Those charged in cases involving rap evidence - including those charged with murder under secondary liability laws, which carries a life sentence - tend to be young and Black, suggesting that these groups are being targeted disproportionately. This lends weight to those who see the rising use of rap in cases as systematically racist, and who are raising the alarm about the overcriminalisation of young people - including children.

“Our findings are deeply troubling, and support the view that the marshalling of rap evidence in criminal cases encourages police and prosecutors to further increase the number of people charged as secondaries under already-egregious secondary liability laws,” said Eithne Quinn, Professor of Cultural and Socio-Legal Studies, �鶹ǿ��.

“Once again, three of the best researchers on the subject are doing what the state refuses to do,” said Liz Fekete, Director of the Institute of Race Relations. “They have scrutinised the data on rap prosecutions, exposed the racism that lies within the law - particularly the joint enterprise doctrine - and suggested targeted reforms to end the wide-ranging criminalisation of Black expressive culture.”

“Rap music is one of the most popular genres of music in the UK – it’s time to end the marginalisation and punishment of its creators through its use as prosecution evidence. JUSTICE welcomes this important and timely report and its recommendations, which will undoubtedly help tackle the corrosive practice of portraying a genre of music as innately illegal and dangerous”, said Tyrone Steele, Deputy Legal Director, JUSTICE. 

The report can be read in full at  

 

Matthias Honegger, Senior Research Associate at Perspectives Climate Research, said: “No matter your preference on the long-term role – if any – of SRM in managing threats of climate change to human lives and nature, ignoring the topic will not resolve anything. Cautious and deliberate guidance and collaboration on SRM research and its governance are key.”

Julie Vinders, Senior Research Analyst at Trilateral Research, added: “The Co-CREATE project takes a neutral stance on Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and rather focuses on defining the conditions for responsible research. This research is crucial to facilitate informed discussions about SRM and prevent hasty or unilateral deployment of a technology that is not fully understood.”

Dr Peter Irvine, Lecturer at University College London, summarised the project: "Solar Radiation Modification covers a range of different interventions, each with their own potentials, limits, and risks. The Co-Create project will bring together a scientific and technical understanding of these details, with an interdisciplinary assessment of the issues, and stakeholder perspectives to develop robust principles and guidelines for SRM research governance."

The Medical Research Council (MRC) Medicines Development Fellowship Programme will strengthen interactions between academia and industry to deliver world-class medicines development. It will support four pre-doctoral Fellows and the development of four new, five-year Clinician Scientist Fellowships.

The programme is co-funded and supported by two major pharmaceutical companies, GSK and AstraZeneca in addition to Optum and Hammersmith Medicines Research, the UK’s largest clinical research organisation for early clinical trials.

It will cover several disease areas as core themes, including infection and inflammation, cardiac and respiratory disease, oncology and neuropsychiatry.  These align with key strengths of the four Universities, such as experimental medicine, artificial intelligence and data science, and product development areas for industry partners.

The unique scheme will foster a seamless working environment which robustly addresses multi-sector mobility and porosity between academia, industry and the NHS.

The University of  Manchester lead,  Professor Anne Barton said: ”This Fellowship scheme, co-funded by the partner Universities, MRC and Industry, provides a wonderful opportunity to increase capacity to develop and deliver clinical trials that will ultimately benefit the patients we serve."

said: “Developing new medicines, or using existing medicines in a better way, is key to improving outcomes for patients.  This truly unique scheme offers an exciting opportunity for medically-qualified trainees at all levels, to undertake the best science in an environment that will foster joint working between Universities and Industry.  We want to ensure that the scheme provides a greatly enhanced experience for all Fellows.  We will also provide a dedicated teaching programme, mentorship from academia and industry, peer support and collegiality as well as opportunities to network and to develop skills in leadership, patient involvement and in communication and engagement.  I am grateful to all the partners, academic and industry, who are taking part in the scheme.

Dr David Pan, Head of Programme, Training and Careers at MRC said: “This new programme gives clinician scientists valuable experience working across the diverse industries involved in the pharmaceutical development process, from major pharmaceutical companies to data science and clinical research. The strong industry commitment further supports our efforts to build the numbers of clinical academics. The knowledge and experience they will gain of the regulatory and clinical trial process involved in the commercialisation of discoveries will provide long term benefits for both sectors and help to support the development of future therapeutics.” 

The new scheme builds on the 13-year success of the North West England MRC Fellowship Scheme in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Scheme, a partnership between the University of Liverpool and the University of Manchester.

The MRC Medicines Development Fellowship Programme is now recruiting fellows.

The Nile is one of the longest rivers globally and spreads over 11 countries in East Africa, supplying water, energy production, environmental quality and cultural wealth. However, the use of Nile resources has been a long-standing source of tension, often overshadowing opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.

But as the demand for energy, water, and food in Africa is steadily increasing, the study, led by �鶹ǿ�� in collaboration with regional organisations, offers a glimmer of hope at a resolution.

The research, published today in the journal , moves away from traditional water-centric agreements, and presents a detailed simulation of the combined energy-water system to reveal how different scenarios of international energy trades could help alleviate the Nile water conflict.

First author Dr Mikiyas Etichia from �鶹ǿ��, said: “Traditionally, water disputes in transboundary river basins like the Nile have been approached through a water-centric viewpoint. However, sharing benefits of water resources, such as hydro-generated electricity, crops and fisheries can result in a win-win situation.”

Co-author Dr Mohammed Basheer, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, added: “In the Nile Basin, energy-river basin benefit-sharing projects have been implemented in the past at a small scale, but detailed tools like the one presented in the paper can help create actionable large-scale proposals.”

At the heart of the dispute lies the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) - a large dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia constructed to improve Ethiopia's electricity access and to export electricity to neighbouring countries. The project sparked tensions between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt over water rights and access.

The simulator, designed by the scientists using open-source technology, covers 13 East African countries, including those within the Nile Basin, to model potential energy trade agreements between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.

By increasing electricity trade, countries can simultaneously address water deficits, boost hydropower generation, reduce energy curtailment, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Corresponding author from �鶹ǿ��, said: “The energy trades tested in this study provide the countries a range of solutions that are likely in their national interest.

“The study highlights the value of detailed multisector simulation to unpick the complex interdependencies of large multi-country resource systems. Implementation of the arrangements proposed here would need to be further assessed from governance and legal perspectives to become viable proposals. If successful, they could contribute to sustainable resource management and regional stability.

“We are hopeful the new analytical tools or their results will be taken up by the negotiating parties.”

A new report from Child of the North and Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank has set out a plan for the Government to boost children’s mental health through the education system, as half of England’s school children will still be without access to Mental Health Support Teams after 2025 under current plans.

The report, “Improving mental health and wellbeing with and through educational settings”, sets out the crucial role schools can play in supporting children’s mental health and promoting and supporting wellbeing. With children spending more time in school than in any other formal institutional structure, educational settings provide the ideal opportunity to reach large numbers of children simultaneously and can also facilitate intervention with pupils displaying early mental health or behavioural symptoms.

It is the third in a series of Child of the North/Centre for Young Lives reports to be published during 2024, focusing on how both the Government and Opposition can reset their vision for children to put the life chances of young people at the heart of policy making and delivery.

The report comes amid a national epidemic of children’s mental health problems. In 2022, 18% of children aged 7-to-16-years-old and 22% of young people aged 17-to-24 had a probable mental health condition. Despite some extra investment in recent years, the children’s mental health system is blighted by chronic waiting lists and a postcode lottery of provision, and thousands of children and young people continue to struggle without support. Over 32,000 children had been waiting over two years for help at the end of 2022/3. The consequences for school attendance, educational achievement, mental health problems in adulthood, as well as over-stretched public services, economic productivity, and society’s overall wellbeing are enormous.

The report calls on the Government to expand the mental health support offered through schools and educational settings from primary school onwards, without placing extra burdens on teachers.

Its recommendations include harnessing the power of digital technology in a way that benefits the mental health of children by rolling out school-based research surveys like the existing #BeeWell and Age of Wonder projects nationally. This would gather local information about children’s mental health and wellbeing, identify geographical hotspots and determine when the ‘emotional temperature’ of the school is in the danger zone, so that schools can offer early support.

The report also recommends:

· Expanding the mental health support offered through schools and educational settings, starting in the primary school years, to all schools. Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) are known to provide effective help to schools, but most schools still do not have access to them. The Government’s current plans mean that from 2025 half of England’s 8 million school age children will still not have access to a MHST in their school, should they need it. The work of MHSTs should be widened so it is not just focused on only one-to-one support for children with moderate-to-severe mental health problems, but is also focussed on peer group support and school-wide prevention strategies, including mental health hubs. This can be achieved by involving the community and voluntary sector, alongside health and social care services.

