assess whether the NHS’ aims for the rollout were fulfilled. The outcomes from the survey assessed for this study were:

o   Increasing the patient’s confidence in managing their long-term condition

o   Making them feel more supported by local services and organisations

o   Making them feel less isolated from others

o   Improving their experience with their GP

o   An increased feeling that their mental health needs were understood

The study found that for those with one or more long term conditions, patient confidence in managing their long-term condition increased, as well as feeling more supported by local services and in their overall experience with general practice.

Similar improvements were seen for those with mental health needs and in feeling that their needs were understood. However, no evidence of benefit was found for those experiencing loneliness and social isolation.

The results indicate that an increase in social prescribing provision has had a positive effect on the population level. While the figures appear low, only 3.2% of the registered GP population had actually been referred to a social prescribing service by March 2023, so being able to detect an impact of this size at the population level is “clinically significant”.

The researchers estimated the population effects, and the findings suggest that an additional FTE social prescribing link worker per 50,000 population in all Primary Care Networks (PCNs)  - which equates to approximately one extra link worker per average PCN - was associated with an increase nationally in approximately 47,000 people reporting confidence in managing their long-term conditions and 132,000 people reporting having had a good GP experience.

However, the authors suggest that more work needs to be done to establish whether the rollout has any impact on use of hospital services, and whether there has been an impact on known health inequalities.

They also note that the initiative cost the NHS an estimated £130million in 2022/23, without taking onward referral costs into account. They conclude that further research is required to determine “whether the scheme is financially sustainable as a whole”.

, Professor of Implementation Science at The University of Manchester, said: “The Government’s plan to increase the provision of social prescribing was an attempt to tackle crucial challenges, including helping patients feel more supported, empowered, and positive about the health services available to them.

“As such, it is important that studies such as this exist, to assess whether initiatives have the desired effect, and that they provide the right assistance to people who are most in need of care and connection.

“Our results indicate that the Government’s focus on link worker provision has had a positive effect, and that social prescribing can help patients feel more supported by healthcare services and professionals.

“However, we would welcome future research into the sustainability and cost-efficiency of the scheme, particularly when more is known about its full cost including referrals.”

, Research Fellow in Health Economics at The University of Manchester, said: “This report provides useful food for thought for policymakers assessing this scheme, and other similar initiatives designed to improve the health of the country.

“Considering the service has been used by a relatively small percentage of the population, the results seem to indicate that social prescribing has a notable effect on a patient’s GP experience and their sense that their needs are understood.

“However, there is still much work to do before we can determine the impact and sustainability of schemes such as this one. There is definite scope for future studies which determine whether such referrals have an effect on unplanned hospital admissions, and whether the current approach offers the best possible care for the country at an optimal cost.”

Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, said: “This is an important and groundbreaking piece of research. There is already a wide range of evidence demonstrating that social prescribing is highly impactful and can save the NHS money, but this is the first time research has been published showing statistically significant improvements for the whole population. It’s simple: the more Link Workers that are employed, the more likely it is that patients are able to manage their own health, and have a good experience of their GP. 

“This is because Link Workers get to know patients, supporting them step by step to access local services, tackling issues like housing, debt, food or fuel poverty, loneliness and unemployment - the issues that matter to people and can have a big impact on our health. This vital research further supports the case for the expansion of social prescribing in the NHS so that is available to more patients who could benefit.”

The full study - entitled ‘Impact of the rollout of the national social prescribing link worker programme on population outcomes: evidence from a repeated cross-sectional survey’ has been published in The British Journal of General Practice. You can read the report and its results here:

Apini is a spinout from The University of Manchester developing a new treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases using a small molecule approach. The company was formed with help from the University’s Innovation Factory, its technology transfer office. According to the Spotlight on Spinouts 2025 report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Beauhurst, the Innovation Factory supported the launch of 114 spinout companies between 2011 and January 2025, placing the University among the UK’s top institutions for spinout creation.

Spun out of the University of Manchester, Apini is developing a novel small molecule for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Potential indications include Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects as many as 10 million people worldwide. Apini is looking to address the significant unmet need in this area of medicine through targeted modulation of eNAMPT, an enzyme implicated in multiple inflammatory conditions.

Preclinical studies demonstrate the potential for selective eNAMPT modulators to treat various inflammatory diseases without inducting immune suppression.

Apini was discovered by founding scientist Professor Sam Butterworth, who is world-renowned for his work in the invention of Tagrisso, a life-saving anti-cancer drug for EGFR mutant lung cancer that is used globally.

Slingshot was built by Syncona with an initial commitment of £12.5 million to identify and advance de-risked therapeutic programmes from the work of leading academic researchers. Apini is the first company to work with Slingshot, following its launch in November 2024, with Northern Gritstone becoming the first co-investor.

Apini’s funding from Northern Gritstone and Syncona will be delivered over three tranches tied to company milestones, with the original commitment unchanged in value.

Northern Gritstone Chief Executive, Duncan Johnson, said: “Apini is based on the groundbreaking drug development work of Professor Sam Butterworth from The University of Manchester, and is a fantastic example of life sciences company creation based on world-class research. We’re delighted to invest in Apini, alongside Syncona, and with the support of the Slingshot accelerator”

Founder of Apini, Professor Sam Butterworth said “This investment from Northern Gritstone supports Apini’s mission to treat inflammatory diseases without the induction of immune suppression. We look forward to advancing and accelerating the Apini programme which we believe can bring meaningful improvements to patients across a broad range of chronic inflammatory diseases.”

Executive Chair of Slingshot, Edward Hodgkin added: “We are delighted to welcome Northern Gritstone as an investment partner for Apini, with the investment providing further validation of this novel programme. We believe that Slingshot’s expertise and operational support has the ability to accelerate exceptional academic science, like Apini, into attractive biotech assets that can quickly and effectively transform into groundbreaking treatments for patients.”

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; The unique Saint Christopher woodcut, dated 1423 – the oldest known dated example of European printing.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; The Gutenberg Bible of 1454/55 - the first major book printed in Europe and a masterpiece that revolutionised the book world.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; The Mainz Psalters of 1457 and 1459 - two of the most beautiful books ever printed, both with handwritten musical notation.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Seventeen very rare blockbooks - in which the images and text on each page were printed from a carved block of wood.

The release forms part of the ongoing Incunabula Cataloguing Project, which will eventually see all of the library's approximately 4000 15th century printed books fully catalogued, of which around 300 of the rarest and most important will be digitised and made available online. While of immense value to scholars of early print culture, the collection is also designed to engage curious members of the public with some of the most beautiful and significant books ever printed.

The Early European Print collection is part of a longstanding commitment by The University of Manchester and the John Rylands Library to share cultural heritage with the widest possible audience through Manchester Digital Collections.

, Reader in Engineering for Net Zero, is one of ten finalists to be awarded £100,000 in seed funding to develop his solution for this year’s .  

In its second year, the Manchester Prize is looking for researchers with the most impactful and innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards net zero.  

Although AI technologies are advancing rapidly, their adoption in clean energy systems has not kept pace. The Manchester Prize aims to accelerate progress by encouraging the development of AI solutions that support the UK in achieving its ambition to lead the world in clean energy. 

Dr Papadopoulos’ solution, Grid Stability, uses AI to accelerate the analysis performed which ensures electrical power systems meet the specified stability, security and reliability criteria. 

Electrical power systems worldwide are going through unprecedented changes to achieve decarbonisation targets. This drive calls for new technologies, such as renewables, electric vehicles and heat pumps, which increases the complexity and uncertainty in power system operation. System stability is the cornerstone of power system operation, and if not carefully considered, it can lead to blackouts with high economic impact and fallout.  

The tool replaces slow, complex simulations with rapid, AI-driven assessments, enabling real-time monitoring, faster decision-making, and more confident planning. This helps grid operators maintain reliability while scaling up clean energy solutions and cutting emissions. 

Dr Papadopoulos aims to work closely with utility companies to enable safe and useful implementations of Grid Stability. 

Speaking about his solution, Dr Papadopoulos said: “Grid Stability uses machine learning to help bring lower, or zero, carbon technologies onto the grid faster and at the scale we need to hit net zero, but without compromising system stability.

“Being named a finalist for the Manchester Prize is a huge boost; it not only validates the impact of our work but also gives us a platform to accelerate progress and collaborate more widely across the energy sector.”

Dr Papadopoulos recognised that the computational cost and complexity of assessing stability and security made it difficult to support real-time awareness, decision-making and optimisation. As a result, system dynamics are often neglected or oversimplified. Grid Stability, using machine learning, offers a promising solution to addressing this challenge. 

The Manchester Prize will pick its winner in Spring 2026, and the winning innovator will receive a £1 million grand prize to continue developing their solution. The winning solution must demonstrate not only technical innovation, but also an evidenced road map to near-term (2030) adoption and scale.  

Announced and launched in 2023, the Manchester Prize is multi-million-pound, multi-year challenge prize, which is funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. The Prize seeks to reward UK-led breakthroughs in AI for public good and continues to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in cutting-edge innovation. 

The Manchester Prize is named after the world’s first stored programme computer, nicknamed ‘The Baby’, which was built at The University of Manchester in 1948. AI research at The University continues to build on this legacy, as shown by Dr Papadopoulos’ achievement. 

The study is published today (Wednesday) in ERJ Open Research [1]. Carbon can enter the lungs via cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust and polluted air.

The cells, called alveolar macrophages, normally protect the body by engulfing any particles or bacteria that reach the lungs. But, in their new study, researchers found that when these cells are exposed to carbon they grow larger and encourage inflammation.

The research was led by and from The University of Manchester, UK, and funded by the North West Lung Centre Charity and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Dr Baker, Research Associate within the NIHR Manchester BRC’s Respiratory Theme said: “COPD is a complex disease that has a number of environmental and genetic risk factors. One factor is exposure to carbon from smoking or breathing polluted air.

“We wanted to study what happens in the lungs of COPD patients when this carbon builds up in alveolar macrophage cells, as this may influence the cells’ ability to protect the lungs.”

The researchers used samples of lung tissue from surgery for suspected lung cancer. They studied samples (that did not contain any cancer cells) from 28 people who had COPD and 15 people who were smokers but did not have COPD.

Looking specifically at alveolar macrophage cells under a microscope, the researchers measured the sizes of the cells and the amount of carbon accumulated in the cells.

They found that the average amount of carbon was more than three times greater in alveolar macrophage cells from COPD patients compared to smokers. Cells containing carbon were consistently larger than cells with no visible carbon.

Patients with larger deposits of carbon in their alveolar macrophages had worse lung function, according to a measure called FEV1%, which quantifies how much and how forcefully patients can breathe out.

When the researchers exposed macrophages to carbon particles in the lab, they saw the cells become much larger and found that they were producing higher levels of proteins that lead to inflammation.

Dr Lea, Investigator within the NIHR Manchester BRC’s Respiratory Theme said: “As we compared cells from COPD patients with cells from smokers, we can see that this build-up of carbon is not a direct result of cigarette smoking. Instead, we show alveolar macrophages in COPD patients contain more carbon and are inherently different in terms of their form and function compared to those in smokers.

“Our research raises an interesting question as to the cause of the increased levels of carbon in COPD patients’ macrophages. It could be that people with COPD are less able to clear the carbon they breathe in. It could also be that people exposed to more particulate matter are accumulating this carbon and developing COPD as a result.

“In future, it would be interesting to study how this carbon builds up and how lung cells respond over a longer period of time.” 

Professor Fabio Ricciardolo is Chair of the European Respiratory Society’s group on monitoring airway disease, based at the University of Torino, Italy, and was not involved in the research. He said: “This set of experiments suggest that people with COPD accumulate unusually large amounts of carbon in the cells of their lungs. This build-up seems to be altering those cells, potentially causing inflammation in the lungs and leading to worse lung function.

“In addition, this research offers some clues about why polluted air might cause or worsen COPD. However, we know that smoking and air pollution are risk factors for COPD and other lung conditions, so we need to reduce levels of pollution in the air we breathe and we need to help people to quit smoking.”

[1] Baker J, Booth S, Dungwa J, et al. Alveolar macrophage carbon is associated with COPD severity. ERJ Open Res 2025; in press (https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00933-2024).

The paper is available here: 

Funding: the North West Lung Centre Charity and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Announced by the Technology Secretary on Monday 9 June), the Spärck AI scholarships, named after pioneering British computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones, will provide full funding for master’s degrees at nine leading UK universities specialising in artificial intelligence and STEM subjects – from Edinburgh to Manchester, and Newcastle to Bristol. 

Set to rival the likes of globally recognised Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright scholarships, at least 100 talented undergraduates level students from the UK and abroad will see unparalleled access to industry partnerships, work placements and mentorship opportunities, including in the UK’s AI Security Institute as well as leading tech firms like Darktrace, Faculty and Quantexa. 

This will not only drive forward AI innovation that grows the UK economy but also gives young people a direct route into highly skilled jobs in the UK’s tech sector. 

By covering both tuition and living expenses, the scholarship could also be of interest to talent students from low-income backgrounds who might otherwise be unable to afford university – spreading opportunity across the UK. 

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “We are providing unique opportunities for talented young people to take up master’s degrees in AI, with fully funded tuition and unparalleled access to industry. 

“Students will be able to go on to highly skilled jobs, building a workforce fit for the future and boosting economic growth as part of our Plan for Change. 

“We are also expanding our fellowship programme to bring top talent into our leading AI sector and drive forward transformational benefits to the public like new drug discoveries.” 

Spärck AI scholarships: Applications will open in Spring 2026, with the first cohort beginning their studies in October 2026.  

Universities participating in the Spärck AI scholarship programme include: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Southampton, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester and Bristol, who will co-design and co-fund the initiative. 

Companies signed up to participate in the scholarship programme include PolyAI, Quantexa, CausaLens, Flok, Beamery, Darktrace and Faculty. 

“Sadly, recent media coverage about our study has been inaccurate - while more frequent sex is linked to higher relationship satisfaction, this could just as likely be because those in more satisfying relationships tend to have sex more often - not that increasing frequency alone will necessarily boost happiness. Therapeutic interventions therefore need to focus on exploring any underlying dynamics and barriers to intimacy, rather than just encouraging people to increase frequency.”

These findings align with similar studies conducted in other Western populations, suggesting these insights are likely applicable beyond Aotearoa/New Zealand. For sex and relationship therapists, the research suggests that focusing on interventions that increase the frequency of sex and/or improve orgasm consistency (rather than aiming for 100% every time) may be more beneficial for helping women improve their sexual relationship satisfaction - however, the authors highlight that this requires further research.

Ultimately, removing the pressure and goal-oriented mindset around orgasm may enhance both sexual pleasure and overall satisfaction.

Since the breakthrough, 18-year-old Rose Anderson from Stretford in Manchester has received a diagnosis of one of the newly discovered conditions.

Rose has been known to the team at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) for nearly her whole life, although a precise diagnosis for her seizures and developmental delay has proved difficult to find.

On receiving the news from the Manchester research team last year, Rose’s mum Lyn said: “We felt excited and relieved to finally receive Rose’s diagnosis. Rose is a very happy person, and with any diagnosis, she will always be Rose to us. This has helped us pinpoint what has caused her to be the way she is.”

The study was supported by the MFT-hosted NIHR Manchester BRC, as part of its which aims to improve diagnosis of rare conditions.

Researchers from the NIHR Manchester BRC, MFT, and The University of Manchester (UoM) collaborated with scientists globally to analyse the genetic data of thousands of individuals including those who took part in the a Genomics England initiative to sequence and study the role genes play in health and disease.

Genes are sections of our DNA and contain the instructions for building proteins, which are needed by the body for cell growth and repair.

Parts of our genes that do not make proteins have previously been dismissed as ‘dark matter’ because they were not understood, or ‘junk DNA’ because it was thought they were not essential.

Published in Nature Genetics today (date), Manchester researchers have challenged these assumptions, showing that changes in these regions play a crucial role in brain development.

The team found that mutations in regions of the genome that form R-loops (special DNA-RNA structures that can influence genetic activity) are more common than previously thought.

This insight led them to uncover two new neurodevelopmental conditions:

• RNU2-2-related disorder, which is linked to developmental delays, intellectual disability, small head size (microcephaly), autistic traits and seizures.
• RNU5B-1-related disorder, associated with developmental delays, weak muscle tone (hypotonia), larger-than-average head size (macrocephaly), and poor growth.

Neurodevelopmental conditions – disorders that affect brain development – impact 2-5% of people worldwide.

For many families, these conditions remain a mystery, as current genetic tests often fail to find a cause.

The two new conditions, along with ReNU syndrome (a condition identified in 2024 which has an impact on learning, behaviour, speech and movement) account for more than 1% of all unsolved developmental cases.

This means the breakthrough could provide a genetic explanation for several thousands of people globally with these conditions.

Rose, who was diagnosed with RNU2-2-related disorder in October 2024, loves music, walking, swimming, visiting cafes and riding a tandem bike. She lives with her mum Lyn, dad Joe and younger sister, Lily.

At Lyn’s 20-week pregnancy scan, it was first suspected that Rose may have a rare genetic condition. Despite undergoing extensive genetic testing at MFT and taking part in research, the team had been previously unable to find a specific cause for Rose’s symptoms.

Lyn said: “You wonder if it’s just a random thing that has happened or parents sometimes look to themselves for the cause. Rose first started experiencing seizures when she was a baby – she would become flushed, very vacant and would loll her head to one side. After a bad seizure when she was 2 and a half years old, Rose was diagnosed with epilepsy. She occasionally has seizures now, but these are better managed with medication.

“When Rose went to nursery, younger children began overtaking her with early developmental milestones. Rose is non-verbal and is great at communicating using objects and symbols. She experiences hyperventilation (rapid breathing), can struggle with spatial awareness and needs support with eating and personal care.

“This breakthrough is fantastic, and we hope it will lead to more families receiving a diagnosis now and when early symptoms first appear. This could help improve quality of life for other children and young people and find out what it is that makes them unique.”

Rose and her family are working with the Manchester team to help them better understand RNU2-2 related disorder. Rose has also taken part in more research at MFT since receiving her diagnosis, including donating skin cells to help the team produce brain stem cells for epilepsy research.

Study lead and first author of the paper Dr Adam Jackson, Academic Clinical Fellow at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at MFT and The University of Manchester and early career researcher in the NIHR Manchester BRC’s Rare Conditions Theme, said: “By proving that non-protein coding genes play a key role in human health, this study challenges long-held assumptions about ‘junk DNA’ and brings hope to many families searching for answers.”

Dr Jackson, who is also part of the (MRCC), a virtual centre based at MFT which aims to improve the lives of people with rare conditions, explained: “Identifying these genetic mutations was a one-year process. They are difficult to understand because they are in the ‘dark matter’, so we didn’t know what their effect would be when they don’t produce a protein. It was thought that one of the genes didn’t do anything at all, but our method of looking at R-loop forming regions has highlighted this region to be active.”

15-year-old Noah from the Isle of Wight was diagnosed with RNU5B-1-related disorder by the team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust this year, more than seven years after donating his DNA for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

His mum, Maria Villa Vine, said: “We were blown away when we received the diagnosis and to find out it was rare. I always knew my boy was special, but this confirmed it! Having a diagnosis can help you understand yourself, so this will support Noah being able to do that.”

Noah’s diagnostic journey began at around 15 months old when his family noticed he wasn’t reaching some milestones that are typically displayed at that age. At four years old, Noah was diagnosed with autistic traits and following a reassessment when he was 12, Noah was diagnosed as autistic.

Following extensive initial genetic investigations by clinicians in Southampton, Noah took part in the 100,000 Genomes Project. This did not find a diagnosis, but his data was entered into the research environment which resulted in the Manchester team’s discovery.

Maria said: “We took part in the 100,000 Genomes Project because as a family we thought, what’s there to lose? If it can help your child or other children with disabilities in the community, why wouldn’t you? We didn’t expect to hear anything from it until we got the phone call.

“Navigating early years as a parent can be difficult, it’s full of emotion and your brain blocks things out. You can feel self-blame and guilt, wondering if it’s something you did. It can also be a hard time for siblings – Noah’s sister was seven at the time of his autism diagnosis. It’s important to have a network of professionals around families to support them and put the children at the centre of conversations.”

This study was supported by the , which facilitates research into the epigenomics of rare diseases and is part of the Medical Research Council and NIHR-funded Rare Diseases UK Platform.

Professor Siddharth Banka, senior author of the study who oversaw the research, is a Professor of Genomic Medicine and Rare Diseases at UoM, Consultant Clinical Geneticist at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at MFT, and Clinical Director of the MRCC.

Discussing the next steps for the research, Professor Banka, who is also the Rare Conditions Co-Theme Lead at the NIHR Manchester BRC and Co-Lead for the EpiGenRare Node, said: “We now want to understand these conditions better, such as how do their symptoms evolve over time, are there any associated complications and discover potential treatment options. We also need to understand the mechanism of the disease better – how exactly are these genetic mutations causing neurodevelopmental conditions? With this information, we hope to identify treatments and therapies, and make these available for patients.”

The Manchester-based team’s findings have also had a positive impact on patients and families worldwide.

In Australia, the breakthrough has meant that clinicians there were able to diagnose with RNU2-2-related disorder after a decade-long diagnostic journey.

Gitty’s mum, Miriam, said: “We felt very relieved when we found out. The diagnosis didn’t change anything because Gitty was 10 years old at this stage and we’ve lived through all these symptoms. But knowing that it won’t affect our other children and can’t be passed down by them was a big relief. Uncertainty can be very unnerving, so having a diagnosis gives us peace of mind.”

Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure, said: “For parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, understanding the cause of symptoms is an essential first step to getting the best help for their child. The experimental medicine championed by our NIHR Biomedical Research Centres which leads to important discoveries like this provides real benefits for real people like Rose. This exciting work has the potential to change the care of patients not only in the UK but around the world."

Dr Sarah Wynn, CEO of Unique, a charity which supports families affected by rare genetic disorders, said: “This research study which has discovered two new frequent causes of neurodevelopmental conditions is incredibly important and valuable to patients and families, who have often been searching for a long time for the answer to their child’s developmental delays. Receiving a diagnosis like this can be life-changing for families, not only by providing the explanation they have been looking for but enabling them to connect to others and learn more about the condition resulting in improved care and support for their child. We are enormously grateful to research teams such as this, who work tirelessly to discover new gene associations and understand more about rare genetic conditions bringing benefit to people and families all over the world.”

At a ceremony in the historic Whitworth Hall, he was presented with an honorary doctorate by the University’s Chancellor, Nazir Afzal. The award is in honour not only of his sporting success but for his inspirational work away from football, including through his family foundation, the Guardiola Sala Foundation.

Pep said: “Manchester means so much to me. I have spent nine years here and it has become home. The people, the culture, my incredible football club, my colleagues… it is all so special to me and my family.  When I arrived here in 2016, I did not know how long I would spend here. The way this city embraced me made everything easy. My time here has been beautiful. 

“I know how important the University of Manchester is to our city. It’s the home to a lot of research and it has a history of discovery. So, honestly, to be honoured in this way by such an esteemed institution is an amazing feeling. I want to thank everyone at the University of Manchester for this moment – and I want to thank everyone at Manchester City for their constant support.”

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “Pep wasn’t born in Manchester, but like me and so many others, the city has welcomed him and made it feel like home. That welcome and the way Manchester gets under your skin is why so many people feel a deep, lifelong connection with the city.

“Pep is an innovator and a winner who has inspired millions of people through his success as a manager. He has played a huge role in making Manchester a global success story and we are honoured that he has chosen to accept this degree. I hope that this forges another important connection between him, the University of Manchester, and the city.”

Honorary degrees are the highest awards the University can offer. The University recognises remarkable individuals that have made outstanding contributions to society that embody its values, improve the lives of people in local communities or have created significant impact in their field of work and often far beyond.

Widely regarded as one of the successful and innovative managers in the history of the game, Pep followed a trophy laden playing career by being appointed as manager of the Barcelona first team in 2008. He won the La Liga title in three of his four seasons at the Camp Nou and lifted the UEFA Champions League twice.

After Barcelona, he joined Bayern Munich whom he led to the last four of the UEFA Champions League in each of his three seasons, landing the Bundesliga three times and winning the league and cup double twice.

Guardiola joined City in 2016. In his second season he guided the Cityzens to the Premier League title and the Carabao Cup. He picked up four successive Manager of the Month awards and was voted the Premier League Manager of the Season and the LMA Manager of the Year.

He was again voted Premier League Manager of the Season after guiding City to four more trophies in 2018/19 to become the Club’s most successful boss ever with six trophies in three seasons.

City added the Carabao Cup and Community Shield to Pep’s list in 2019/20, but the Catalan won yet more silverware in 2020/21, with another Premier League title and Carabao Cup success. He also became the first City boss to take his side to a Champions League final in May 2021, taking his trophy haul to 10. ​Guardiola’s incredible spell at the Etihad saw him claim a fourth Premier League title in five years in 2021/22 and a fifth in 2022/23.

And to top off another history-defining season under Pep’s tenure, a fifth league win and City’s FA Cup final win followed by victory in the Champions League final saw the club named Treble winners in 2022/2023.

On the final day of the 2023/24 season, City became the first club to win the Premier League in four successive seasons, confirming the title on the final day.

Pep’s leadership has not only elevated the club’s success but is a model for performance excellence and continuous improvement that has inspired leaders outside of football. Alongside this, the University wanted to recognise his contributions to Manchester’s cultural and community life, and unwavering commitment to social responsibility and justice, through his family foundation - the Guardiola Sala Foundation. 

●&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Led by The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester, and supported by the two Mayoral Combined Authorities, City Councils, alongside businesses and investors

A groundbreaking partnership between The University of Manchester and The University of Cambridge has been awarded £4.8 million by Research England to accelerate inclusive growth and innovation collaboration. As the UK’s first cross-UK innovation partnership, it will pioneer a new model of place-to-place collaboration and help drive economic growth for the UK- setting an example for other cities to follow. With further investment from the two universities, the total funding for the partnership will be £6m.

The partnership will be led by Unit M and Innovate Cambridge - the universities’ respective innovation capabilities - with support from the two Mayoral Combined Authorities, City Councils, businesses and investors. It is a prime example of how a university-led, cross-UK innovation collaboration can enhance the UK's global competitiveness and foster innovation-driven growth.

This initiative responds directly to the UK government’s imperative for universities to support the delivery of the national Industrial Strategy and make a stronger contribution to economic growth.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice Chancellor of The University of Manchester, commented: "Our partnership with Cambridge marks a new model of collaboration between UK universities. It brings together the distinctive strengths of each of our universities and cities, connecting two of the great innovation ecosystems to scale up what we can achieve. This new approach to innovation accelerates the time between discovery and impact, getting ideas into the real economy and our communities even more quickly to drive inclusive growth.”

Professor Lou Cordwell, Chief Executive of Unit M, said: “Universities are increasingly taking a lead in convening and catalysing their innovation ecosystems. By bringing together investors, businesses, entrepreneurs, academics, and public sector agencies, this partnership will create new opportunities and stimulate investment into the innovation economy. We are proud at Unit M to be part of such a pioneering partnership, and look forward to continuing to work with Cambridge.”

Professor Deborah Prentice, University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor, commented: “This pioneering initiative brings together the combined strengths of Cambridge and Manchester to create something that is truly ground-breaking. By connecting our cities, we’re helping to build a more collaborative and dynamic environment in which innovative research can connect with industry, venture capital and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth and deliver real benefits for people and places across the UK.”

Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Champion, Lord Vallance, said: “This pioneering partnership is proof that our ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor can and will fire up economic growth across the length and breadth of the UK, which is critical to our Plan for Change.

“Cambridgeshire and Greater Manchester are forging a path I hope others will follow. Science is always stronger when we work together, and stronger research ties between the UK’s great regions will only lead to more investment, more opportunities, and more breakthroughs, from health to clean energy and beyond.”

Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, commented: “This investment underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration across England. By connecting the vibrant ecosystems of Cambridge and Manchester, we aim to drive significant economic growth and create a model for place-based innovation that can be replicated nationwide."

At the core of the partnership is the exchange of complementary innovation assets to ensure real-world impact. Both cities already have strong R&D capabilities and strengths in leading-edge sectors such as AI, life sciences, and advanced materials. Cambridge has deep investor networks but experiences growth constraints due to its small scale, higher costs, and lack of development land. Manchester provides that scale, affordability for start-ups and scale-ups, and a large talent pool - but has a less mature support ecosystem.

The Research England funding will be used in three key areas: ecosystem activation and integration; growing investment; and testing and learning.