· Supporting the creation of a network of ‘one stop shop’ local online NHS information hubs, based on NHS Healthier Together, to signpost children and families to appropriate local mental health support where it is available. A ‘one stop shop’ would allow children, families, and schools to learn together about the local mental health support offered in their locality and how it can be accessed. The information hub would allow schools to work together more effectively with parents and children to create a supportive learning environment, tailored to local services and the local community.

· Tackling the upstream determinants of poor mental health, including early support for neurodivergent children. The evidence shows that pre-school and primary school experience can increase the risk for mental health conditions. Government’s strategy to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of young people should include a focus on the pre-school and primary school years. A national strategy to provide greater support for children with neurodiversity in their preschool years to tackle early determinants of poor mental health is also vital.

· Addressing the workforce crisis in educational psychology provision to encourage a larger number of graduate psychologists to support schools, alongside teacher training and career development that equips teaching staff to create classroom and school environments that promote pupil wellbeing and support the mental health needs of pupils. Government could and should mandate the provision of such training in the education and CPD of teaching staff.

To highlight the scale of mental health problems among young people, the report also includes preliminary data gathered from 5,000 children and young people in Bradford that reveals the shocking rise of eating disorders in the area, including:

· One in five (21%) of Year 9 pupils in Bradford reporting a probable eating disorder.

· 18% of 12-to-15-year-olds in Bradford reporting symptoms indicative of a probable eating disorder (the national rate among 11-to-16-year olds is 13%).

· 17% of 12-to-15 year olds reported self-harm in the last 12 months, with a higher prevalence in girls (20%) compared to boys (13%).

The study also highlights two priority issues raised by children and young people in Bradford as detrimental to their mental health - problems with lack of sleep and with loneliness. These findings are seen elsewhere. A recent #BeeWell survey examined the relationship between sleep quality in approximately 35,000 young people in more than 150 schools across Greater Manchester. #BeeWell found that more than four in ten young people reported not getting enough sleep.

Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, said:

“The rise in the number of children experiencing mental health problems is an ongoing crisis not only for those children and families experiencing it now, but for our country’s future.

“I have heard so many heartbreaking stories of the lengths children and parents have gone to get support – including, sadly, suicide attempts – but we still seem a long way away from providing the prevention, early help, and treatment that every young person with mental health problems needs.

“As an anchor in children’s lives, schools have a crucial role to play in supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Yet half of the school age children in England – four million children – will not have access to Mental Health Support Teams under current plans. We need to rocket-boost support in schools if we hope to bring down the numbers of children who are struggling with mental health problems.

“The current school attendance crisis is likely to be driven in part by children with mental health problems who are unwilling or unable to attend school. We know already that children and young people with mental health conditions are more likely to be absent from school, and that poor mental health significantly impacts on school attendance and outcomes.

“At the next election, the parties will put forward their proposals for improving children’s mental health. Labour has already pledged to recruit more staff, introduce specialist mental health support for children in every school, and deliver an open access children and young people’s mental health hub for every community. But there should be a cross-party ambition to reduce the prevalence of children’s mental health conditions by half over the next 10 years, and all politicians should agree that the current system is failing too many children and needs urgent attention.”

Dr Camilla Kingdon, former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said:

“There is a huge evidence base for the importance of good mental health in childhood. However, sadly nearly 50% of lifetime mental health conditions are established by 14 years. We have a crucial window of opportunity to intervene to support children with mental health problems. We cannot let these children slip through the system without help.

“The UK needs to prioritise mental health and wellbeing of children for the sake of our children - and all our futures. There are solutions at our fingertips - we just need the political will to make it happen.”

Professor Mark Mon Williams, Child of The North report series editor, said:

“There is no better measure of the health of a nation than the mental wellbeing of its children and young people. The statistics on mental health in children are heartbreaking and demand immediate action. The UK must prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of its children and young people if it wants to enjoy long term prosperity. This report shows how the next Government could and should invest in the UK’s future wellbeing.”

Dr Ruth Wadman, Research Fellow for the Age of Wonder Adolescent Mental Health Collaboratory, said:

“Our children and young people need good mental health and wellbeing to develop and flourish. There is an urgent need to step-up our efforts to prevent mental health conditions and to intervene early when they emerge. The report shows that schools can play a key role in promoting good mental health and wellbeing, both by harnessing the power of data and by listening to children and young people.”

Superconductivity, the ability of certain materials to conduct electricity with zero resistance, holds profound potential for advancements of quantum technologies. However, achieving superconductivity in the quantum Hall regime, characterised by quantised electrical conductance, has proven to be a mighty challenge.

The research, published this week (24 April 2024) in , details extensive work of the Manchester team led by Professor Andre Geim, Dr Julien Barrier and Dr Na Xin to achieve superconductivity in the quantum Hall regime. Their initial efforts followed the conventional route where counterpropagating edge states were brought into close proximity of each other. However, this approach proved to be limited.

"Our initial experiments were primarily motivated by the strong persistent interest in proximity superconductivity induced along quantum Hall edge states," explains Dr Barrier, the paper's lead author. "This possibility has led to numerous theoretical predictions regarding the emergence of new particles known as non-abelian anyons."

The team then explored a new strategy inspired by their earlier work demonstrating that boundaries between domains in graphene could be highly conductive. By placing such domain walls between two superconductors, they achieved the desired ultimate proximity between counterpropagating edge states while minimising effects of disorder.

"We were encouraged to observe large supercurrents at relatively ‘balmy’ temperatures up to one Kelvin in every device we fabricated," Dr Barrier recalls.

Further investigation revealed that the proximity superconductivity originated not from the quantum Hall edge states propagating along domain walls, but rather from strictly 1D electronic states existing within the domain walls themselves. These 1D states, proven to exist by the theory group of Professor Vladimir Falko’s at the National Graphene Institute, exhibited a greater ability to hybridise with superconductivity as compared to quantum Hall edge states. The inherent one-dimensional nature of the interior states is believed to be responsible for the observed robust supercurrents at high magnetic fields.

This discovery of single-mode 1D superconductivity shows exciting avenues for further research. “In our devices, electrons propagate in two opposite directions within the same nanoscale space and without scattering", Dr Barrier elaborates. "Such 1D systems are exceptionally rare and hold promise for addressing a wide range of problems in fundamental physics."

The team has already demonstrated the ability to manipulate these electronic states using gate voltage and observe standing electron waves that modulated the superconducting properties.

���� is fascinating to think what this novel system can bring us in the future. The 1D superconductivity presents an alternative path towards realising topological quasiparticles combining the quantum Hall effect and superconductivity,” concludes Dr Xin. "This is just one example of the vast potential our findings holds."

20 years after the advent of the first 2D material graphene, this research by �鶹ǿ�� represents another step forward in the field of superconductivity. The development of this novel 1D superconductor is expected to open doors for advancements in quantum technologies and pave the way for further exploration of new physics, attracting interest from various scientific communities.

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

The Christmas Dinner, which was founded by the University's former Chancellor Lemn Sissay OBE to ensure young care leavers are not alone on Christmas Day, won Gold in the University Reaching Higher Award.  

Zero Without a Net, the University's strategy to reduce its carbon to true zero by 2038, won Bronze in the Sustainability Impact Initiative Award. 

Assistant Director of Estates and Facilities, Alison Shedlock, said: “We’re delighted to receive these awards. It’s amazing the support Christmas Dinners gets from the Directorate of Estates and Facilities and across the wider University. It makes such a difference to care leavers on what can be one of the most challenging days for many care leavers.” 

Julia Durkan, Acting Head of Environmental Sustainability, said: “Receiving the Bronze award for ‘Zero Without a Net’ demonstrates our dedication to advancing our campus decarbonisation initiatives. We are committed to working with our academic and professional services colleagues to safeguard our planet, and this recognition underscores the significant strides we have made so far.”  

With the awards, AUDE celebrates teams, projects and individuals who have made a significant contribution to enhancing excellence and ensuring university estates provide best value to support the institutional mission and promote professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness. 

The Christmas Dinner 

The  is an annual Christmas Day dinner and get together for care leavers aged between 18 and 25, where they are served by university colleagues and other volunteers.  

The University has been involved for several years, and last year many of our colleagues volunteered and donated gifts to help ensure Christmas Day was memorable for care leavers who might otherwise be on their own during the festive period. 

Zero Without a Net 

In 2019, the University adopted a targeting of achieving “true” (not net) zero-carbon by 2028 within its carbon budget. Alongside this, part of the University's primary vision is to be recognised globally for the benefits it brings to society and environment. The zero-carbon target is one of Manchester's top eight KPIs and the University has taken a series of steps, including securing funding of £150m over 10 years to achieve this.

The University is also undertaking energy efficiency measures to cut costs and consumption and the decarbonisation of our heat sources – specifically by replacing gas boilers with electric alternatives. 

To find out more or to donate, visit  

For details of our sustainability strategy, visit our sustainability commitments

Beth Sims, a third-year Chemistry student at �鶹ǿ��, will join a group of 18 students, all on work placement at , a science company in Derbyshire, to take part in the challenge to raise money for , an important charity supporting students with their mental health.

The Lubrizol students will be completing the distance between Lubrizol in Hazelwood, Derbyshire, and the company’s base in Barcelona. They are aiming to cover the 1715km (1066 miles) distance collectively, with each student taking on roughly 100km during April, whether that be walking, running, cycling, or even climbing. 

Beth enjoys going for jogs in Lubrizol’s extensive grounds, which are set in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside in a former stately home near Duffield and will be running the distance throughout the challenge.

With around one in four students reporting having a diagnosed mental health issue while at university, Student Minds empowers students to build their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers through university life and beyond. The students are aiming to raise £500 with their distance challenge, which will be matched by Lubrizol. To donate, visit:

Other universities represented by the Lubrizol distance challenge are: Derby, Loughborough, York, Warwick, Nottingham, Lincoln, Durham, St Andrews and Sheffield.

The research uncovered high inequality across different neighbourhoods, as well as social isolation amongst groups and individuals within the older population. Such experiences are reflected in the provision of various services by faith spaces, these often targeting recent migrants, those experiencing isolation and/or financial hardship, and people undergoing challenging life transitions such as bereavement, divorce, health problems and relocation.

The experts are calling for a more strategic involvement of faith-based groups in public health and age-friendly agendas. Taking into consideration the existing support happening in faith spaces and the opportunities for that work to be expanded, they suggest that policymakers should explore how to enhance the role of faith spaces in contributing to promoting health and wellbeing in the community, and provide support to enhance the social function of faith spaces, both for existing users and members of the wider community.

They also appeal for recognition of the role of faith spaces in supporting isolated/newly arrived groups to the community and their potential to connect older people to age-friendly initiatives, as well as support for faith spaces to access funding and the broadening of the age-friendly framework to embrace spiritual participation and cultural diversity.

The report is available to view

On Tuesday 23 April, President Higgins attended a conferral dinner at The Whitworth during which he was presented with his honorary degree. In 2011, Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland and re-elected in November 2018 to serve a second term in office. The President undertook postgraduate studies at �鶹ǿ�� from 1968 -1971.

Speaking at the conferral ceremony, President Higgins said: “The conferral of a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) from this esteemed University is an honour I very much appreciate, receiving it as I do in what is a very special year for �鶹ǿ�� as it celebrates its 200^th anniversary. This honour that you have bestowed on me has a particular personal resonance, given my family connections with Manchester. My two sisters came to Manchester in the late 1950s and married and reared their families here. This was followed by my own experience as a postgraduate student at this University in the late 1960s, times of hope and promise.

“This period and the work of scholars I met and worked with instilled in me a profound and lifelong interest in migration. This honour I accept today, not just for myself, but for all migrants and those who study and care for them.”

A passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society, Michael D. Higgins has previously served at every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

Speaking about the visit Professor Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University said: “In conferring an honorary degree upon President Higgins and looking forward to his lecture we celebrate power of sharing knowledge to unite us and inspire change. It is especially important during our bicentenary year in which we celebrate 200 years of our incredible people and community and look toward the future.”

On Wednesday 24 April, The President will deliver the first of a new annual series of lectures at �鶹ǿ�� named the John Kennedy Lecture Series. The lecture series will run for five years as part of the University’s . The lectures will promote topics related to the island of Ireland. The lecture will be .

The title of the inaugural lecture, presented by President Higgins is: ‘Of the consciousness our times need in responding to interacting crises and the role of Universities as spaces of discourse in facilitating it.’

The President’s lecture will touch on themes including; Universities providing grounds for thinking freely and empowering students to think freely for the betterment of society and especially their own societies.

The new lecture series is so named in honour of Dr John Kennedy CBE. Dr Kennedy was brought up in a large family in Ireland, he came to Northwest England and founded John Kennedy Civil Engineering. Over the next three decades, turnover grew from £10,000 to £60 million, making it one of the UK’s most successful construction and engineering companies.

Commenting on the inaugural lecture of the John Kennedy Lecture Series at �鶹ǿ��, Dr John Kennedy, said: ���� is an honour and tremendous pleasure to welcome the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins to the first in this new series of lectures. I am very proud to not only support education in the UK but in particular to be alongside �鶹ǿ�� as it celebrates its 200^th anniversary and remains a pioneering centre of excellence and achievement. I know that tonight’s lecture will be inspiring and thought provoking at a time when the world is in need of peace and wisdom.”

While existing TEMs can image atomic scale structure and chemistry, the time-consuming nature of the technique means the typical regions of interest (ROI) - areas of the sample selected for further analysis - are very limited. The AutomaTEM will resolve this, improving the ability to find and analyse, reducing time incurred while increasing the ROI. As a result, it will accelerate innovation in materials applications for quantum computing, low power electronics, and new catalysts to support the energy transition, all which are currently held back by the limitations of current technology.

The AutomaTEM development is funded through a £9.5 million project supported by �鶹ǿ��, The Henry Royce Institute, bp and EPSRC, in collaboration with manufacturer Thermo Fisher Scientific. The Manchester team, led by Professor Sarah Haigh, will merge TEM’s existing atomic scale elemental and chemical mapping capabilities together with emerging developments in automation and data analysis to create the AutomaTEM; an instrument that can acquire huge data sets of local chemical information in days rather than years.

Prof , Professor of Materials Characterisation at �鶹ǿ�� and Director of the Electron Microscopy Centre (EMC), said: "Understanding atomic detail at the micrometer or millimeter scale is crucial for developing materials for various applications, from catalysis and quantum technologies to nuclear energy and pharmaceuticals.

"This system is not simply another TEM instrument. It will provide new opportunities for atomic scale investigation of materials with less human intervention. For the first time we will be able to enable atomic resolution analysis of hundreds of regions of interest in a matter of hours, providing unprecedented insights into sparse defects and heterogeneous materials." 

Designed with artificial intelligence and automated workflows at its core, the AutomaTEM boasts several cutting-edge features, including:

• Computer control to automatically adjust the sample stage and beam to address specific regions of interest, enabling detailed high-resolution imaging and diffraction-based analysis without continuous operator interaction.
• Machine learning integration to segment lower resolution data and build functional relationships between experimental results, enhancing the identification of novel features. 
• A world-leading Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) system with exceptional collection efficiency, providing precise compositional analysis.
• A new high-performance electron energy loss spectrometer (EELS) design for chemical analysis of diverse species in complex systems.

Custom built, it is being developed in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific and will arrive in summer 2025. The global laboratory equipment manufacturer has provided Professor Haigh’s team access to the necessary API control, and will supply an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) system with a world-leading collection efficiency of 4.5 srad.

The AutomaTEM will be housed in �鶹ǿ��'s state-of-the-art (EMC), one of the largest in the UK. The EMC already has 6 transmission electron microscopes (TEMs), 13 scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), and 6 focussed ion beam (FIB) instruments. It supports more than 500 internal users, from 12 different University of Manchester Departments, and welcomes users from institutes across the world, including Cardiff, Durham, Queen Mary and Manchester Metropolitan universities, University of Cape Town (SA), Ceres Power, Nexperia, Nanoco, bp, Johnson Matthey, Oxford Instruments, and UKAEA.

AutomaTEM will be available to external users for free proof of principle academic projects for up to 30 per cent of its total use during the first three years to help foster collaboration and advance research capabilities.

, Royal Society University Research Fellow at �鶹ǿ��, who is leading co-investigator on the project, said: "The faster, more accurate analysis capabilities of AutomaTEM represent a significant leap forward in materials science research.

“With the potential to impact various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor, the AutomaTEM aims to support the UK’s position at the forefront of materials science innovation.”

Today’s announcement consolidates �鶹ǿ��’s reputation at the forefront of advanced materials research. Home to highest concentration of materials scientists in UK academia, it hosts several national centres for Advanced Materials research including the Henry Royce Institute - the UK national institute for Advanced Materials Research; the bp-ICAM, a global partnership to enable the effective application of advanced materials for the transition to net zero; the National Centre for X-ray Computational Tomography; and the National Graphene Institute, the world-leading interdisciplinary centre for graphene and 2D materials research.