●&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Ecosystem activation and integration: It will strengthen relations within and between the innovation ecosystems of the two cities, to create a vibrant and ambitious cross-city innovation network. This aims to create progressive new approach inclusive growth.

●&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Growing investment: It will harness the combined strengths of both universities and partner cities to support start-ups and scale-ups to secure funding and grow, attract innovation-intensive FDI to the UK, and stimulate investment into R&D.

●&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Testing and learning: It will pilot new approaches and share best practice for delivering ecosystem collaboration and inclusive growth. This will allow other cities, the wider higher education sector community, and local and national governments in the UK and internationally to learn from the partnership.

Recognised as both a City of Literature and a City of Lifelong Learning, Manchester joins a select group of global cities acknowledged for their commitment to education, creativity and cultural development. 

The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Manchester City Council came together yesterday to celebrate Manchester’s dual status as a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning and Literature. 

The celebration was held at Manchester Metropolitan University, and The University of Manchester’s President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison delivered the event’s closing remarks. 

The UNESCO status of City of Lifelong Learning is an important accolade for The University of Manchester, as lifelong learning is one of the University’s key focuses.  

Lifelong learning provides the opportunity for access to a University of Manchester education without the commitment of full-time on campus study, creating a more flexible and inclusive learning environment. 

Outside of the classroom, lifelong learning also provides support for learner’s personal and professional development, aligning with industry and employer needs by driving economic, social and cultural progress. 

The University is continuously working with students, alumni, businesses and strategic industry partners to make The University a Learning Partner for Life.   

Professor Ang Davies, Academic Lead for Lifelong Learning at The University of Manchester, said: “We are extremely proud to join the UNESCO family of Learning Cities and have already made many connections in the UK and beyond.”

Mags Bradbury, Head of Social Responsibility & Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester, said: “We are proud to be part of this city-wide partnership, working with civic partners, supporting the ambitions of our city. It’s great that we can share what we are doing locally on lifelong learning through UNESCO, delivering in Manchester our commitment to the global UN Sustainable Development Goals.”  

The UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning designation was given to Manchester last February. In a short period of time, the partnership has launched over 90 projects, delivered events reaching 14,000 learners and over 2,000 learning and skills specialists have attended professional development events. Three films, launched this week, showcase the impact of the designation on learners and providers.   

The event also showcased the projects from artists funded by the British Council’s International Collaboration Grant, who have been collaborating between Manchester and Nanjing - one of few other cities globally to have this prestigious dual designation. Yesterday’s event marked the culmination of a 9-month artistic exchange exploring the natural world through literature.  

Also showcased at the event was an exhibition of artwork and writing by young students, developed through a school engagement programme involving Year 3-6 pupils from Manchester and Nanjing schools. The work created by the artist exchange and schools programme will be open to the public as part of Festival of Libraries at Manchester Central Library from 3 - 17 June 2025. 

Ivan Wadeson, Executive Director of Manchester City of Literature, says: “Huge thanks to Arts Council England and the British Council International Collaboration Grants for their support to make this happen, alongside the regular funders of Manchester City of Literature: Manchester City Council, The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.”

Jill Griffiths, Head of the School of Digital Arts and Academic Lead for Lifelong Learning at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “It’s a privilege to host the event at Manchester Metropolitan University in celebration of the UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning and City of Literature designations. 

“Working in partnership with Manchester City Council and The University of Manchester to attain these designations is a reflection of the collaborative ethos of the city and Manchester Met, and this event, which also took place during the Festival of Libraries, was a vibrant celebration showcasing the breadth and depth of our creative and cultural offering alongside our commitment to making lifelong learning a reality for everybody within Manchester.”

To find out more about the artist exchange, exhibition and project please visit:  

To find out more about the British Council International Collaboration Grants please visit:  

Join us on Saturday 14 June, 11am - 4.30pm for a day of creativity, discovery and play. Our free community festival offers something for everyone with inspiring talks and performances, hands-on science experiments, art and crafts workshops, heritage tours and more.

One of the festival’s standout features is the Bee Curious programme, featuring thought-provoking talks and performances for all ages. Highlights include: exploring the science and art behind how our brains respond to everyday environments, people we see, and places we visit with Dr Sarah Fox and Dr Henry McPherson;  taking an interstellar journey to find out about other worlds with Dr Eamonn Kerins as the Jodrell Bank Alien; and exploring links between creativity and wellbeing to find joy in the everyday with Manchester-based poet, Rebecca Hurst. 

Step back in time with Grant Collier and explore the roots of our revolutionary institution on a guided historic walking campus tour. Uncover the rich tapestry of history that makes our campus unlike any other. As the nation’s first ‘civic’ university, our unique identity has pushed us to global prominence and this tour offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about pioneering individuals and groundbreaking discoveries.

Try your hand at street art with local art collective Grit Studios, presenting The Art of Research, a vibrant showcase of artwork inspired by research at the University. There’ll be a series of free drop-in workshops throughout Saturday, so release your inner artist and get creative with sprays and stencils.

Come plant with us! Pop along to our University community allotment a partnership between the University and Ardwick Climate Action and get hands-on with planting and sustainability.  Then visit the co-curated, community exhibition Blue Skies at Manchester Museum, which asks a critical question: “You wouldn’t drink visibly dirty water, so why would you breathe invisibly dirty air?”

Together we’ll explore what makes for a greener, healthier and fairer world for everyone. Take part in over 80 interactive stalls. Uncover the mysteries of the human body as we take a closer look at our hands, hearts and minds. Interact with robot companions, step into a world of virtual reality and explore the wonder of space. Meet the makers of marvellous materials. Enjoy wellbeing and craft making activities, learn the art of calligraphy and don on a University graduation gown! There’s plenty to discover and do – with activities on offer for all ages. 

Be amazed by the power and joy of chemistry in our visually exciting Flash Bang Show with Dr Frank Mair. Expect fantastic colour changes, flashes and the occasional bang - get ready to hold on to your hats!

Our Universally Manchester Festival is taking place on our Oxford Road campus and is free and open to everyone.

Find out more about our family-friendly activities on the .

This milestone reflects The University’s strategic vision to expand access to education and foster inclusive, innovative learning environments. By becoming a member of EUCEN, The University of Manchester aims to: 

• Enhance collaborative opportunities: Partner with a diverse network of European institutions to exchange knowledge and develop joint continuing education initiatives. 
• Influence educational policy: Contribute to shaping European policies that support lifelong learning and address the evolving needs of learners. 
• Promote innovation in learning: Embrace and share best practices and technologies that enable flexible, accessible learning pathways. 

Through active participation in EUCEN’s programmes and initiatives, The University seeks to help drive advancements in lifelong learning and implement responsive educational programmes that meet the needs of diverse populations. 

Founded in 1991, EUCEN is a leading association dedicated to university lifelong learning - the provision of educational opportunities, services, and research by higher education institutions to support personal and professional development throughout life. University lifelong learning also plays a vital role in driving social, cultural, and economic progress in communities and regions. 

Pascal Paschoud, President of EUCEN said: “EUCEN is truly delighted to welcome The University of Manchester to our network. As a leading UK institution with a strong commitment to lifelong learning, their dedication to making a real impact aligns perfectly with our mission. We look forward to their active involvement and collaboration. Together, we can strengthen the role of university lifelong learning in building innovative, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.”  

EUCEN currently includes 163 member institutions across 36 countries. Its platform supports knowledge sharing, the development of innovative educational strategies, and policy advocacy in lifelong learning. 

Also inducted at the 2025 conference was Imperial College London, making The University of Manchester one of only four UK institutions in the network—alongside the Universities of Oxford, Sunderland, and Imperial. 

While pollution levels from road traffic have fallen significantly thanks to policies like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), new air pollution data from scientists at The University of Manchester, in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), University of York, Zhejiang University and National Centre for Atmospheric Science, reveal emissions from non-road mobile machinery, such as generators and heavy-duty construction equipment, can exceed those from vehicles, particularly in areas where there is a lot of building activity.

Black carbon is soot from combustion and is a component of particulate matter (PM2.5). These are very fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream and are known to damage human health. 

The team collected the pollution measurements from the top of the BT Tower in central London over summer and winter, using a technique called eddy covariance to track how much black carbon is released into the air and where it comes from.

The findings revealed that while pollution levels were significantly lower than cities like Beijing and Delhi, who have monitored pollution using the same method, they are not low enough to meet the . They suggest similar regulatory attention to road traffic is now needed for the construction sector. 

The study, published in the journal is the first of its kind in Europe.

At 190 metres tall, the BT Tower observatory has a specialised gas inlet system installed on the tower’s roof, which draws air into a laboratory on the 35th floor, allowing researchers to analyse pollution as it rises from streets, buildings, construction sites and nearby parks below.

The ‘eddy covariance’ method works by measuring the turbulent motion of air, also known as eddies, and the concentration of airborne substances like black carbon within those eddies.

The scientists also conducted a detailed spatial footprint analysis to pinpoint emission hotspots that were directly linked to active construction sites near the BT Tower.

The new findings suggest that further progress in improving London’s air quality will require stricter regulation of construction machinery, especially in rapidly developing areas.

added: “We compared observed emissions with emission standards for construction equipment and found that even with compliance, black carbon output from generators, machinery and construction vehicles remains significant. Our work highlights how measurement techniques like eddy covariance can fill critical gaps in our understanding of urban pollution and support evidence-based strategies to protect public health and the environment.”

This research was published in the journal Environmental Sciences: Atmospheres

Full title: Quantifying black carbon emissions from traffic and construction in central London using eddy covariance

DOI:

Led by researchers at The University of Manchester, the study reveals that invisible, odourless gases like helium and argon are slowly seeping hundreds of kilometres up through Earth’s crust, reaching underground water supplies thousands of meters beneath our feet.

For decades, scientists have believed that the vast majority of Earth’s internal gases are either pushed deep underground through tectonic activity, or escape back to the surface through volcanic eruptions.

The new research, published in the journal , challenges this understanding  and the findings could give scientists a better idea of the geological and chemical processes that take place deep inside the Earth.

“Think of it like a having small puncture in your car tyre,” said lead author Dr Rebecca Tyne, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester.

“We’ve discovered a steady trickle of gases coming from deep within Earth, even though there’s no obvious volcanic activity on the surface.

“This passive degassing of the mantle may be an important, yet previously unrecognised process and these findings will help our understanding of how our planet’s interior works  and how much gas is escaping into the atmosphere over time. It could even play an important role in the geologic carbon cycle”

The researchers analysed groundwater from 17 wells in the Palouse Basin Aquifer in the United States - a key source of drinking water in a region considered to be geologically stable.

Using advanced measurement techniques, they measured for multiple types of helium and argon and found signatures to suggest these gases had travelled up from the Earth’s mantle — the hot, dense layer between the outer crust and the core. Importantly, the helium and argon gases detected are inert, meaning they do not react chemically or affect water quality.

Co-author Dr Mike Broadley , NERC Independent Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “We found evidence of mantle-derived gasses in 13 out of the 17 wells.  These gases – especially helium-3 and argon-40 – do not form in the atmosphere or in shallow rocks, they come from a layer of the mantle called the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, many kilometres deep in the Earth.”

The highest amount of gas was found in the oldest and deepest groundwater samples - some over 20,000 years old - indicating the gases have been moving slowly but steadily over a long period of time.

The researchers also found a strong correlation between the samples, suggesting they are travelling up together from the same deep source.

Their findings suggest that this kind of low-level, non-volcanic degassing may be more common – and more important – than previously thought. The team are now planning to investigate whether this is a globally consistent phenomenon by investigating groundwaters worldwide.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA),  Université de Lorraine (France), University of Ottawa (Canada) and the University of Idaho (USA).

Journal: Nature Geoscience

Full title: Passive degassing of lithospheric volatiles recorded in shallow young groundwater

DOI: 10.1038/s41561-025-01702-7

Link:

The breakthrough, , the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, brings researchers one step closer to discovering forces or particles beyond the Standard Model of physics.

This result represents the most precise measurement ever made at a particle accelerator anywhere in the world, and could help unlock the secrets of the universe.

What is the Muon g-2 Experiment?

The Muon g-2 experiment investigates the subtle “wobble” in the motion of muons, particles similar to electrons but with 200 times more mass, as they move through a magnetic field.

This wobble, known as the muon’s ‘anomalous magnetic moment’, or g-2, provides one of the most sensitive and precise tests of the Standard Model of particle physics, the theory that explains how fundamental particles and forces interact.

Landmark results

This announcement reveals the experiment’s third and final measurement, which confirms earlier results, but with a much better precision of 127 parts-per-billion, surpassing the original experimental design goal of 140 parts-per-billion.

These results now stand as the world’s most accurate measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly.

Representing more than a decade of work, this milestone is expected to stand as the definitive benchmark for testing the Standard Model for years to come.

Critical UK contribution

Scientists from the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Liverpool, and University College London were central to the experiment, which brought together 176 researchers from 34 institutions across seven countries.

The UK-built straw tracking detectors were essential in tracing the motion of the muon beam, a critical part of the analysis that enabled this unprecedented level of precision.

The University of Manchester was responsible for mapping the vertical oscillations in the beam motion using the detectors and in the theory prediction for the measured value.

Professor Mark Lancaster, Principle Investigator of the UK groups from The University of Manchester, said: “This is the most precise measurement ever made at a particle accelerator and the culmination of over a decade’s work. The motion of the muon beam was exquisitely traced by the UK-built straw tracking detectors and was a key part of the analysis. That we now have a measurement to a precision of 0.1 parts per million and a theoretical prediction, to 0.5 parts per million, is a remarkable achievement from the work of hundreds of people.”

STFC’s Professor Sinead Farrington, Director of Particle Physics, added: “What’s really fascinating about this result is the way it has illustrated the interplay between theoretical predictions and experimental results - each can lead the other, and make demands on the precision of the other.  

“The UK has played critical roles of which we can be proud, both in leadership and in developing the straw tracking detectors, in this highly international collaboration.”

Read the at the Fermilab website.

To mark its 60^th anniversary, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) is bringing back its Festival of Business, expanding on the success of last year’s inaugural event.

Taking place across four days from the 16^th to 19^th June, the festival will bring together industry leaders, policymakers and academic experts to discuss the role businesses have to play in helping society respond to the pressing challenges and opportunities of our time.

Headlining the festival will be the ‘Innovate 2050’ day on Thursday 16^th featuring panel discussions exploring the future of media, finance and digitalisation.

Alongside an impressive line-up of AMBS’s leading thinkers, the day will see the likes of Siobhan Morgan, head of development at the producers of hit TV show, Adolescence, Warp Films; Kerris Bright, chief customer officer at the BBC, and Jess McCreadie, investment director at Northern Gritstone, coming together to discuss how their industries are innovating to respond to the world’s biggest challenges including the climate crisis and the emergence of new technologies like AI.

Alongside this, other events will be running throughout the festival focussing on themes including professional development, the future of the Third Sector and empowering entrepreneurs. The Festival of Business comes as AMBS celebrates six decades of empowering leaders, thinkers and visionaries across the globe to deliver transformative and innovative change.

Ken McPhail, Head of Alliance Manchester Business School, said: "We are currently living through a critical period as we face challenges including economic growth and regional disparities, global geopolitical upheaval and climate change. Rising to these challenges won’t be possible without business playing key leadership role in finding solutions and capitalising on opportunities."

Further details about the Festival of Business, along with information on how to get tickets to the events running throughout it, can be found .

Sarah joins the University from the Department for Transport where she has been Chief Scientific Adviser since 2021, seconded from the University of Nottingham. At the DfT she leads on many of the engineering and science challenges in transport, including decarbonisation, applications of artificial intelligence and cross-modal safety.

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

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

She has recently been appointed to the role of Deputy Chair of Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 Unit of Assessment Panel 12 (Engineering), was previously a member of EPSRC Council and Advance HE Athena Swan Governance Board and is currently the CSA member of ESRC Council.

She was President of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors 2015-2016 and her academic research, funded by industry and UKRI, has considered how complex systems bring people and technology together in the domains of transport, healthcare and manufacturing.

Sarah and her husband Craig are parents to two grown up children, and in her spare time, Sarah applies her passion for human-centred complex systems design to the hobbies of cooking and gardening.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “As we develop our 2035 strategy, having Sarah join our leadership team is going to be a great asset to the University. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is critical to our ambition to be one of the world’s great universities by 2035, through research impact, innovation and modern, flexible teaching. I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

Sarah will join the Faculty in mid-September. Professor Peter Green will be interim Vice-President and Dean in the intervening period.

In September 2023, scientists observed a bizarre series of global seismic signals, which appeared every 90 seconds over nine days – and then repeated a month later.

Almost a year later, two scientific studies proposed that the cause of these seismic anomalies were two mega tsunamis which were triggered in a remote East Greenland fjord by two major landslides which occurred due to warming of an unnamed glacier. The waves were thought to have become trapped in the fjord system, forming standing waves (or seiches) that undulated back and forth, causing the mystery signals.

Until now, there have been no observations of these seiches to confirm this theory.

Now, using a brand-new type of satellite altimetry, a team of researchers have confirmed the theory and provided the first observations of these waves whose behaviour is entirely unprecedented.

The new research is published today in the journal .

, Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics at The University of Manchester, who carried out the research in Oxford, said: “It's impressive to see that machine learning plays an important role in identifying these trapped waves. This research demonstrates how advancements in technology are enabling new observations and datasets, and also importantly, changing our approach to extracting scientific insights from large-scale data.”

Using data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, the research team were able to capture the wave activity for the first time. SWOT launched in December 2022 to map the height of water across 90% of Earth’s surface. It is equipped with the cutting-edge Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) instrument, which uses two antennas to measure ocean and surface water levels across a swath 30 miles wide.

The researchers then made elevation maps of the Greenland Fjord at various time points following the two tsunamis. These showed clear, cross-channel slopes with height differences of up to two metres. Crucially, the slopes in these maps occurred in opposite directions, showing that water moved backwards and forwards across the channel.

To validate their findings, the researchers linked these observations to small movements in the Earth’s crust recorded thousands of kilometres away, allowing them to reconstruct the characteristics of the wave, even for periods which the satellite did not observe. They also reconstructed weather and tidal conditions to rule out alternative explanations such as wind or tides.

Lead author (DPhil student, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford) said: “Climate change is giving rise to new, unseen extremes. These extremes are changing the fastest in remote areas, such as the Arctic, where our ability to measure them using physical sensors is limited. This study shows how we can leverage the next generation of satellite earth observation technologies to study these processes.

“SWOT is a game changer for studying oceanic processes in regions, such as fjords, which previous satellites struggled to see into.”

Co-author (Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford) said: “This study is an example of how the next generation of satellite data can resolve phenomena that has remained a mystery in the past. We will be able to get new insights into ocean extremes such as tsunamis, storm surges, and freak waves. However, to get the most out of these data we will need to innovate and use both machine learning and our knowledge of ocean physics to interpret our new results.”

This research was published in the journal

Full title: Observations of the seiche that shook the world

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59851-7

The University of Manchester now sits behind Oxford, Imperial, Cambridge and University College London, a position that reflects the University’s successful growth in research partnerships and business collaborations, driven by its Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team.

From the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020/21 through to the latest 2023/24 dataset, The University of Manchester saw 47% growth in industry funding to £30.1million, almost doubling on the sector average of 24%. In the last year, The University of Manchester’s industry income grew by an impressive 19% against the backdrop of a 0.2% contraction across the sector.  

The annual Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) sets out the income and expenditure of all higher education providers across the sector, providing a detailed national picture of university finances. The survey provides information on the total industry funding received, broken down by UK, EU, and non-EU industry funding.

The University’s Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team is also celebrating the results of the latest Higher Education Business Community and Interaction (HE-BCI) . The survey captures knowledge exchange activity more broadly and provides information on collaborative research and contract research with both SMEs and larger organisations. 

In the latest survey, Manchester ranked second for contract research with SMEs. It also took fourth place for collaborative research with larger organisations and seventh for total contract research.

Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement said: “Our partnerships with industry represent one crucial route by which the outcomes of our research support much-needed productivity growth in the economy, both nationally and in our region. 

“It’s great to see that so many companies – including a record number of the SMEs that are so important for Greater Manchester’s economy – want to work with our outstanding researchers to create a more innovative and prosperous future.”

Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, said: “I am thrilled to see the results of the HESA and HE-BCI reports which demonstrate the strides we have made at the University and, in my team, to grow the size and breadth of our industry research portfolio. These collaborations not only provide opportunities to drive business innovation, they also allow us to deliver impact through our research by addressing real world challenges and meeting business need.”

Through partnerships, The University of Manchester is fuelling innovation and growth in the North West and beyond, utilising academic expertise to deliver high quality consultancy, collaborative research and knowledge exchange activities.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester, said: “Our University is a powerhouse of research and it’s fantastic to see the strength of our research partnerships recognised in the latest HESA data. This reflects the outstanding work of our Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, and speaks to our broader mission - using knowledge to drive innovation, support business, and tackle pressing challenges here in the North West and beyond.”

The University’s Business Engagement and Knowlege Exchange team are proud to facilitate partnerships with some of the world's largest organisations along with regional and national SMEs. The team support collaborations which tackle global challenges through interdisciplinary research, as well as supporting industry to develop new products, processes and services.

The charity Versus Arthritis has awarded £3m to bring world-leading experts from five UK universities together to accelerate clinical epidemiology research, which will help answer pressing questions from those living with arthritis. 

Professor Kimme Hyrich, Director of The University of Manchester Centre for Musculoskeletal Research will co-lead the consortium with Professor Christian Mallen, Executive Dean and Professor of General Practice and Public Health at Keele University. 

Professor Hyrich, a leading clinical epidemiologist and consultant rheumatologist, highlights the advantages of team science in epidemiological research: “This award represents an exciting step-change in the way musculoskeletal epidemiology research is conducted in the UK, breaking down traditional research siloes and uniting minds, data and expertise to generate the evidence needed to support people living with arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions."  

The new research consortium is part of the charity’s drive to harness ‘team science’ to better understand the causes and risk factors for arthritis and improve treatment options. Epidemiology – the study of how diseases occur in different people and why - is critical to designing better and targeted interventions using data.   

The consortium, made up of experts from the Universities of Manchester, Keele, Oxford, Nottingham and Aberdeen, aims to close five gaps in our understanding of the debilitating disease and related conditions. They will consider menopause in relation to musculoskeletal health, inequalities in access to care, risks of long-term pain medications and determine the optimum levels of monitoring for those receiving immune drugs.  The researchers will also aim to identify those at higher risk of chronic pain sooner, given painful musculoskeletal conditions often begin in childhood. This holds the potential to explore ways to prevent or reduce persistent pain.  

Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research at Versus Arthritis, said: “The Versus Arthritis Research Consortium: Musculoskeletal Epidemiology - Better lives, Safer journey is a major step forward in tackling the everyday realities faced by people living with arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions.  

“This consortium will bring together leading researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience from across the UK in a team science approach. Their aim - to find real, practical solutions to the problems faced by people with arthritis.”  

The consortium will employ cutting edge analysis techniques on existing datasets to fill the identified gaps in our knowledge of arthritis and MSK conditions. Its findings will help to arm those living with arthritis to have informed conversations with clinicians about their care. It will also seek to improve clinical practice and policy around diagnosis, prevention and treatment.  

Professor Mallen, Keele University, said: "The new Versus Arthritis Research Consortium is an exciting new programme that will have a major impact on the lives of people living with painful conditions by uniting world-leading clinicians, academics, patients and policy makers.  

“It is a privilege to co-lead the consortium with Professor Hyrich and having strong representation from Keele University highlights the importance of primary care in improving outcomes for people living with arthritis and chronic musculoskeletal pain." 

The results will be shared through a broad range of partners including government, the NHS, clinicians and patient networks.  

More than 20 million people, of all ages, in the UK have problems with their joints, bones and muscles, which cause pain and impact all aspects of life including work and school.  

The Versus Arthritis Research Consortium: Musculoskeletal Epidemiology - Better lives, Safer journey is the first of six consortia to be announced by Versus Arthritis which is awarding £18 million of funding to this initiative over the next three years. 

The annual prize is one of the most prestigious museum awards in the world and Manchester Museum, part of The University of Manchester, is the first university museum to receive it, earning recognition for the way it balances globally-significant academic research with community engagement and social responsibility. 

Judges praised how Manchester Museum has ‘reimagined its mission, acknowledging and addressing its complex history by redefining the role of its collections and public programmes.’ Its approach to co-curation was cited as part of this, working with local and diasporic communities to bring new perspectives to collections and challenge traditional narratives. The South Asia Gallery, a British Museum partnership, is a key element of this, co-curated with 30 inspiring community members from across the South Asian diaspora, who were able to tell their own stories in their own words and on their own terms. 

Manchester Museum was also praised for ‘thoughtful, informed, and impactful community engagement, creating a truly inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of identity or background, can see themselves reflected and represented.’ The Manchester Museum Celebrates programme of events, created in collaboration with charities, faith organisations and community activists, aims to build understanding between cultures, bringing people together to celebrate culturally-significant events such as Lunar New Year, Vaisakhi, Africa Day and Iftar. 

Meanwhile, the Museum’s Top Floor has been transformed into a social and environmental justice hub, creating a space for collaboration with charities and non-profit organisations helping Greater Manchester’s communities take action on the issues they care about. It acts as the headquarters for Pinc College, a specialist creative education college for neurodivergent young people, aged 16 to 24. 

These initiatives are part of a wider, values-led transformation, underpinned by a £15 million redevelopment, which was completed in February 2023. 

Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises new or redeveloped museums that showcase the best in excellence and innovation in their field. It aims to recognise museums that promote inter-cultural dialogue and community participation, demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, and show creative and imaginative approaches to the production of knowledge. 

Previous winners include Sámi Museum Siida in Northern Lapland, Finland, Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, Netherlands, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Design Museum in London, and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. 

Manchester Museum won the main prize in the face of competition from 41 other shortlisted museums from across the continent. The award was presented on Saturday 25 May, during the EMYA2025 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony at the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białistok, Poland on 25 May 2025. 

Senior author Dr Ben Brown is a practicing GP and co-founder of Patchs, as well as a researcher at The University of Manchester. He said: “AI has the potential to reduce the heavier workload which is sometimes associated with eVisits in general practice.

“Despite the potential, AI tools are not yet routinely used in primary care. This study is the first to ask if this use of AI would be acceptable to staff and patients.”

Co-author Professor Niels Peek from The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, University of Cambridge said: “This work aligns with the government’s strategy to address the high workload that the NHS is facing with technology.

“The study demonstrates that there exist opportunities to streamline NHS services with AI in a way that is meaningful for, and would be welcomed by, patients and staff.”

A delegation from the University visited the country this week to develop our first education partnership in India, with the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. The two universities will establish a range of learning opportunities for students from BITS Pilani in the fields of engineering and computer science.

Two new research partnerships have been launched this week with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). Agreements have been signed by both institutions to mark the start of seed corn funds, which will help to create research projects addressing shared interests in India and the UK.

Professor Stephen Flint, Associate Vice-President International at The University of Manchester and leader of the University’s visiting delegation, said: “As The University of Manchester enters its third century, these exciting new partnerships both deepen and broaden our relationship with India. India is a key global partner, and we are incredibly proud of our joint educational ventures and commitment to academic collaboration over the years, which we know will continue for many more.”

Professor Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani said: “This Memorandum of Understanding marks a significant milestone for BITS Pilani as we strengthen our commitment to providing world-class education and research opportunities.

“By partnering with a globally renowned institution like The University of Manchester, we are confident that we can create transformative learning experiences for our students and contribute to cutting-edge research that addresses pressing global challenges.”

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) MD Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) said: “We are delighted to welcome the delegation from The University of Manchester to MAHE, Manipal, and sign the Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing research, fostering innovation, and creating new opportunities for students and faculty across both institutions.

“We look forward to deepening our engagement through joint research initiatives, co-supervised PhDs, and academic exchange programmes, especially in healthcare, biological sciences, and engineering. Together, we aim to drive impactful outcomes that benefit our academic communities and society at large.”

Professor G.U. Kulkarni, President at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) said: “The signing of this Letter of Intent marks an important step toward strengthening research collaboration between both institutions, particularly in the field of materials science. The collaboration will enable both institutions, known for their academic excellence, to derive benefits from synergy between them and be a fruitful platform for new initiatives.”

These new partnerships build upon the University’s established relationships with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Ashoka University, and O.P. Jindal Global University.

The University of Manchester was the first UK university to launch a joint PhD programme with an Indian institution, the dual award PhD with IIT Kharagpur, in 2021. Today, the University’s joint programmes with IIT Kharagpur and IISc nurture early career scholars from across India.