Judges, drawn from across business and academia, highlighted Manchester’s superb standing and achievements across the North and globally.

Celebrating 200 years of academic excellence, �鶹ǿ�� has continually demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change locally and globally. Embracing social responsibility as a core value, the institution has pioneered initiatives that address pressing societal challenges, earning accolades such as being rated top in the UK, Europe, and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings global performance table for its unwavering dedication to making a difference.

Moreover, the university's commitment to sustainability and community engagement has been recognised through its top rankings in independent assessments such as the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and the prestigious Platinum Watermark award from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement.

Commenting on the award, the competition’s judges said: “An outstanding University that is such an essential engine for the city and the region.  Celebrating 200 years, their global reach is impressive with students from 170 countries and over 500,000 alumni across the world.  Judges highlighted the innovation and economic impact through their considerable investment of £1.7 billion and forecast of 10,000 local jobs. 

“�鶹ǿ�� continues to support the local community with 45% of graduates choosing to remain in the north-west region to live and work. Their drive and commitment to development is proven through their research excellence in areas such as Alzheimer’s, air pollution and women’s abuse. It’s clear that �鶹ǿ�� is very deserving of this award. Great work!”

A hallmark of the University of Manchester's success lies in its approach to education and student experience. With a diverse range of interdisciplinary learning opportunities the institution empowers students to excel both academically and personally. Notably, its comprehensive cost of living support programme, coupled with strategic investments in enhancing the student experience, underscores the university's unwavering dedication to student welfare.

Furthermore, �鶹ǿ��'s commitment to innovation and economic growth is exemplified through initiatives like , a groundbreaking innovation district poised to create over 10,000 new jobs and drive advancements in key sectors such as advanced materials, health innovation, and digital technology.

In the realm of research, �鶹ǿ�� continues to develop world leading discoveries ranging from robotics, to healthcare diagnostics. Its research power, coupled with a commitment to inclusivity and diversity, has garnered international acclaim and solidified its position as a leading research institution.

Internationally, �鶹ǿ��'s impact extends far beyond its campus, with strategic partnerships and collaborative ventures spanning continents. From revolutionising cancer treatment in Kenya to celebrating cultural diversity through innovative exhibitions, the university's global footprint underscores its commitment to fostering meaningful change on a global scale.

As �鶹ǿ�� embarks on its third century of excellence, the title of University of the Year stands as a testament to a  dedication to driving positive change and shaping the future of education, innovation, and research. With a rich legacy of accomplishments and a steadfast commitment to social responsibility, the university continues to inspire generations of scholars, innovators and pioneers worldwide.

Common informal recycling activities for lead-acid batteries used in solar energy systems were recorded to release 3.5-4.7 kg of lead pollution from a typical battery, which is equivalent to more than 100 times the lethal oral dose of lead for an adult.

Off-grid solar technologies are used to provide power to areas lacking traditional grid connections and are crucial for expanding electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa. The private market for off-grid solar electrification technologies is expected to provide electricity access to hundreds of millions of people by 2030, subsidized by global energy companies in the Global North, including the UK. Meanwhile, household scale off-grid solar energy systems in sub-Saharan Africa mostly depend on lead-acid batteries as the most affordable and established energy storage technology.

But the scientists warn that the absence of formal waste management infrastructure presents major human health and environmental risks and urge government intervention immediately.

This research, published today in the journal , was led by Dr Christopher Kinally for his PhD at �鶹ǿ��, funded by EPSRC.

Dr Kinally said: “The private market for off-grid solar products is a very effective way to increase access to electricity, which is crucial for sustainable development. However, the resulting toxic waste flow is growing rapidly across regions that do not have the infrastructure to safely manage electronic waste.

“Without developing infrastructure, legislation and education around these technologies, there are severe public health risks. Significant social, economic and legislative interventions are required for these solar products to be considered as a safe, low-carbon technology in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Toxic informal waste management practices are known to be common for automotive batteries and electronic waste in low- and middle-income countries, but the environmental and health impacts of these practices have been widely overlooked. Now, efforts to promote sustainable development and electricity access are adding to these life-threatening waste streams.

Dr Kinally recorded that within suburban communities in Malawi, lead-acid batteries from solar energy systems are being refurbished openly on busy market streets by self-taught technicians, who are not aware of the toxicity of the materials they are handling.

He found that batteries are broken open with machetes, lead is melted over charcoal cooking stoves, and improvised lead battery cells are made by hand. In the process, approximately half of the lead content from each battery is leaked into the surrounding environment, releasing the equivalent of more than 100 lethal oral lead doses from a single battery into densely populated communities. 

This is the first data to quantify lead pollution from the informal recycling of lead-acid batteries from solar energy systems.  

Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid, primary supervisor of the PhD and Senior Lecturer in Circular Economy and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment at �鶹ǿ��, added: “The problem is not the use a renewable source like solar energy, but the lack of appropriate treatment of the batteries at the end of life. We urgently need further research to reveal the health impacts of the identified flows of toxic pollution from solar batteries.”

Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and very low levels of lead exposure is known to permanently impact a child’s brain development. UNICEF have estimated that 800 million children across low- and middle-income countries have lead poisoning.

This widespread lead pollution is largely driven by improperly managed automotive battery waste and is expected to have substantial health and economic impacts across the Global South yet continues to be overlooked.  

Prior publications from the research team also highlight that the private off-grid solar market suffers from a general lack of supplier accountability and substandard, short-lived and counterfeit off-grid solar products were found to be common in Malawi, exploiting vulnerable energy-poor populations.

A lack of education about how to build and use these solar energy systems, which are particularly vulnerable to damage from improper use, is also severely limiting the lifetimes of batteries in off-grid solar energy systems.

Batteries in Malawi were recorded to often fail within a year, far shorter than the 3-5 year expected lifetime, accelerating the toxic waste flow. Meanwhile, the environmental impacts (including carbon emissions) from manufacturing and replacing short lived lead-acid batteries is compromising the sustainability and environmental benefits of solar energy systems.

Dr Fernando Antoñanzas, co-supervisor of the PhD, added: “This study brings more light on the maintenance and end-of-life phases of small off-grid solar projects, indeed left unattended in most cooperation projects. While informal lead-acid battery recycling offers a short-term solution for electrification for the poorest, at the same time, represents an enormous public health risk across Sub-Saharan Africa."

The research team has also provided policy recommendations for waste management solutions, including changes to how solar energy companies receive investments from the UK and Global North.

The study at the University’s NanoCell Biology Lab at the Centre for Nanotechnology in Medicine is published in the influential journal .

Though not expected to replace animal models completely, human organoids could soon lead to significant reductions in research animal numbers, the team led by cell biologist and nanotoxicologist Dr Sandra Vranic argues.

Grown in a dish from human stem cells, lung organoids are multicellular, three-dimensional structures that aim to recreate key features of human tissues such as cellular complexity and architecture.

They are increasingly used to better understand various pulmonary diseases, from cystic fibrosis to lung cancer, and infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2.

However, their ability to capture tissue responses to nanomaterial exposure has until now not been shown.

To expose the organoid model to carbon-based nanomaterials, Dr Rahaf Issa, lead scientist in Dr Vranic’s group, developed a method to accurately dose and microinject nanomaterials into the organoid’s lumen.

It simulated the real-life exposure of the apical pulmonary epithelium, the outermost layer of cells lining respiratory passages within the lungs.

Existing animal research data has shown that a type of long and rigid multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can cause adverse effects in lungs, leading to persistent inflammation and fibrosis - a serious type of irreversible scarring in the lung.

Using the same biological endpoints, the team’s human lung organoids showed a similar biological response, which validates them as tools for predicting nanomaterial driven responses in lung tissue.

The human organoids enabled better understanding of interactions of nanomaterials with the model tissue, but at the cellular level.

Graphene oxide (GO), a flat, thin and flexible form of carbon nanomaterial, was found to be momentarily trapped out of harm’s way in a substance produced by the respiratory system called secretory mucin.

In contrast, MWCNT induced a more persistent interaction with the alveolar cells, with more limited mucin secretion and leading to the growth of fibrous tissue.

In a further development, Dr Issa and Vranic based at the University’s for in Medicine are now developing and studying a ground-breaking human lung organoid that also contains an integrated immune cell component.