The University of Manchester also works closely with industry partners in India. A long-standing relationship with Tata Steel has seen the establishment of a Centre for Innovation in Advanced Materials at the Henry Royce Institute, which is focused on medical, 2D and second-life materials to emphasise the importance of reusing and recycling resources.

The conference on 29-30 May will bring together world experts in Dante studies, early print culture, and digital humanities. Attendees will explore groundbreaking interdisciplinary research, including the project’s pioneering use of artificial intelligence and computer vision to analyse page design and layout in early modern books - offering a new lens through which to view the evolution of print culture.

The JRRIL Dante Collection includes all but three of the known pre-1650 printed editions of the Divine Comedy, with highlights such as the very first Italian editions printed in 1472, richly illustrated editions from 1481 and 1487, and later translations in Spanish, French, English and Japanese. The collection also features 19th-century illustrations by Gustave Doré, and a giant hand-illuminated manuscript created in 1902.

The Manchester Digital Dante Library is hosted on Manchester Digital Collections, a state-of-the-art platform developed in partnership with Cambridge University Library and supported by the Research Lifecycle Project. It exemplifies a new model for digital scholarship, merging humanities research with advanced imaging techniques and setting a new standard for cultural heritage digitisation.

For more information on the conference, visit .

If you visit Manchester, one of the first things you’ll notice is the great number of bee images throughout the city. Born in the Industrial Revolution, the “worker bee” symbol captured the city’s tireless spirit and its legacy as a buzzing hive of industry. Today, the symbol is more often associated with collective resilience and remembrance following the Manchester Arena attack on May 22 2017.

The bee became a of the “Mancunian spirit”, emerging almost instantly on murals, on bodies as tattoos and on public memorials. Over the last eight years, it has become a core part of Manchester’s identity.

As part of my ongoing PhD research, I set out to understand why the bee is everywhere in Manchester and what it means to people. I interviewed 24 Mancunians who were living in the city at the time of the attack, including some who were directly affected.

Conducted in 2023, seven years after the attack, these interviews aimed to capture how the symbol’s meaning had evolved as the city continued to process and commemorate the event.

For many, the bee still stands as a symbol of resilience, a reminder of how the city came together in the face of tragedy. But for others, its presence throughout Manchester has become more of a burden than a comfort.

Appearing on buses, shop windows and public spaces, it serves as a constant and eerie reminder of the events and aftermath of the attack. Eight of my interviewees described these as memories of “trauma”. Over time, what once felt comforting has become more unsettling.

Fifteen of my interviewees expressed discomfort with how the bee has become more commercialised in the years since the attack. Some described feelings of “exploitation”.

Both independent businesses and large companies have embraced the symbol, integrating it into their branding in public spaces. Many sell bee-themed gifts and souvenirs, such as .

Manchester city council has played a key role in this commercialisation, promoting the image through various initiatives, including the Bee Network transport system and the Bee Cup – a reusable launched in 2023.

In June 2017, shortly after the attack, the council moved to trademark several versions of the bee as an official city symbol. This was made public in March 2018, after the period for .

Initially, the council allowed people and businesses to use the symbol for free, but later introduced a . Now, anyone wishing to use the of the bee must apply for permission from the council, and commercial use comes with a £500 fee. Businesses that want to use the bee are also asked to donate to charity.

The council described the trademarking of the bee symbol as a way to protect its use and support local good causes, such as the , which helps fund community projects and youth opportunities across the city.

But some of my participants noted that this transformed the bee from something personal and meaningful to something more corporate. In their view, it is as if the city itself is commodifying the attack rather than honouring it.

This can be viewed as an element of “dark tourism”, which involves visiting places where tragedy has been memorialised or commercialised. this manifests not through visits to the attack site but through the bee symbol, which has been commodified in murals, merchandise and public spaces. Tourists buy into collective grief through consumption, turning remembrance into a marketable experience and the bee as a managed and profitable commodity.

Some Manchester Arena bombing survivors I spoke to feel that their personal grief has been repackaged into a public identity, one that does not necessarily reflect the complexity of their experiences.

The use of the bee in products and souvenirs raises questions about how the city commercialises its identity, especially when considering the layered histories that the symbol carries.

Uncomfortable history

For some, the discomfort around Manchester’s bee goes even . Today, the bee symbolises resilience and unity, but it originally represented hard work during Manchester’s industrial boom.

This era wasn’t just about progress — it also involved especially through cotton by enslaved people in the Americas. Manchester’s role in the industrial revolution would have never been possible without slavery.

My participants pointed out this hidden history, noticing that these stories rarely appear in Manchester’s public commemorations in the city. The bee’s visibility today reveals how cities tend to highlight positive histories, while uncomfortable truths .

A painted window in Manchester’s Victoria station. Ashley Collar

Focusing solely on resilience risks creating a simplified version of Manchester’s past. , overlooking how historical injustices, like the city’s links to the transatlantic slave trade, still shape their lives today.

This selective storytelling makes it harder for some communities to commemorate Manchester’s identity. They can’t do so without acknowledging past legacies of slavery and the city’s history of division.

While some see the bee as a proud symbol of unity, others feel it erases their history. As the bee continues to dominate public spaces, Manchester faces an important challenge: making sure this symbol genuinely acknowledges the varied experiences and histories of all residents.

This might be through dedicated plaques or exhibits that explore some of these hidden histories, and the bee’s complex meaning. Only by confronting its past can the city ensure that commemoration includes everyone.

, PhD Candidate in Sociology at The University of Manchester and Associate Lecturer in Criminology at MMU
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The research, funded by Forces in Mind Trust, was the first qualitative study with ex-Service personnel living with dementia in the community in the UK.

The study  found that having the dual identities of being someone with a dementia diagnosis, and also being ex-military, caused specific challenges in accessing and receiving appropriate support. The study highlighted that they are between two separate support systems, neither of which fully supports their needs, and between which communication can be poor.   

Ex-Service personnel living with dementia in their own homes are commonly referred to as ‘living in the community’, as opposed to living in a care home or other supported accommodation. Although ex-Service personnel have been shown to have similar rates of dementia to the general population¹, they often have distinct support needs, that require specific understanding of their identity as an ex-Service person.

Though support is available for ex-Service personnel living with dementia through community-based support groups, initiatives were described as frequently short-term, with very few support groups that covered the dual identities of both being an ex-Service person and someone living with dementia. This led to this support not addressing their distinct support needs.

Interviews found that some ex-Service personnel were more willing to engage with services designed  specifically for the Armed Forces community.

Ex-Service personnel living with dementia also voiced concerns that support provision was not well advertised saying that services were not “joined-up” making it difficult to access the correct support.

The qualitative study was based on in-depth interviews with 15 care providers in the North-West of England, as well as 11 ex-Service personnel living with dementia and their care partners as well as two policy and practice workshops with stakeholders.

Although the research was an exploratory study, it outlines several recommendations to improve the support landscape for ex-Service personnel living with dementia, as well as areas that need to be better understood.

• Improving identification of ex-Service personnel at appropriate screening points in health and social care can assist with signposting. If identification was made by Memory Assessment Teams (who usually conduct dementia diagnoses) ex-Service personnel could be directly signposted to support available for them.
• Promoting joined-up working would reduce barriers in to accessing appropriate support, for example by training staff and volunteers supporting ex-Service personnel with dementia training or by ensuring those in dementia services are aware of ex-Service personnel-specific services.

Dr Lydia Morris, Division of Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester said: “Ex-Service personnel living with dementia in the community can be a group that falls through the cracks of support provision. We set out in this research to hear their lived experience for the first time in the UK. The dual identities of serving in the military and living with dementia create unique support needs that can make individuals feel like they have fallen between different support networks leading to confusion and poorer health outcomes.”

Michelle Alston, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust said: “Ex-Service personnel living with dementia in the community can be a ‘hidden’ part of the Armed Forces community. This research allowed us to hear directly from those affected by dementia for the first time in research in the UK, and clearly outlines some of the barriers to them receiving support. We hope that this study can be translated to make more consistent and more accessible support for ex-Service personnel living with dementia."

The Awards highlight the extensive range of social responsibility initiatives across the University community and include categories such as environmental sustainability, alumni contribution, widening participation and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Over 130 entries were submitted this year with judges recognising 14 winners and 23 highly commended. Winners included a recruitment initiative providing meaningful employment opportunities for members of our local community; an initiative that aims to inspire underrepresented students to pursue a career in research; and a project addressing asthma diagnosis, improving access and patient care.

Winning student-led initiatives included projects ranging from a student-led initiative teaching children in Kenya about oral health, to a project promoting sustainable transport and healthy lifestyles through bicycle use.

In addition to the Making a Difference Awards, two University Medals for Social Responsibility were presented, one to a member of staff and one to an alumnus. The recipients were Lee Barlow for The Bright Idea project, a solar solution transforming campus energy and cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions; and Charles Bakolo Mvula for a youth-led environmental movement initiative which is championing environmental sustainability in Malawi.

During the event a special Making a Difference Award was presented to the Tyndall Centre Manchester. The Award recognises 25 years of the UK’s first interdisciplinary climate change research centre. The Tyndall Centre’s mission is to work across disciplines and academia to shape effective and evidence-based policy to create real world impact. 

Speaking at the Award ceremony Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Tonight we have seen the extraordinary gift of expertise, care and commitment that has been given by our staff, students and donors to the communities that we serve. It has been inspiring to be part of these Awards and witness this work. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to all of the community groups and partners that work with us to make a difference.”

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, said: “We pride ourselves on being a pioneering institution for social responsibility, and these Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible work our staff, students, alumni, and partners do each year to enhance the wellbeing of society and the environment.”

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, concluded: “The Making a Difference Awards are a true celebration of extraordinary individuals and teams and the spirit within our University; an inspiring reminder of how passion, dedication, and vision can drive meaningful change. As we shape our strategy for 2035, our award winners illuminate the path forward, showing us the remarkable potential we have to transform lives and communities, both locally and globally.”

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The new Fellows have been recognised for their remarkable contributions to advancing medical science, groundbreaking research discoveries and translating developments into benefits for patients and the wider public. Their work exemplifies the Academy’s mission to create an open and progressive research sector that improves health for everyone.

The expertise of Fellows elected spans a wide range of clinical and non-clinical disciplines, from infectious disease and stem cell biology to veterinary medicine and dementia research. They join an esteemed Fellowship of 1,450 researchers who are at the heart of the Academy’s work, which includes nurturing the next generation of scientists and shaping research and health policy in the UK and worldwide.

This year’s cohort reflects the Academy’s ongoing commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within its Fellowship. Among the new Fellows, 41% are women – matching last year’s intake. Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation has reached 20% as the Academy continues working on improving the diversity of its Fellowship.

Professor Abel joins the Fellowship following groundbreaking research on the effects of maternal condition and fetal environment on offspring outcomes, with a particular focus on children living with parental mental illness, who face multiple disadvantages. In this growing group of children at risk, her work highlights when, and in which children, interventions are most likely to improve outcomes. This allows policy makers and service planners to optimise the value of limited resources for a growing population in need.

She said: “Nearly half of UK children will experience a parent with significant mental illness by the age of 16 and, as a result, will have worse physical and mental health, lower educational attainment and reduced quality of life. We can now harness the UK’s fantastic data resources and, along with novel imaging and clinical prediction models, support families most in need in this growing at-risk group. I am truly delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences – a uniquely effective platform through which I can continue to advocate for this vulnerable and hidden group of children.”

Professor Tony Day, a member of the Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre, is a world leader on glycosaminoglycan-protein interactions, which he has explored in the context of both physiological and inflammatory processes. For example, Tony has pioneered research on proteins that bind the polysaccharide hyaluronan, a central component of the mammalian extracellular matrix. Tony’s work has provided insights into the molecular basis of cumulus expansion, a process essential for ovulation, including the biochemistry of how the TSG-6 protein mediates the covalent modification of hyaluronan to form ‘HC•HA’ complexes. Formation of these complexes also represents a novel pathway in inflammation, with important implications for ongoing work by Tony and colleagues on virus/parasite-induced lung pathologies.

Underpinned by his 30 years of research on TSG-6, Tony has developed a biological drug, ‘Link_TSG6’, that has wide applicability for inflammatory and tissue-degenerative diseases. To take this forward, he co-founded Link Biologics, a University of Manchester spin out company that is developing treatments for dry eye disease and osteoarthritis, conditions that each affect ~350 of million individuals worldwide.

Professor Day said: "I am absolutely delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and get recognition for my team’s research in the fields of matrix and glycosaminoglycan biology”.

Professor Matt Sutton is an internationally-renowned health economist at the forefront of providing real-time, economic evidence to inform critical health policy choices. He has produced a body of highly-influential and practical work on payment methods and financial incentives in health care. He shows how these can improve the quality of care given to patients, increase system efficiency and reduce inequalities, but may also have unintended consequences.

He has demonstrated socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities are pervasive even in a national universal coverage system like the NHS and has helped improve fairness in the health sector across the United Kingdom by leading multiple reviews of the formulae used to direct additional resources to the areas of highest need. 

Professor Sutton works closely with policy advisors and analysts in national organisations to ensure research reaches decision-makers. At critical points in policymaking, he produced evidence to challenge the presumption that the “weekend effect” in hospital mortality was caused by inadequate staffing, generated real-time findings on the effectiveness of the COVID vaccination programme, and demonstrated the effectiveness of the national diabetes prevention programme.

He said:  “Being elected a Fellow is great honour as it is a one of the highest recognitions of excellence in the field of biomedical and health research in the UK.  It will be  a crucial aid in contributing to  national health policy discussions and provide  a platform to influence decisions that shape healthcare.”

Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “It is a privilege to welcome these 54 exceptional scientists to our Fellowship. Each new Fellow brings unique expertise and perspective to addressing the most significant health challenges facing society.

“The breadth of disciplines represented in this year’s cohort – from mental health and infectious disease to cancer biology and respiratory medicine – reflects the rich diversity of medical science today. Their election comes at a crucial time when scientific excellence and collaboration across disciplines are essential for addressing global health challenges both now and in the future. We look forward to working with them to advance biomedical research and create an environment where the best science can flourish for the benefit of people everywhere.”

The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

The Ideas With Impact Prize, which is supported by philanthropic donors to the University, aims to award £300,000 in its first funding round this summer. 