Dr Vranic said: “With further validation, prolonged exposure, and the incorporation of an immune component, human lung organoids could greatly reduce the need for animals used in nanotoxicology research.

 “Developed to encourage humane animal research, the 3Rs of replacement, reduction and refinement are now embedded in UK law and in many other countries.

“Public attitudes consistently show that support for animal research is conditional on the 3Rs being put into practice.”

Professor Kostas Kostarelos, Chair of Nanomedicine at the University said: “Current ‘2D testing’ of nanomaterials using two-dimensional cell culture models provide some understanding of cellular effects, but they are so simplistic as it can only partially depict the complex way cells communicate with each other.

���� certainly does not represent the complexity of the human pulmonary epithelium and may misrepresent the toxic potential of nanomaterials, for better or for worse.

”Though animals will still be needed in research for the foreseeable future, ‘3D’ organoids nevertheless are an exciting prospect in our research field and in research more generally as a human equivalent and animal alternative.”

Higher rates of stroke, blood clots, heart attack, heart failure, fracture, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury were observed in the study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)and published in today (17/04/24)

The findings show a considerably wider range of harms associated with antipsychotic use in people with dementia than previously acknowledged in regulatory alerts, with risks highest soon after starting the drugs, underscoring the need for increased caution in the early stages of treatment.

Despite safety concerns, antipsychotics continue to be widely prescribed for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia such as apathy, depression, aggression, anxiety, irritability, delirium, and psychosis.

Previous regulatory warnings when prescribing antipsychotics for these symptoms were based on evidence of increased risks for stroke and death, but evidence of other adverse outcomes was less conclusive amongst people with dementia.

To address this uncertainty, �鶹ǿ�� researchers set out to investigate the risks of several adverse outcomes potentially associated with antipsychotic use in people with dementia.

The outcomes of interest were stroke, major blood clots (venous thromboembolism), heart attack (myocardial infarction), heart failure, irregular heart rhythm (ventricular arrhythmia), fractures, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury.

Using linked primary care, hospital, and mortality data in England, they identified 173,910 people (63% women) diagnosed with dementia at an average age of 82 between January 1998 and May 2018 who had not been prescribed an antipsychotic in the year before their diagnosis.

Each of the 35,339 patients prescribed an antipsychotic on or after the date of their dementia diagnosis was then matched with up to 15 randomly selected patients who had not used antipsychotics.

The most commonly prescribed antipsychotics were risperidone, quetiapine, haloperidol, and olanzapine, which together accounted for almost 80% of all prescriptions.

Potentially influential factors including personal patient characteristics, lifestyle, pre-existing medical conditions, and prescribed drugs were also taken into account.

Compared with non-use, antipsychotics were associated with increased risks for all outcomes, except ventricular arrhythmia. For example, in the first three months of treatment, rates of pneumonia among antipsychotic users were 4.48% vs 1.49% for non-users. At one year, this rose to 10.41% for antipsychotic users vs 5.63% for non-users. 

Risks were also high among antipsychotic users for acute kidney injury (1.7-fold increased risk), as well as stroke and venous thromboembolism (1.6-fold increased risk) compared with non-users.

For almost all outcomes, risks were highest during the first week of antipsychotic treatment, particularly for pneumonia.

The researchers estimate that over the first six months of treatment, antipsychotic use might be associated with one additional case of pneumonia for every 9 patients treated, and one additional heart attack for every 167 patients treated. At two years, there might be one additional case of pneumonia for every 15 patients treated, and one additional heart attack for every 254 patients treated.

This was a large analysis based on reliable health data. However, because it was an observational study, no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. And although a range of factors have been adjusted for, the possibility that other unmeasured variables may have affected the results can’t be ruled out.

Senior author Prof Darren M Ashcroft, University of Manchester, Director of NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC), NIHR Senior Investigator said: “In recent years, it has become clear that more people with dementia are being prescribed antipsychotic drugs, despite existing regulatory safety warnings. It is important that any potential benefits of antipsychotic treatment are weighed carefully against the risk of serious harm, and treatment plans need to be regularly reviewed in all health and care settings.” 

Co-investigator Prof Tony Avery, OBE, University of Nottingham, and NIHR Senior Investigator said: “For many years there have been safety concerns about the use of antipsychotics for managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, with increased risk of stroke and death being reported. Our study shows that the use of antipsychotics in this group of patients is also associated with other harms including pneumonia, venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, heart failure, fracture, and acute kidney injury. This means that it is even more important to take account of risk of harm when considering prescribing these medicines, and to use alternative approaches wherever possible.”

Lead author Dr Pearl Mok, Research Fellow, University of Manchester said: “With the number of people living with dementia forecast to increase greatly in the coming years, further research into safer drug and more efficacious non-drug treatments for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are needed.” 

Multiple adverse outcomes associated with antipsychotic use in people with dementia: population based matched cohort study is published in the doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076268

Experts have identified the bones found on a beach in Somerset as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile. Estimates suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25 metres long.

Father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds from Braunton, Devon, found the first pieces of the second jawbone to be found in May 2020, while searching for fossils on the beach at Blue Anchor, Somerset. Ruby, then aged 11, found the first chunk of giant bone before searching together for additional pieces.

Realising they had discovered something significant, they contacted leading ichthyosaur expert, , a palaeontologist at �鶹ǿ��. Dr Lomax, who is also a 1851 Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, contacted Paul de la Salle, a seasoned fossil collector who had found the first giant jawbone in May 2016 from further along the coast at Lilstock.

Dr Dean Lomax said: “I was amazed by the find. In 2018, my team (including Paul de la Salle) studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone and we had hoped that one day another would come to light. This new specimen is more complete, better preserved, and shows that we now have two of these giant bones - called a surangular - that have a unique shape and structure. I became very excited, to say the least.”

Justin and Ruby, together with Paul, Dr Lomax, and several family members, visited the site to hunt for more pieces of this rare discovery. Over time, the team found additional pieces of the same jaw which fit together perfectly, like a multimillion-year-old jigsaw.

Justin said: “When Ruby and I found the first two pieces we were very excited as we realised that this was something important and unusual. When I found the back part of the jaw, I was thrilled because that is one of the defining parts of Paul's earlier discovery.”

The last piece of bone was recovered in October 2022.

The research team, led by Dr Lomax, revealed that the jaw bones belong to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would have been about the size of a blue whale. Comparing the two examples of the same bone with the same unique features from the same geologic time zone supports their identifications.

The team have called the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis, meaning “giant fish lizard of the Severn.”

The bones are around 202 million years old, dating to the end of the Triassic Period in a time known as the Rhaetian. During this time, the gigantic ichthyosaurs swam the seas while the dinosaurs walked on land. It was the titans’ final chapter, however—as the story told in the rocks above these fossils record a cataclysm known as the Late Triassic global mass extinction event. After this time, giant ichthyosaurs from the family known as Shastasauridae go extinct. Today, these bones represent the very last of their kind.

Ichthyotitan is not the world’s first giant ichthyosaur, but de la Salles’ and Reynolds’ discoveries are unique among those known to science. These two bones appear roughly 13 million years after their latest geologic relatives, including Shonisaurus sikanniensis from British Columbia, Canada, and Himalayasaurus tibetensis from Tibet, China.

Dr Lomax added: “I was highly impressed that Ruby and Justin correctly identified the discovery as another enormous jawbone from an ichthyosaur. They recognised that it matched the one we described in 2018. I asked them whether they would like to join my team to study and describe this fossil, including naming it. They jumped at the chance. For Ruby, especially, she is now a published scientist who not only found but also helped to name a type of gigantic prehistoric reptile. There are probably not many 15-year-olds who can say that! A Mary Anning in the making, perhaps.”

Ruby said: ���� was so cool to discover part of this gigantic ichthyosaur. I am very proud to have played a part in a scientific discovery like this.”

Paul de la Salle said: “To think that my discovery in 2016 would spark so much interest in these enormous creatures fills me with joy. When I found the first jawbone, I knew it was something special. To have a second that confirms our findings is incredible. I am overjoyed.”

Further examinations of the bones’ internal structures have been carried out by master’s student, Marcello Perillo, from the University of Bonn, Germany. His work confirmed the ichthyosaur origin of the bones and revealed that the animal was still growing at the time of death.

He said: “We could confirm the unique set of histological characters typical of giant ichthyosaur lower jaws: the anomalous periosteal growth of these bones hints at yet to be understood bone developmental strategies, now lost in the deep time, that likely allowed late Triassic ichthyosaurs to reach the known biological limits of vertebrates in terms of size. So much about these giants is still shrouded by mystery, but one fossil at a time we will be able to unravel their secret.”

The new research has been published today in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Ruby, Justin and Paul’s discoveries will soon go on display at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

“Better understanding and valuing the wellbeing impacts of programmes working with children and young people could help ensure that policies and interventions to tackle children’s wellbeing will be prioritised going forwards. It is essential that the country invests in the collection of high-quality wellbeing data for children, like the one pioneered by #BeeWell,  and support greater investment in young people’s lives.”

Jack Reynolds, Chief Executive of Football Beyond Borders, said: “Young people’s mental wellbeing is having a huge effect on their engagement at school - you can’t rectify the other issues we see every day around absence and attainment if young people’s heads aren’t in a good place. This research shows that investing in relationships provides value for money and addresses the needs of adolescents.

“Long-term, consistent, adult role models are an essential part of any solution and immediate reform which puts trusted relationships at the heart of our system can’t come soon enough.

Charlotte Mellor who is a Cancer Research UK PhD student and Candy Kong who studied Criminology at �鶹ǿ�� were the first in their family to attend university and are now featured as part of the .

Charlotte Mellor said: “Without University, I wouldn’t be working in the field I’m in. It’s opened the door to working in a field I didn’t even know existed before, as it’s so far removed from school classes. It’s allowed me to get involved in things at a really high level and have a go at different things that I’ve been interested in.

“My brother has since applied and been to university, which was easier for him than me as it wasn’t new anymore. I’d already been through it and opened the door. My immediate family is really proud of the fact I was the first to go to university and I’ve earned the opportunity to go and do something that I want to do, which I wouldn’t have had without university.”

Candy Kong said: “I value my time at university immensely, from studying a challenging degree, meeting new people and taking on exciting opportunities.”

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; UUK’s ‘100 Faces campaign’ aims to champion and celebrate the positive impact of ‘first-in-the-family’ (FitF) graduates on the UK – including England footballer Beth Mead, Lord David Blunkett, Nobel Prize winner Sir Chris Pissarides and actor Amit Shah - in order to highlight the need for access to support, and ensure the next generation can reach their graduate potential.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; As part of the campaign, new research reveals the transformative impact of going to university  on ambition (74%), with almost three quarters (73%) of FitF students agreeing their degree gave them the confidence to apply for jobs without feeling like an imposter

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; The research  also highlights FiF students’  reliance on depreciating financial support - without financial support, over 4 in 10 FitF graduates couldn’t have afforded to go to university at all. This is equivalent to around 1.1 million 24–40-year-olds in England and Wales.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; With financial provisions dwindling and the cost of living rising, UUK is calling for government to reinstate maintenance grants and increase support for future students

These findings come from extensive new research, commissioned by Universities UK, into the experiences of 6,004 UK graduates and 4,006 non-graduates, aged 24-40, from across the UK.

The success of students like Charlotte and Candy is testament to the extraordinary role university can play – particularly for those students who are the first in their family to attend and face significant barriers before they even set foot on campus. Despite this inequality, FiF students flourish at university – with three quarters of FiF respondents saying that their experiences at university made them more confident and ambitious, gave them broader life experiences and crucial life skills which continue to be impactful long after graduation.

However, the research also pointed to the need for uplifted financial support to ensure that FiF students are able to progress. Over 4 in 10 (41%) FitF students believe that without financial assistance they wouldn’t have been able to afford to go to university, and when non-graduates from across the UK were asked what might have persuaded them to attend university, almost half (48%) responded more financial support.

Many graduates responding to this survey were eligible for non-repayable maintenance grants as students, which were replaced by repayable loans, in England in 2016, although maintenance grants continue to operate in Wales, Scotland and for some healthcare courses in England.

In light of this, UUK is campaigning to highlight the achievements of the extraordinary first in family graduates in every community, and to ensure that future generations don’t miss out on the transformative impact of a university education.  

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, commented: “There are those who say that too many people go to university. I disagree. These stories tell you why. In this country you are still twice as likely to go to university if you are from the wealthiest background, compared to the least wealthy. That’s not right.”

"There are those who say that too many people go to university. I disagree. These stories tell you why. In this country you are still twice as likely to go to university if you are from the wealthiest background, compared to the least wealthy. That’s not right.

“The experiences of students who are the first in their families to have been to university tell a powerful story. I am amazed by how many graduates talked about having imposter syndrome – and the way that earning a degree helped to banish that feeling. I believe we have a responsibility to keep working to ensure a wider range of people in this country get access to the potentially transformative experience of going to university. For that to happen, we really do need to see an improvement in maintenance support to support those from the least privileged backgrounds.”

Described by the ERC as among the EU’s most prestigious and competitive grants, today’s funding has been awarded to the following senior research leaders:

• , Professor of Emerging Optoelectronics, based in the and , to investigate scalable nanomanufacturing paradigms for emerging electronics (SNAP). The program aims to develop sustainable large-area electronics, a potential game-changer in emerging semiconductor markets, that will help reduce society's reliance on current polluting technologies while enabling radically new applications.
• , Chair in Evolutionary Biology, in the School of Biological Sciences, to investigate how genomic complexity shapes long-term bacterial evolution and adaptation.
• , in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Director of the Photon Science Institute to develop a table-top nuclear facility to produce cold actinide molecules that will enable novel searches for new physics beyond the standard model of particle physics.
• Professor Sir Andre Geim, who isolated graphene in 2004 with Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov, to explore 2D materials and their van der Waals assemblies.
• , to lead work into chemically fuelled molecular ratchets. Ratcheting underpins the mechanisms of molecular machinery, gives chemical processes direction, and helps explain how chemistry becomes biology.
• , in the Department of Chemistry and  Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, to develop enzymatic methods for peptide synthesis (EZYPEP). Peptides are fundamental in life and are widely used as therapeutic agents, vaccines, biomaterials and in many other applications. Currently peptides are produced by chemical synthesis, which is inefficient, expensive, difficult to scale-up and creates a huge amount of harmful waste that is damaging to the environment. EZYPEP will address this problem by developing enzymatic methods for the more sustainable, cleaner and scalable synthesis of peptides, including essential medicines to combat infectious diseases, cancer and diabetes.
•  , based in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, to explore Top and Higgs Couplings and extended Higgs Sectors with rare multi-Top multi-Higgs Events with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. This project aims at deeper insight into the most fundamental properties of nature beyond our current understanding.

�鶹ǿ�� received seven of the 42 grants awarded to UK institutions.

The grant recipients will join a community of just 255 awarded ERC advanced grants, from a total of 1,829 submissions.

As a result of today’s announcement, the ERC will be investing nearly €652 million across the 255 projects.

Head of Department for Physics and Astronomy, which received three of the seven grants, said: “Today’s triple award reflects our department’s continued leadership in pioneering research. We’re home to Jodrell Bank, host of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory – set to be the largest radio telescope in the world; the National Graphene Institute – a world-leading centre for 2D material research with the largest clean rooms in European academia; we lead experiments at CERN and Fermilab; and – crucially – we host a world-leading community of vibrant and collaborative researchers like Professors Flanagan, Geim and Peters who lead the way. Today’s announcement recognises their role as outstanding research leaders who will drive the next generation to deliver transformative breakthroughs.”

, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at �鶹ǿ��, added: “Our University’s history of scientific and engineering research is internationally recognised but it does not constrain us. Instead, it’s the work of our researchers – like the seven leaders celebrated today – and what they decide to do next, that will define us.  We are proud to have a culture where responsible risk-taking is nurtured and transformative outcomes delivered, and we look forward to these colleagues using this environment to deliver world-leading and world-changing research.”

, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, said: "These awards are welcome recognition of the world-leading and transformative frontier science that �鶹ǿ�� researchers are delivering. The compelling and innovative research supported by these ERC awards builds on the excellent local environment at �鶹ǿ�� and are cornerstones of the University’s strategy for excellence and leadership in research and innovation. The positive and real-world global impact from these research awards could deliver are genuinely tangible.

"As we enter our third century, the awards made in a highly competitive environment, are evidence that we do so with a continued pioneering approach to discovery and the pursuit of knowledge that our research community was built on."

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth at the ERC, said: “This investment nurtures the next generation of brilliant minds. I look forward to seeing the resulting breakthroughs and fresh advancements in the years ahead.”

The ERC grants are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.

�鶹ǿ�� has announced the first speakers, performers and events for Universally Manchester Festival; a 200th birthday celebration like no other, with 150 free events across four captivating days at its iconic Oxford Road Campus from Thursday 6 - Sunday 9 June 2024.