Scaling up support for founders 

Delivered by Unit M and the Innovation Factory, Ideas With Impact Prizes will provide individual awards of £100,000, £50,000, and £20,000 to entrepreneurs at the early stages of their founder journey. These awards will empower projects that address pressing local and global challenges, ensure Manchester’s best technologies move out into the world more quickly, and create tangible economic growth.  

In addition to financial support, winners will receive access to experienced mentors, networking opportunities, and guidance in translating research into viable business ventures. 

Donors at the heart of our innovation ecosystem 

The Prize is the latest development in the University’s Ideas With Impact partners’ programme, which has previously provided £400,000 to early-stage research spinouts. Successful projects include the development of a home-testing kit for the early detection of lung cancer, as well as Plant Organelle Technologies – a new spinout developing targeted techniques to tackle drought and herbicide resistance in plants. By reaching a wider range of founders, the Prize launch will maximise the impact of gifts to the programme. 

Donors have already made a great difference to the University’s innovation ecosystem, and will play a vital role as we scale up our ambition to become Europe’s leading innovation university. Ideas With Impact is more than a funding initiative. It's a celebration of the partnership between philanthropists and the University in driving innovation-led growth. 

A call to budding founders and innovators 

Got a great idea with commercial promise? Applications are now open!   

Ideas With Impact is open to any student, staff member, or recent graduate (within three years of graduation) of The University of Manchester, who have the ambition to turn their research and ideas into enterprises that change lives. Key dates below: 

• 20 June 2025: Applications close. 
• 27 June 2025: Finalist announcement. 
• 14 July 2025: Finalist Pitching Competition and networking event. 

Learn more about the Ideas With Impact Prizes and the application process on the University’s  

Philanthropic Support 

Interested in supporting brilliant future founders and ensuring entrepreneurship for all? We’d love to explore opportunities with you. 

Contact Olympia Kennard to begin a conversation: Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk. 

Our innovation ecosystem 

• Read more about Unit M here:  
• Read more about the Innovation Factory here:   
• Read more about the Innovation Academy here:  

The PACE programme marks a major shift in how UK policing engages with science and evidence. The initiative will create a collaborative, nationwide research infrastructure that reflects policing’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) - from public protection to digital transformation. Each centre will act as a gateway to independent academic advice, helping forces to navigate complex issues and adopt effective, ethical strategies that serve diverse communities.

As the UK faces fast-changing demands on its police services, the launch of the PACE network signals a long-term commitment to smarter, safer, and more responsive policing - backed by the best that British academia has to offer. 

“This is about making sure policing decisions are grounded in the best available knowledge,” said Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC Chair. “It strengthens our commitment to evidence-based practice and shows our determination to be more transparent, accountable and effective.”

Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), said: “The Policing Academic Centres of Excellence will forge closer relationships between police forces and researchers, providing the police with data and evidence to make the justice system work better.

“By bringing experts in policing practice together with social scientists and data scientists across the country, the centres will provide knowledge and insights to drive service improvement. These centres of excellence demonstrate our commitment to reducing crime and making Britain a safer place.”

Inclusion of families is a key part of guidance to universities on conducting such reviews but the study found that in most cases it did not happen. Some families described feeling the university was defensive and reluctant to answer important and painful questions. 

The study found the commitment to suicide prevention in universities is strong. However, it recommends reviews are more responsive to families and proposes a “duty of candour” should be developed and adopted by the higher education sector. 

Most of the serious incident reviews identified potential stressors and experiences that could have contributed to suicide risk. Mental ill-health and academic problems including exam stresses were the most common factors. Around three-quarters of students had been in contact with university support services. Many had experienced adverse life events, including relationship problems, problems with housing, family relationships, their peers, or finance. 

The serious incident reports showed that 13% of the students, five female and five male, were reported to have been victims of violence, including sexual or physical assault, harassment or threats of violence. In three, the gender of the student was not reported. 

Over two-thirds (53, 67%) of the 79 reports of suspected suicide detailed how the university responded to the death, known as postvention.

Postvention to fellow students was documented in 32 (41%) of the 79 serious incident reports but just 7 (9%) said the student’s family received support. The figure was 14 (18%) for staff impacted by the death.

A total of 107 students at 73 English universities were suspected to have lost their lives to suicide in the 2023/2024 academic year. 62 incidents of non-fatal self-harm were also reported in the same period. Of the 169 cases, serious incident reports were submitted for 104 (62%) of them. And of the 104 reports, 79 (74%) were for suspected suicide and 25 (40%) for incidents of non-fatal self-harm.

, Director of the into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health at The University of Manchester, said: “A single life lost to suicide is an immeasurable tragedy. The main aim of this national review is to improve learning from these tragic incidents to help prevent future deaths. We found an excellent response from universities to this national review and, on such a sensitive issue, this is a welcome sign for prevention.

“However, the families we spoke to provided moving accounts of feeling excluded from the process of finding out what happened to their loved ones, and some had a perception the university was evasive and reluctant to answer important and painful questions.

“That is why input from bereaved families should be a key part of the serious incident investigation process, and their questions should be answered as far as possible.

“We suggest a version of the duty of candour should be introduced to the HE sector. This would have the aim of, ensuring openness and transparency with families after a suspected suicide. This should be developed and shaped by the sector itself to ensure it is appropriate to the HE setting.”

from The University of Manchester said: “Mental-ill health was frequently identified in the serious incident reports we examined, sometimes there were clear indications of risk through mental illness or self-harm, but other reports identified students who were experiencing less severe problems with mental well-being. We suggest mental health awareness and suicide prevention training should be available for all staff in student-facing roles, and include recognising and responding to risk and neurodiversity.

“And students who are struggling academically should be recognised as potentially at risk, with enhanced support being offered at key points in the academic calendar. Access to mental health and other support should also be reviewed, particularly for those at additional risk, such as those who have experienced violence or other adverse life events.”

• The study is published on the  DfE

Officially known as Leader in Openness, the award, which needs to be renewed every three years, is given by Understanding Animal Research, a key body which promotes understanding of the humane use of animals in medical, veterinary, scientific and environmental research in the UK.

'Leaders in Openness' status - first awarded to Manchester six years ago - recognises organisations who dedicate significant resources to embedding best practice throughout their organisation, ensuring that transparency is not just an aspiration but a reality at every level.

The University's Biological Services Facility has long been a leading university for openness about the work it carries out with animals - which includes mice, rats, frogs, fish and sheep.

Manchester was one of the original signatures of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, a set of four commitments to help organisations which carry out animal research to communicate openly about their work and the reasons why they do it.

 Dr Maria Kamper Biological Services Facility Director at The University of Manchester said: "The University's commitment to the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research drives our transparency in animal studies. 

"With just a few clicks, the public can access details about our research methods, animal species, numbers, and ethical frameworks. We offer virtual tours, participate in science fairs, and host various public events. School groups, journalists, and community members also regularly visit our facilities. 

"This recognition of the efforts of the BSF staff is gratifying, and we enthusiastically pledge to continue advancing this important transparency agenda."

It has been shown that greater openness on how and why animals are used enables the public to consider both the potential benefits and the ethical considerations, fostering informed discussion and trust.

Hannah Hobson, Head of Communications and Engagement at Understanding Animal Research said: "Each year, the Concordat recognises institutions that consistently meet the highest standards for openness and transparency in their animal research communications. These organisations excel in internal communications, public-facing websites, social media, media engagement, and public outreach, setting a benchmark for the sector and leading by example.

"For 2025–2028, a select group of research organisations has once again demonstrated outstanding commitment in all these areas, earning the 'Leaders in Openness' title for three years. This recognition reflects the energy, thoughtfulness, and courage they show in making information about animal research accessible and understandable to the public on a subject that is often complex and misunderstood."

• For more details about leader in openness, visit the website
• If you have any questions about animal research at Manchester, email animal research communications lead Mike Addelman and Communications and 3Rs manager at the BSF Dr Jo Stanley  at animal.research@manchester.ac.uk

“It’s rare to see a project where everyone - researchers, artists, students, and audiences - walks away changed,” says Helbig. “We’re not just making theatre. We’re co-creating new ways of thinking, feeling, and connecting across difference.”

Each play is infused with the distinctive voice of its creators - from poetic monologues to ensemble movement, to satire and sensory storytelling. Following the performance, audience members are invited to stay for a candid conversation with the creators, discussing the themes, the process, and what it means to tell stories across cultures.

In a time of global complexity and cultural tension, it offers a rare chance to pause, reflect and connect. It celebrates the diversity of lived experience and invites audiences to engage directly with the kinds of questions anthropology is uniquely positioned to ask. 

Tickets for the event can be purchased at . 

Tiny Human Dramas is part of an expanding vision - the team is currently developing a short documentary film about the creative process and exploring opportunities to take the project to national festivals, including the Edinburgh Fringe and the ESRC Festival of Social Science.

As the UK strives to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, secure and permanent geological storage of CO₂ is essential to avoid the worst-case consequences of climate change.

Storage in deep geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers offers a promising solution. However, these underground environments host diverse microbial ecosystems, and their response to CO₂ injection remains poorly understood.

This knowledge gap poses a potential risk to long-term CO₂ storage integrity. While some microbial responses may be beneficial and enhance mineralogical or biological CO₂ sequestration, others could be unfavourable, leading to methane production, corrosion of infrastructure, or loss of injectivity.

The new flagship project with The University of Manchester and Equinor - global leaders in geological CO₂ storage - will investigate how subsurface microbial communities respond to CO₂ injection and storage, highlighting both the potential risks and opportunities posed by these microbes.

Principal Investigator, Prof Sophie Nixon, BBSRC David Phillips and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: "Over the past 20 years, scientists have tested storing CO₂ underground in real-world conditions, but we still know little about how this affects native and introduced microbes living deep below the surface.

"Previous studies have shown that injecting CO₂ underground actively changes microbial communities. In some cases, microbes initially decline but later recover, potentially influencing the fate of injected CO₂ in geological storage scenarios. However, these studies predate the advent of large-scale metagenomic sequencing approaches. A deep understanding of who is there, what they can do and how they respond to CO₂ storage is crucial for ensuring the long-term success of carbon capture and storage."

The two-year project will collect samples from saline aquifer and oil producing sites to study how microbes living deep underground respond to high concentrations of CO₂ by combining geochemistry, gas isotope analysis, metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches.

Project Co-Investigator, Dr Rebecca Tyne, a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “To date, Carbon Capture and Storage research has focused on the physiochemical behaviour of CO₂, yet there has been little consideration of the subsurface microbial impact on CO₂ storage. However, the impact of microbial processes can be significant. For instance, my research has shown that methanogenesis may modify the fluid composition and the fluid dynamics within the storage reservoir.”

Currently, the North Sea Transition Authority requires all carbon capture and storage sites to have a comprehensive ‘Measurement, Monitoring and Verification’ strategy, but microbial monitoring is not yet included in these frameworks. The project’s findings will be shared with industry stakeholders and published in leading scientific journals, helping to close this critical gap and shape future operational activities.

Project Lead, Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology at The University of Manchester, said: "This project will help us understand the underground microbial communities affected by CO₂ storage—how they respond, the potential risks and benefits, and the indicators that reveal these changes.

"Our findings will provide vital insights for assessing microbiological risks at both planned and active CCS sites, ensuring safer and more effective long-term CO₂ storage”.

Building upon his 2024 book, , the unsettling history of role-playing in ‘constructed situations’ is explored through his commentary on the performative dynamic of the experiment and its wider societal implications. Students from the School of the Arts, Languages & Cultures also feature in the reenactments shown in the series. 

To mark the UK premiere, the , in partnership with , will be hosting an in-conversation event on Wednesday 4 June titled ‘’.&�Բ�����;

Professor Stephen Scott-Bottoms will be joined by from the , who is also among the expert commentators featured in the series, alongside , Director of the docuseries. An internationally recognised expert on social identity, collective behaviour, intergroup conflict, and leadership influence, Professor Stephen Reicher co-led the BBC’s partial reconstruction of the Stanford Prison study,  

The event will feature behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the series, a discussion on the enduring relevance of the Stanford study and a live audience Q&A. It is open to the public and promises a compelling dialogue on truth, myth, and morality in psychological research.

Register for

The documentary series, The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth, is set to air on .

The treaty suspension reflects a growing regional trend: South Asian countries are increasingly treating water as a strategic asset rather than a shared resource amid rising mistrust, climate stress and geopolitical competition.

The region is home to nearly a quarter of the global population, and relies on huge transboundary rivers fed by Himalayan glaciers – the so-called of freshwater reserves. A breakdown in water diplomacy could trigger environmental collapse, humanitarian crises and geopolitical instability. The weaponisation of water must be urgently addressed as a global climate justice issue.

A flashpoint occurred in August 2024 when devastating floods affected in Bangladesh. Some Bangladeshi officials accused India of releasing excess water from a large dam upstream without warning. India , citing extreme rainfall and standard dam operations. Nevertheless, the incident reignited longstanding tensions between the two countries.

Complicating matters further is China recently approving the construction of the on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, which becomes the Brahmaputra in India. This massive project has about China’s ability to exert control upstream, and the ecological risks for India and Bangladesh downstream.

China hasn’t signed formal water-sharing agreements with its neighbours, but its growing presence in regional water infrastructure signals a dramatic shift in south and east Asian hydro-politics.

Climate change is making things worse

Recent climatic trends are making transboundary rivers an increasing focus of geopolitical friction. These trends include accelerated , , and intensifying extreme weather.

While melting glaciers will temporarily boost the flow of rivers, the long-term prognosis is bleak. If emissions and warming trends continue, many glacier-fed rivers – including the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra – could see by the end of the century. This will directly affect hundreds of millions of people who depend on them.

The crisis is being intensified by changes in the Himalayas. The region is warming faster than the global average, with a shift from snowfall to rainfall that disrupts the timing and volume of water that flows down from the mountains to the fields and cities below.

At the same time, has pushed South Asia’s reserves of underground water toward collapse, threatening both food and water security.

A dangerous precedent

A collapse or suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty could set a dangerous precedent. Importantly, the threat is less about India cutting off water flows – an unlikely and technically challenging act – and more about the erosion of trust, transparency and data sharing.

One of the treaty’s most valuable features has been the routine sharing of data on things like water levels, river flow and dam operations. Pakistan needs this data to forecast floods and droughts, plan its irrigation, generate hydropower effectively and manage its drinking water, yet India is indicating it will no longer honour these obligations.

But India’s strained water relations are not limited to Pakistan. Bangladesh and Nepal have often felt sidelined or pressured in negotiations, and India’s indication that it may reconsider longstanding treaties raises concerns in both countries.

This is especially the case as the Ganges Water Treaty nears its 2026 expiration: the vast Ganges river flows through India and irrigates much of Bangladesh – and the treaty guarantees Bangladesh a minimum river flow.

Other key agreements, such as the and with Nepal, and the with Bangladesh, remain largely unimplemented, breeding mistrust. These failures undermine confidence in regional water diplomacy and cast doubt on India’s commitment to equitable cooperation.

None of this is helped by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh all continuing to rely on outdated irrigation methods that mean they use more water than necessary. As climate change intensifies floods, droughts and glacial melt, there is an urgent need to reform existing water treaties to reflect present-day climate, hydrological and geopolitical realities.

The Indus Waters Treaty, negotiated in the 1960s before the emergence of modern climate science, no longer accounts for these transformations. Indeed, most water treaties in the region remain rooted in technocratic, engineering-centric frameworks which fail to address extreme climate variability and its cascading impacts.

The upcoming expiration of the Ganges Water Treaty, and the pending negotiation of other basin agreements, present a critical opportunity to rethink water governance in South Asia.

Though the Indus flows through India before Pakistan, in other basins, India is downstream. This is the case with the Brahmaputra, where it demands upstream cooperation from China.

Undermining the Indus treaty could weaken India’s own position in future negotiations and strain its relations with Nepal and Bangladesh, while giving China more influence in South Asian hydro-politics. China is already expanding its footprint by offering billions in loans to Bangladesh and strengthening ties with Nepal, particularly around water infrastructure.

Weaponising water is a perilous strategy that may backfire. The weakening of water diplomacy in South Asia is not just a regional threat; it endangers global climate security.

In the face of escalating climate change impacts and recurring disasters, updating transboundary agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty, Ganga Water Treaty, and Kosi and Teesta accords is no longer optional – it is an urgent necessity with enormous consequences.

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

Taking place in Manchester - the birthplace of KTP - the event will mark the pinnacle of national 50^th year celebrations, bringing together the KTP community for a programme of guest speakers, workshops and seminars. 

Since their launch in 1975, the UK Government has funded over 14,000 groundbreaking KTPs, uniting top businesses with researchers and graduates to solve real-world challenges, adding billions to the UK economy.  From 2010 to 2020 alone, Innovate UK invested £200m in 2,000 projects, adding £2.3bn to the UK economy. 

The Innovate UK KTP Awards will showcase this year’s finalists, alongside the KTP Golden Awards - these special honours will highlight legacy projects, partnerships and people that have profoundly shaped the UK economically, socially and environmentally over the last five decades. Registration for the conference and awards is now open, with early bird pricing available until Monday 30 June 2025. 

Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, said: “Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have long supported collaboration between our renowned universities, UK innovators and thriving businesses – from helping household brands to produce their goods more efficiently through to unleashing new discoveries that improve lives.  

“They also demonstrate the benefit of public investment, with ambitious, Innovate-UK-backed projects across the country having added billions of pounds to our economy in the previous decade alone. I look forward to these partnerships supporting the next generation of cutting-edge innovations.”  

KTPs are a UK-wide programme designed to foster innovation by linking businesses with academic institutions. With funding and support provided by Innovate UK, the scheme enables companies to access cutting-edge research and specialist knowledge to solve strategic challenges, develop new products and enhance their competitive edge. Greater Manchester was part of the original pilot of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships scheme when it launched in 1975.  

In a joint statement, the Vice-Chancellors of the three host universities - the University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester - said: “Together, we are proud to be co-hosting the KTP 2025 Conference and Awards in the birthplace of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. For 50 years, KTPs have exemplified the power of collaboration between universities and industry - driving innovation, supporting economic growth and tackling real-world challenges.  

“This milestone celebration is not only a tribute to the enduring impact of the programme, but also a springboard for shaping the next era of research-driven partnerships that benefit society locally, nationally and globally.” 

Richard Lamb, KTP Programme Manager at Innovate UK, said: “Celebrating 50 years of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme offers a valuable opportunity to recognise its enduring impact on UK innovation and economic resilience. By bridging academia and industry, KTP has extended vital opportunities to businesses and academic partners across the UK, reaching beyond London and the Southeast to drive innovation in fields ranging from STEM to the creative industries and pioneering areas like AI and quantum technology.  

“This collaborative model has not only boosted productivity and growth but has empowered organisations of all sizes to innovate and thrive on a local and national scale. This 50th anniversary is the perfect occasion to reflect on the impressive impact achieved through the programme and its lasting legacy.”  

The KTP 2025 Conference is aimed at KTP associates, practitioners, academics and funders, whilst the Awards will bring together business, associate, academic and practitioner teams behind the UK’s most transformative projects. 

Find out more about the conference and reserve your place:  

New analysis from Health Equity North, Newcastle University, and the University of Manchester has shown that availability of community pharmacy services in England has reduced, particularly in deprived areas.

Researchers investigated how access to community pharmacies changed from 2014 to 2023, examining relationships between pharmacy availability and factors such as how urban the area is, and socioeconomic deprivation.

In England, more than 90% of people live within a 20-minute walk of a community pharmacy. However, overall availability of pharmacies has decreased with the number dropping from 1.6 pharmacies per 10,000 people to 1.5. The most deprived areas were 65% more likely to lose a pharmacy compared to the least deprived areas.

Pharmacies are an important part of the healthcare system and are well placed to reach those most in need. They deliver a range of public health and clinical services, such as smoking cessation advice and support, emergency hormonal contraception, hypertension screening and ‘flu’ vaccination programmes.

Recent funding cuts and closures of community pharmacies prompted health inequalities researchers to explore whether the ‘positive pharmacy care law’ – which means people in more deprived areas have better access to pharmacies - is still in operation, and the implications of this on commissioning of future services.

It found that the positive pharmacy care law remains in place but has eroded over time. Pharmacy availability is decreasing, especially in poorer areas, meaning more people must rely on each remaining pharmacy.

The research team says that due to the nature to the NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in England and the tiered levels of services, “there is potential that there will be less capacity to provide the additional enhanced clinical services for community pharmacies located in the most deprived areas”.

The study showed:

• In 2014, the most deprived areas had 2.28 pharmacies per 10,000 people compared to 1.37 per 10,000 people in the least deprived areas; by 2023, this dropped to 2.01 and 1.33 per 10,000 people, respectively.
• The decline in pharmacy availability per 10,000 people was most severe in the most deprived areas (-0.27 per 10,000 people or an 11.8% reduction between 2014 and 2023)
• Urban areas experienced a significant decline in pharmacy availability - an 8.2% reduction (from 1.81 to 1.66 pharmacies per 10,000 people) between 2014 and 2023.

The academics behind the analysis say reinvestment in the community pharmacy network will help address challenges within the sector and reduce inequalities in access to health care.

Lead author Eman Zied Abozied, Research Associate at Newcastle University, said: “Pharmacies are one of the only healthcare options available on the high street where people can be seen without an appointment. They play an important role in helping people access the care they need, especially in the most disadvantaged areas where there might be fewer GPs. Funding cuts across the sector have seen many community pharmacies close, which could fuel inequalities in healthcare access.

“While it is encouraging that our analysis shows that most people still live close to a pharmacy, the reduction in the number of community pharmacies is a cause for concern. Pharmacies are serving a higher number of people, with the biggest decline in availability in communities that have the greatest health needs, leading to immense pressure on services and staff. Pharmacies in the most disadvantaged areas may not be able to offer the full range of clinical services due to funding cuts and staffing pressures.

“If community pharmacies are required to deliver more clinical services to support other primary care organisations, it is important that they have the appropriate funding to be able to achieve this.”

Dr Luke Munford, Health Equity North Academic Co-Director and Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at The University of Manchester, said: “There needs to be more investment in community pharmacies if they are to effectively deliver the vital public health services they provide to people across England. Our study shows that more pressure is being placed on pharmacies with this being felt more keenly in deprived communities where health outcomes tend to be worse. 

“The implications of inaction could see less capacity to provide much need services to those most in need and further widening of existing health inequalities.” 

The study has been published in BMJ Open. Read the full paper - "The Positive Pharmacy Care Law Revisited: an area-level analysis of the relationship between community pharmacy distribution, urbanity and deprivation in England"

The  groundbreaking research, led by Dr Matthew J. Kibble, used a state-of-the-art 3D printing technique called bioprinting to replicate the complex structure and environment of human spinal discs. 

In a study published in the journal today, they reveal tissue stiffness and oxygen levels significantly impact the production of vital biological materials, including collagen and hyaluronic acid, by human disc cells. 

The insights could ultimately lead to new treatments for back pain, a condition affecting hundreds of millions of people across the world. 

Bioprinting is a cutting-edge technique that uses living cells and biological materials to create complex 3D structures that accurately mimic the structure of human organs. 

The new bioprinted discs will allow scientists to study how different conditions affect disc cell behaviour and contribute to tissue degeneration and back pain.

Most bioprinters work in a similar way to plastic 3D printers, extruding material through a nozzle under pressure to build structures.

However, rather than printing plastic, bioprinters use cells and gel-like inks made from cell-friendly materials such as collagen, cellulose or gelatin.

The scientists prepared the cells and materials needed for bioprinting and designed a digital model of a human spinal disc. For this study, the bioprinted discs were made from gels containing collagen combined with alginate, a protein derived from seaweed.

They used state-of-the-art 3D bioprinters capable of depositing multiple types of cells and materials, layer-by-layer, to create sophisticated models where the different biological, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of the human disc could be modelled.

The bioprinted tissues were then stored in controlled conditions so they could grow, mature, and develop their biological functions.

Dr Stephen M. Richardson, from The University of Manchester, corresponding author of the study said: “This work represents a step towards the automated creation of realistic whole organ models and brings us closer to understanding the root causes of disc degeneration.”

“Our findings provide important insights into the factors driving disc degeneration and pave the way for the development of more effective regenerative therapies, for example through incorporation of stem cells.”

Bioprinting has been used to fabricate models of different tissues including skin, brain, nerve and heart, kidney and tumour.

However, fully functional tissue engineered organs are still  decades away; current models are mostly used for investigating biological processes in the lab but may act as replacements for lab animals.

As part of his PhD research at The University of Manchester, Dr Kibble developed the bioprinted discs to explore the impact of tissue stiffness on the two cell types that inhabit different parts of the adult spinal discs:  nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells.

In future disc models the scientists plan to incorporate cells found in healthy, young developing discs, alongside stem cells or gene-edited cells to create even more advanced models of health and disease. This will enable them to understand how healthy tissue is formed and whether stem cells can be used to produce healthy tissue and treat back pain.

Dr Kibble said: “Over 600 million people worldwide suffer from lower back pain. Our bioprinted intervertebral disc models are an exciting opportunity to inform better regenerative therapies.

Our research has shown that tissue stiffness and oxygen levels have a significant impact the production of vital biological materials.

There have been many attempts to engineer discs so that we can understand their biology and develop models for testing different therapies or transplanting them into animals. But as well as being very difficult to do, this is also extremely time consuming.

Our work allows us to produce biologically functional disc models at scale and will allow us to make desperately needed advances in our understanding  of disc disease.”

The study was funded by the UKRI EPSRC/MRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Regenerative Medicine, the Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund, and the Medical Research Council.

The authors also acknowledge the support of the national Henry Royce Institute EPSRC grants and the Bioprinting Technology Platform.

A video of the bioprinted in action is available, as are images of the bioprinted discs, and graphics.

The paper,  Suspension bioprinted whole intervertebral disc analogues enable regional stiffness- and hypoxia-regulated matrix secretion by primary human nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells is published in Acta Biomaterialia and is available.

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. 

Less climate mitigation will increase the spread of fungal pathogens in certain areas, putting more people at risk.

• Novel projections show that in 15 years, if we rely on fossil fuels instead of clean power (scenario of *), we are likely to see the significant spread of certain fungal pathogens in Europe
• Under this scenario, the spread of Aspergillus flavus, for example, could increase by about 16%, putting 1 million more people at risk of infection in Europe. Infections affect the respiratory system, and this fungus infects a broad range of agricultural crops
• The predictions also show that the spread of another fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, could increase by 77.5% and potentially expose 9 million people in Europe
• This is a concerning trend due to a rise in antifungal resistance and a severe lack of diagnostics and treatment options for fungal infections

In a new study, published on  and funded by , the effects of rising temperatures on infection-causing fungi have been mapped under different climate change mitigation scenarios until the year 2100. Using climate modelling and forecasts, at the University of Manchester and colleagues have mapped how the global distributions of three fungal pathogens (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger) could be expected to change as a result.

The rise of pathogenic fungi is a real concern and is being driven by climate change. Fungi are incredibly adaptable organisms, with large, malleable genomes that allow them to colonize new geographies and survive as their environment changes.

Dr. Norman van Rhijn said: “Changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread.

“We’ve already seen the emergence of the fungus Candida auris due to rising temperatures, but, until now, we had little information of how other fungi might respond to this change in the environment.  Fungi are relatively under researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future. Raising awareness and developing effective interventions for fungal pathogens will be essential to mitigate the consequences of this.”

The maps show that in a fossil fuel dependent economy, as outlined in the IPCC scenario of , the climate will change to become suitable for fungal pathogens to spread to new geographies, with a marked increase in Europe.

The spread of Aspergillus flavus could increase by about 16%, putting 1 million more people at risk of infection from this deadly fungal pathogen in Europe. This fungus is known to cause severe infections and is resistant to many antifungals available.

This is an especially concerning trend as many fungal infections have high mortality rates, partly because of the lack of diagnostics, vaccines and treatment options as well as a lack of awareness of fungal infections. Additionally, as fungi are more similar to humans than other pathogens, developing anti-fungal treatments without toxic side effects is challenging.

The predictions also show that the spread of Aspergillus fumigatus could increase by 77.5% and potentially expose 9 million people in Europe. This is one of the most common fungal pathogens responsible for life-threatening infections in humans and affects the lungs.

Whilst the rise in global temperatures will increase the spread of fungi in Europe, temperatures in Africa could become so high that some fungi will not be able to survive on the continent. Fungi are an essential component to a functioning ecosystem, decomposing plant and animal matter to reintroduce nutrients into the soil. They also contribute to the carbon cycle which regulates the global climate and temperatures.  

Antifungal resistance is also being driven by the use of fungicides in agriculture, which are used to protect crops and support food production. The researchers also looked at the how the changing environment impacts our use of fungicides.