The once in a lifetime interdisciplinary festival, will welcome up to 60,000 people to more than 150 imaginative and immersive events, featuring contributions from Professor Brian Cox, Professor David Olusoga, Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), international supergroup directed by Laima Leyton (Mixhell / Soulwax), Professor Michael Wood, Dr Sarah Crowther (member of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team), immunologist Professor Sheena Cruikshank, exonerated postmaster Tom Hedges and many, many more.

The launch

The festival opens with Universally Manchester x the Whitworth, a very special Thursday late, with a showcase of music marking 200 years of �鶹ǿ�� in collaboration with festival partner Manchester Histories Festival 2024. This free event is open to all and includes everything from a world premiere of new music inspired by Manchester’s history of broadside ballads performed by members of the BBC Philharmonic, to an audio visual experience, celebrating the legacies of Manchester computing genius Alan Turning and music pioneer Delia Derbyshire.   

Ideas and discussions

Professor Brian Cox will lead a guided journey to far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and the latest theories on the origins of the universe, while Professor David Olusoga, Professor Michael Wood, Ana Carden-Coyne and Sadiah Qureshi will explore how TV and film shape cultural narratives and reflect societal diversity.

TedX speaker and immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank will debunk the myths behind 'immune boosting' products and regimes, revealing the science behind our immune system, whilst Earth and Environmental Sciences Research Fellow Dr Sarah Crowther will share the secrets of the asteroid Bennu and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.

A Universally Manchester edition of the Talk 200: Lecture and podcast series will tackle inequalities in access to justice, with contributions from the University’s Chancellor, Nazir Afzal, exonerated postmaster Tom Hedges; barrister and advocate Thalia Maragh (UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Grenfell Inquiry); and Suzanne Gower, PhD researcher, and former managing director of the legal charity APPEAL.

A Guardian Live event, led by Professor David Olusoga, Cotton Capital: Slavery and �鶹ǿ�� will explore how transatlantic slavery shaped �鶹ǿ��. 

Creativity and performance

The diverse programme includes a panel talking us through two decades of creative activism with independent international charity and its ambassador, Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien.

This will be brought to life with a performance from GRRRL, an international supergroup brought together by In Place of War and directed by Brazil’s Laima Leyton (Mixhell / Soulwax). Featuring women of colour from international conflict zones, GRRRL express themselves on their terms, in their languages, with their stories.

The Whitworth will present The Carnival, a celebration of art, culture and Manchester’s dynamic community through live performances, interactive workshops, delicious street food and live music, whilst Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, a mischievous, revolutionary New Orleans Second Line will pay homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and Mr Tony Wilson.

Further musical performances come from Kantos Choir, a trailblazing vocal ensemble, who perform music by everyone from 11th Century visionary saints to genre-bending, experimental rock stars, Grammy-winning multi-percussionist, educator, arranger, and composer Carlos "Carly" Maldonado, and Senegalese afrobeat musician Sens Sagna.

Community and Families

There will be a whole host of family-friendly events including a Community Fair taking place across Engineering Building A, University Place and AMBS, full of interactive activities. Budding scientists can drive a Lego Mars Rover, peek inside our brains, or enter a world of virtual reality. Creative and crafty activities include screen printing tote bags, clay making and face painting, and sporting challenges including circus skills from The Circus House, a climbing wall and helter-skelter. The Shoopery will deliver a series of positive, upbeat, ambitious, ‘out of your comfort zone’ experiences that are all about letting go.

A visually stunning Flash Bang Show, for kids and adults, will demonstrate the explosive power of chemistry, from basic knowledge about atoms and molecules to the innovative research produced at �鶹ǿ��.

Closing

 The festival will close with a Celebration Day in partnership with Manchester Histories Festival 2024 which will see over 50 stalls take over the historic Whitworth Hall, giving those of all ages the chance to find out more about the unique history of Greater �鶹ǿ�� and the North West from organisations that celebrate, preserve, and explore our histories and heritage. During the day there will be everything from craft activities and walks through to performances and talks – even a chance to hop on a heritage bus.

With support from partners including BBC Philharmonic, Factory International, the Guardian, In Place of War, Manchester Histories Festival and many others, Universally Manchester Festival will be taking over Manchester Museum, The Whitworth, University of Manchester Students’ Union, and creating pop-up stages on Gilbert Square.

The Festival Village on Bridgeford Street, in collaboration with Pop Up Market Co., will showcase Manchester's finest independent artisans, makers, performers and businesses.

Universally Manchester Festival will run from Thursday 6 - Sunday 9 June 2024. Free ticketed events will be available to book from Thursday 9 May, with early access available for those that sign up for information .  

The renewed commitment will help Boots and No7 Beauty Company continue to break new ground in helping people care for their skin throughout their life, whether it is maintaining skin health, helping to combat skin ageing or supporting people through significant skin changes such as those resulting from the menopause. It will also further strengthen their market leading cosmetic science innovation pipeline, which has delivered product innovations generating waiting lists of up to 100,000 people, physical queues outside Boots stores and surges in visits to boots.com. 

The announcement was made at a special event held at the University, which celebrated some of the partnership’s most significant scientific milestones, including the launch of its biggest scientific breakthrough to date; the ground-breaking No7 Future Renew skincare range. The range was launched exactly one year ago this week and was developed following 15 years of research and development between scientists at both organisations, resulting in the discovery of a world-first super peptide blend formulated into a best-selling range and serum that is clinically proven to reverse visible signs of skin damage.  This innovation has taken the beauty industry by storm, with the Future Renew serum becoming a global bestseller and the biggest ever beauty launch in the UK.  In the UK, there were more than 500,000 transactions in the first four weeks, and a year later, one product is still sold every seven seconds.

The collaboration renewal also coincides with both institutions celebrating landmark anniversaries; with Boots marking its 175th anniversary and �鶹ǿ�� reaching its 200 year milestone in 2024.

Mark Winter, Managing Director, No7 Beauty Company, said: “We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with the UoM’s Centre for Dermatology Research and excited for the next phase of our collaboration.  Scientific innovation is part of our DNA and by working with world-leading partners like the University of Manchester we are committed to using our unrivalled research expertise to be at the forefront of skincare and cosmetic innovation, developing ground-breaking, clinically proven, affordable products that work for everyone.”

The event was attended by representatives from both institutions, including Ornella Barra, Chief Operating Officer, International, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, �鶹ǿ��.  

from �鶹ǿ�� said: “We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with Boots and to pursue our shared aims of uncovering new insights into skin biology and applying this knowledge to repairing accumulated damage.” 

, also from �鶹ǿ��  said: "Our longstanding partnership with Boots has enabled us to explore the depths of skin science while delivering real-world benefits to consumers through clinical translational research. We are thrilled to continue this collaboration, advancing innovation and enhancing skin health for all individuals."

Where it all began
The partnership was established twenty years ago by a small team of No7 and University of Manchester scientists. The ambition was to come together to create cutting-edge skincare solutions that could be taken from the laboratory straight to the high street.  One of the first innovations was the renowned No7 Protect & Perfect serum. The serum famously featured in a BBC Horizon programme in 2007, where the efficacy of the serum was verified by independent dermatologists, leading to the product selling out in Boots stores throughout the UK.

Fast forward to 2024 and today, the collaboration has caught the eyes of the scientific community and the Government.  It has also:  

• Led to 10 patents being filed, with more in the pipeline
• Resulted in over 100 academic publications including 60 peer reviewed papers published in scientific journals
• Helped to upskill thousands of beauty advisors and pharmacists within Boots stores
• Supported a UK talent pipeline of brilliant entrepreneurial scientists – many of whom are female
• Significantly raised the reputation of bioscience research in the UK and in particular in the North West
• Helped put No7 on the global map with distribution now extending to over a dozen countries including Australia, the Nordics and the US
• Created effective collaborations both in the UK and internationally with the likes of Imperial College London, Kings College, Newcastle, York and Liverpool universities, as well as internationally with Johns Hopkins.

Millie Kendall OBE, CEO, British Beauty Council, comments: “The launch of No7 Future Renew was somewhat revolutionary.  The teams took a ground-breaking scientific discovery straight into an affordable, accessible skincare range available to all on the British high street, whereas traditionally you would see cutting-edge scientific innovations trickle down to high street products several years after launching in premium products or clinics. It is testament to the rigour and strength of the partnership between �鶹ǿ��, Boots and No7 Beauty Company that they have created truly world-leading skincare innovation together.”