Viv Goosens, Research Manager at Wellcome said: “Fungal pathogens pose a serious threat to human health by causing infections and disrupting food systems. Climate change will make these risks worse. To address these challenges, we must fill important research gaps. By using models and maps to track the spread of fungi, we can better direct resources and prepare for the future." 

Fungal infections are transmitted through fungal spores in the air we breathe. People with weakened immune systems, co-morbidities and other risk factors are most vulnerable to infections, although fungi could adapt to become more pathogenic due to rising temperatures and could result in more infections in healthy people.

Despite this mounting threat, fungal infections receive little attention or resources. Less than 10% of an estimated 1.5 to 3.8 million species have been described, and a tiny fraction has had their genome sequenced. Wellcome is awarding over £50mn in funding towards fungal research over the next year. 

The study has been published on preprint platform Research Square, available here

It is the first time course providers have been subject to formal quality assurance by the regulator, which took on the responsibility of regulating PAs and Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) , of which overseeing and approving training courses is a key component, in December last year. 

PAs are healthcare professionals who work under the supervision of a senior doctor, such as a hospital consultant or a GP. 

Once they have completed two years of postgraduate training, they perform different clinical duties including taking medical histories, carrying out physical examinations, and developing and managing treatment plans. 

However, they are unable to prescribe medication or request ionising radiation, such as a chest X-ray or a CT scan.

Professor Tony Heagerty, Head of the School of Medical Sciences, said: “By handling routine care, follow-ups, and minor procedures, physician associates can improve workflow and reduce waiting times, as well as give doctors the time to focus on more complex cases.

“We are delighted to receive formal approval by the General Medical Council to teach physician associates to support this valuable addition to the NHS.”

In addition, three Anaesthesia Associate (AA) courses also received approval by the GMC.

Professor Colin Melville, the GMC’s Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards, said: “This is an important milestone in the regulation of PAs and AAs and will provide assurance, now and in the future, that those who qualify in these roles have the appropriate skills and knowledge that patients rightly expect and deserve.

“As a regulator, patient safety is paramount, and we have a robust quality assurance process for PA and AA courses, as we do for medical schools. We have been engaging with course providers for several years already, and we only grant approval where they meet our high standards.”

From richer biodiversity and benefits for pollinators, to carbon storage in soils, while balancing hay yields for grazing livestock, the study published in by researchers at The University of Manchester and Lancaster University, in collaboration with the Universities of Yale and Bergen, shows that using combinations of different restoration techniques can markedly enhance the restoration of grasslands.

Given many current grassland recovery projects typically only use one type of technique, or ‘intervention’, in attempts to deliver ecological benefits, the scientists behind the study hope their findings can help boost grassland restoration initiatives across the country and elsewhere,

Grasslands cover nearly 40% of the Earth’s land surface and serve as important global reservoirs of biodiversity. They also provide a host of other benefits to people, termed ecosystem services, including food production, water supply, carbon storage, soil nutrient cycling, and tourism. Yet these critical ecosystems are increasingly being degraded, especially by overgrazing, heavy use of fertilisers, and climate change. This is undermining their ability to support biodiversity and deliver other benefits, such as carbon storage and nutrient retention.

The team of scientists show that using single restoration interventions often leads to trade-offs among key grassland ecosystem services – for example the addition of low amounts of fertiliser boosted hay yields for livestock, but suppressed plant diversity. Also, while the addition of a seed mix alone increased plant diversity and pollination, bringing benefits for nature conservation, it did not benefit hay yield or soil carbon storage. They show that using a combination of different techniques delivers better, more balanced ecological benefits than relying on one single type of intervention.

The combined approach to grassland restoration boosted plant diversity, soil health, carbon storage, pollination, flower abundance, and forage production simultaneously, offering a clear path forward for sustainable land management.

The work was based on a long-term grassland restoration experiment set up in 1989 at Colt Park Meadows, in the Yorkshire Dales, northern England. The experiment included a range of commonly used grassland restoration interventions, including the addition of farmyard manure, low-level inorganic fertiliser, a diverse seed mix, and a nitrogen-fixing red clover, which were tested individually and in all possible combinations. Over several years, between 2011 and 2014, the team measured 26 critical ecosystem functions related to hay yield, soil carbon storage, soil nutrient cycling, soil structure, water quality, pollinator visitation, and plant diversity.

Dr Shangshi Liu, the lead author of the paper from The University of Manchester and now based at Yale, said: “Single solutions are rarely enough—we need landscapes that work on many levels: for climate, for people, and for nature. By layering complementary actions that target different components of the ecosystem, we can restore a broader suite of ecosystem functions—balancing trade-offs and minimising unintended consequences.”

Professor Richard Bardgett, who initiated the study at The University of Manchester and recently moved to Lancaster, added: “These findings evidence the potential of combining interventions to boost the restoration of degraded grasslands. By combining interventions, such as adding more diverse plant seeds, small amounts of fertiliser, manure and red clover, we show that it is possible to balance hay yields for livestock as well as boosting biodiversity, carbon storage, and wild flower abundance, although each combination will need to be tailored for specific sites. These findings represent a shift from conventional approaches that typically rely on single management interventions.

“In doing so, they offer a blueprint for land managers and policymakers seeking to deliver multiple benefits from grassland restoration, which aligns the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) that calls for integrated solutions to ecological degradation.”

The researchers also call for further experimentation across different climates and grassland types, alongside policy frameworks that incentivise grassland restoration. Programmes that currently support single interventions for grassland restoration could be restructured to favour integrated approaches that deliver broader ecological returns of benefit to a wider range of land users.

Ben Sykes, Director of the Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT), who work to secure long-term experiments such as Colt Park, said: “The Colt Park Meadows long-term grassland restoration experiment, running since 1989, is one of many decades-long ecological field experiments (LTEs) across the UK that are linked via the ECT’s national register of experimental sites. These latest results from the Colt Park LTE help demonstrate the irreplaceable value of LTEs in providing the real-world scientific evidence needed to promote conservation, biodiversity restoration and future effective and sustainable land management.”

The study was funded by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and benefits from long term support from Natural England.

The study’s findings are detailed in the paper ‘Multiple targeted grassland restoration interventions enhance ecosystem service multifunctionality’ which has been published by .

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59157-8

In a Wellcome funded study published today (01/05/25) in Science - one of the world’s leading scientific journals – the researchers challenge conventional wisdom taught in schools for over 100 years.

Students are currently taught that during cell division, a ‘parent’ cell will become spherical before splitting into two ‘daughter’ cells of equal size and shape.

However, the study reveals that cell rounding is not a universal feature of cell division and is not how it often works in the body.

Dividing cells, they show, often don’t round up into sphere-like shapes. This lack of rounding breaks the symmetry of division to generate two daughter cells that differ from each other in both size and function, known as asymmetric division.

Asymmetric divisions are an important way that the different types of cells in the body are generated, to make different tissues and organs.

Until now, asymmetric cell division has predominantly only been associated with highly specialised cells, known as stem cells.

The scientists found that it is the shape of a parent cell before it even divides that can determine if they will round or not in division and determines how symmetric, or not, its daughter cells are going to be.

Cells which are shorter and wider in shape tend to round up and divide into two cells which are similar to each other.  However, cells which are longer and thinner don’t round up and divide asymmetrically, so that one

daughter is different to the other.

The findings could have far reaching implications on our understanding of the role of cell division in disease. For example, in the context of cancer cells, this type of ‘non-round’, asymmetric division could generate different cell behaviours known to promote cancer progression through metastasis.

Harnessing this information could also impact regenerative medicine, enabling us to better manufacture the cell types needed to regenerate damaged tissues and organs.

Scientists may one day be able to influence the function of daughter cells by simply manipulating their parental cell shape.

Co-lead author Dr Shane Herbert, a senior research fellow at The University of Manchester said: “The phenomenon of mitosis - or cell division - is one of the fundamentals of life and a basic biological concept which is taught from school age.

“Students learn that when a cell divides, it will generate a uniform spherical shape. Our study, however, shows that in real living organisms, it is not as simple as that.

“Our research suggests that the shape of the cell before it divides can fundamentally direct whether a cell rounds, and importantly, if its daughters are symmetric or asymmetric both in size and function.”

The scientists used real time imaging to study the formation of blood vessels in 1-day old transparent zebrafish embryos.

Growing blood vessels and other tissues are made of strands of collectively migrating cells.

Each new vessel is led by a special fast-moving cell at the front with slower cells following behind.

When the fast moving “tip” cell divided, the study showed, it didn’t “round-up” as expected. In doing so it was able to divide asymmetrically and generate the new fast “tip” cell at the front and a slower following cell behind it.

Co-lead author Dr Holly Lovegrove, a lecturer at The University of Manchester said: “Using transparent 1-day old zebrafish embryos allows us to study a dynamic process like cell division inside a living organism.

“We are therefore able to make movies of this fundamental cell behaviour and in doing so reveal exciting new aspects of how tissues grow.”

The team also used a technique using human cells called micropatterning.

Co-First author Dr Georgia Hulmes, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at The University of Manchester said: “Micropatterning allows us to generate specifically shaped microscopic patches of proteins that cells can stick to.

“The cells will then take the shape of the patch. This therefore allows us to change the shape of the cells and test how these shapes impact on the subsequent cell division.”

The micropatterning system used by the scientists is called PRIMO by Alvéole. This system allowed the scientists  to manipulate cells into different shapes at tiny resolutions of less than a tenth of the width of a human hair. A UV laser is used to burn specific shapes onto a non-sticky surface. Cells are then seeded onto the surface and will only be able to stick down in areas where the UV laser has printed a shape. The cells then spread out into the laser patterned shape and this allowed the scientists to create the precise shape of cell they desire.

• Video shows cells with membrane and nucleus labelled undergoing division, copyright University of Manchester
• The paper Interphase cell morphology defines the mode, symmetry, and outcome of mitosis, is published in Science.

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The three-year programme, which will be piloted in the North West before eventually being rolled out across the UK, aims to make the subject more accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds. The training will be made available at no cost to the teachers or schools.

Economics is currently offered as an A Level subject at just over half of non-selective state schools in England, compared with 90% of selective schools and 82% of independent schools. This partly reflects a shortage of qualified economics teachers – made worse by very low levels of new teachers choosing to specialise in the subject.

, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at The University of Manchester, said: “The teaching, research and development of economics has a long history at The University of Manchester. Our commitment to equity and diversity across our work is paramount, and this initiative, building on the research from FFT Education Datalab, highlights that we still have much to do. We’re extremely proud to work alongside the Bank of England in producing more teachers of economics.”

, University Academic Lead for Lifelong Learning, Flexible Learning Programme at The University of Manchester, said: “At The University of Manchester, we are passionate about creating flexible, lifelong learning opportunities to help individuals, organisations and sectors adapt to an ever-changing world. This collaboration with the Bank of England offers flexible professional learning to bridge the gap in teaching economics. Our first cohort of teachers starts in September with plans to roll the programme out across the UK in the coming years.”

The launch comes as new research commissioned by the Bank of England and carried out by FFT Education Datalab revealed that:

• Economics has become increasingly popular at A Level and undergraduate level over the last decade.
• There are stark regional differences in participation with students in London more than twice as likely to study economics than those in North-West England.
• Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are far less likely to take economics at school or university than their peers.
• Around 70% of those studying economics at school and undergraduate level are male.

Clare Lombardelli, Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy at the Bank of England, spoke at the launch of the research at The University of Manchester. She talked about her own experience growing up in nearby Stockport where she studied economics A Level at a local sixth form college.

She said: “Economics is an increasingly popular subject. But it is not available to enough young people across a range of backgrounds.

“An economics qualification can be a gateway for young people to a highly rewarding career – both intellectually and professionally. It also gives people a better understanding of how money works – which is a vital life skill that can benefit all of us.

“We are delighted to be working with The University of Manchester on this teacher training programme so economics can tap into a broader range of talent and more people can benefit from the opportunities that come from studying economics.”

Gareth Taylor, Head of Professional Development at the Economics, Business and Enterprise Association, which represents economics teachers, said: “There is clear evidence that a shortage and unequal spread of teachers with the knowledge and skills to teach economics is impacting the life chances of young people. This much-needed new programme will enable more schools and colleges to offer economics and is an exciting and very welcome development.”

The full report is available to download at

Teachers interested in signing up to the programme are asked to complete an .

36,000 runners took part in the 26.2-mile race which started at Old Trafford football stadium, looping down to Stretford, Sale, Altrincham, Baguley, Sale Moor, Chorlton, Whalley and Hulme before finishing on Oxford Road.

The adidas Manchester Marathon’s conclusion at The University of Manchester was new for 2025, with the historic university chosen to close off the race in recognition of its buildings’ grandeur and its reputation as a hub of innovation and progress.

James Marenghi, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at The University of Manchester said: “A huge congratulations to all those who took part in the Manchester Marathon on Sunday, I hope you enjoyed the experience and feeling of achievement as you crossed the finish line. Whilst it was great to get a feel for the atmosphere across the route, it was fantastic to see the thousands of participants and spectators under the iconic University arches at the finish line celebrating their successes.

“At the University, sport and physical activity is extremely important for our community’s wellbeing and we are delighted to have supported such a fantastic event that will enable a positive health benefit to our students, staff and local region. We hope that everyone involved is inspired to continue their fitness journey beyond this event and make the most of the other opportunities available through the University to stay active.”

The University was also chosen to backdrop the finish line this year to allow runners a better post-finish experience, with the University perfectly situated among bars, restaurants, shops and transport options.

Members of staff at the University took part in the challenge including James Spearing, Change Communications Officer, who ran to raise money for Breast Cancer UK.

He said after the event: “I enjoyed my run today as part of a four-person relay team and raising money for charity. I love having events like this on my doorstep in Manchester.

“What made it even better this year was how the new finish line was able to showcase The University’s beautiful architecture as another iconic location in the city - it’s not all about Old Trafford!”

Kirsty Wilde, Director of Operations at A.S.O. UK, said: "This year’s event was truly exceptional, culminating in a breathtaking new finish line on Oxford Road set against the iconic backdrop of the University of Manchester. Welcoming 36,000 participants to the event was a proud moment for everyone involved.

“We are grateful to The University of Manchester for their ongoing support in helping us to deliver one of Europe’s largest marathons, and we look forward to building on this and to working with them in the years to come."

The University of Manchester has been at the heart of the city of Manchester for two centuries and it celebrated its bicentenary in 2024.