New era of discovery beckons
The renewal of the partnership establishes a ground-breaking five-year research programme that will explore peptides, clinical testing, skin immunology, and the skin microbiome. It includes a pioneering project to investigate skin across the pigmentary spectrum, aiming to develop more inclusive and effective technologies suitable for all skin tones. The project has already secured multi-million-pound funding from The BBSRC’s Prosperity Award, marking a significant investment in advancing skin science.

Samantha Dover, Mintel Category Director of Beauty and Personal Care research, said: “Beauty consumers are increasingly discerning and want to know more about the products they buy. This is exemplified by the 71% of UK adults who believe beauty brands should provide more scientific evidence to validate their claims. Showcasing the research and development behind a product can provide brands with a powerful point of difference in a crowded market. Moreover, partnerships that elevate and spotlight the R&D process will undoubtedly appeal to consumers who want brands to validate their claims, and therefore can build brand trust and loyalty.” 

Investing in the next generation of British scientists
Throughout the partnership, �鶹ǿ��, Boots and No7 Beauty Company will support the next generation of scientists through the following initiatives:

• Funding from BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership in 2021 to train 15 PhD students, addressing skills gaps in the UK bioscience industry.
• Co-investing with UKRI since 2019, with UKRI recognising the No7 Future Renew story as an exemplar of business and university collaboration.

An event is being held at �鶹ǿ�� on April 11^th (the one year anniversary of the No7 Future Renew launch) to celebrate the impact and success of the partnership and look ahead at the next phase. 

describe a force-controlled release system that harnesses natural forces to trigger targeted release of molecules, which could significantly advance medical treatment and smart materials.

The discovery, published today in the journal , uses a novel technique using a type of interlocked molecule known as rotaxane. Under the influence of mechanical force - such as that observed at an injured or damaged site - this component triggers the release of functional molecules, like medicines or healing agents, to precisely target the area in need. For example, the site of a tumour.

It also holds promise for self-healing materials that can repair themselves in situ when damaged, prolonging the lifespan of these materials. For example, a scratch on a phone screen.

Traditionally, the controlled release of molecules with force has presented challenges in releasing more than one molecule at once, usually operating through a molecular "tug of war" game where two polymers pull at either side to release a single molecule.

The new approach involves two polymer chains attached to a central ring-like structure that slide along an axle supporting the cargo, effectively releasing multiple cargo molecules in response to force application. The scientists demonstrated the release of up to five molecules simultaneously with the possibility of releasing more, overcoming previous limitations.

The breakthrough marks the first time scientists have been able to demonstrate the ability to release more than one component, making it one of the most efficient release systems to date.

The researchers also show versatility of the model by using different types of molecules, including drug compounds, fluorescent markers, catalyst and monomers, revealing the potential for a wealth of future applications.

Looking ahead, the researchers aim to delve deeper into self-healing applications, exploring whether two different types of molecules can be released at the same time. For example, the integration of monomers and catalysts could enable polymerization at the site of damage, creating an integrated self-healing system within materials.

They will also look to expand the sort of molecules that can be released.

said: "We've barely scratched the surface of what this technology can achieve. The possibilities are limitless, and we're excited to explore further."

Fintech (financial technology) is everywhere. It’s the catch-all term for technology-enabled financial services innovation.

Even if you haven’t heard of fintech, you’re probably using it for payments, banking or investments. Klarna? ClearPay? Revolut? Monzo? They’re all part of an industry that attracted a staggering (£40.5 billion) of investment globally in 2023.

However, while fintech is flooded with money, it is marked by an absence of women, particularly in leadership roles. , which was published on March 5, reveals the striking underrepresentation of women guiding this booming industry.

Women account for just 4% of CEOs, only 18% of executive committee members, and a mere 7.7% of entrepreneurs within fintech. There is not a single woman on the of the well-known fintech company Revolut.

Fintech sits at the intersection of three sectors: finance, technology and entrepreneurship. Gender inequalities in each of these combine to form what we call a “triple glass ceiling” in the fintech industry. The longstanding male dominance, continued privileging of masculinity, and rigid gender stereotypes in each of these sectors hinder meaningful progress and change in fintech.

So, where are all the women?

The sexist culture still apparent within financial services has been brought into fintech. Our research, which involved interviewing female and male fintech professionals, uncovers stories of recruiters being reluctant to hire women because of assumptions they would get married, have children, and be less committed to the business.

Several interviewees noted that women typically work harder and push more to gain the same result as their male peers. However, ideas that get dismissed when suggested by a woman commonly gain credence when offered by a man. We found that the performance of masculinity, not the quality of the work or idea, is what tends to get valued.

The masculine language in fintech job descriptions – requiring applicants to be a “hunter” and “execute” on strategies – reduces the pool of female candidates. And men are more likely to be hired since they tend to fit the sought after.

Networking can be a powerful way of climbing the career ladder in fintech. It’s not what you know but who. But networking itself is a . Women are often excluded from networking since it typically occurs in informal spaces outside of core working hours. And who is more likely to have caring responsibilities? Women.

Deep-rooted stereotypes mean that girls and women are still not supported or encouraged to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects at school. Thus, technology careers remain .

Only 1.5% of chief technology officers or chief information officers are women – a reflection of the technology glass ceiling. In comparison, 37% of chief marketing officers are women.

Startups also comprise the bulk of fintech, and this is where an entrepreneurial glass ceiling prevails. Few women attempt to access funding, and those who do are less successful than their male counterparts. For example, of venture capital funding went to female-founded companies in Europe in 2023.

Research finds that the venture capital industry is . Since people are more likely to relate to and fund entrepreneurs similar to themselves, male-led ventures are more successful.

Socially constructed gender differences, such as confidence, risk aversion and pitching style, also lead to and expectations of masculine behaviour. Successful entrepreneurs have traditionally been male, leading to a male stereotype of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial success.

What does this mean for you?

Fintech makes of disruption, inclusion and progression. And yet, on a very basic level, how can an industry innovate through sameness? If people build and develop products based on their own frustrations and day-to-day living, innovation can only truly be driven by diverse people with different backgrounds and experiences.

Despite all the hype, fintech is falling short. To recognise the needs of a diverse population, fintech needs more diversity of its producers. Otherwise, it contributes to inequality and wastes potential economic and social benefits.

Our findings should serve as an alarm call to those inside and outside of the industry. Most adults in the UK – even without knowing. If made aware of the gender inequalities in the industry, fintech users can be a voice for change.

Everyone is responsible. Creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace will only occur if the industry receives pressure from all sides. Shattering the triple glass ceiling represents an immense challenge, but we cannot be allowed to fail.

, PhD Researcher, and , Professor of Financial Geography,

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

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe will be interviewed by Jon Savage, Professor of Popular Culture at �鶹ǿ��, and also answer questions from the audience. The conversation will be preceded by a full album playback.

Tickets for the event sold out in minutes when they went on sale on Friday, 5 April 2024.

Pet Shop Boys said: ���� will be great to be in Manchester on the day our new album is released. We have many friends in the city and it’s always a real pleasure returning there.”

, John Rylands University Librarian and Director of �鶹ǿ�� Library, said: “This will be one of the highest profile events in the history of the Library and follows the successful launch of the in 2022 and a series of events, not least the launch of Johnny Marr’s new book. We’d like to thank Parlophone Records, Crash Records, Pet Shop Boys and their management for making it happen at the Library.”

‘Nonetheless’ is Pet Shop Boys’ 15th album and was produced by James Ford. The Guardian have already described it as “gorgeous...it basks in songwriterly lusciousness”.

Jon Savage’s acclaimed books include ‘Teenage’, ‘1966: The Year the Decade Exploded” and ‘England’s Dreaming’ which is seen as the classic book about punk. His new book, ‘The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Music” will be published in June.

They have developed a new catalyst which has been shown to have a wide variety of uses and the potential to streamline optimisation processes in industry and support new scientific discoveries.

Catalysts, often considered the unsung heroes of chemistry, are instrumental in accelerating chemical reactions, and play a crucial role in the creation of most manufactured products. For example, the production of polyethylene, a common plastic used in various everyday items such as bottles and containers or found in cars to convert harmful gases from the engine's exhaust into less harmful substances.

Among these, ruthenium – a platinum group metal – has emerged as an important and commonly used catalyst. However, while a powerful and cost-effective material, highly reactive ruthenium catalysts have long been hindered by their sensitivity to air, posing significant challenges in their application. This means their use has so far been confined to highly trained experts with specialised equipment, limiting the full adoption of ruthenium catalysis across industries.

In new research published in the journal Nature Chemistry, scientists at �鶹ǿ�� working with collaborators at global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca unveil a ruthenium catalyst proven to be long-term stable in air while maintaining the high reactivity necessary to facilitate transformative chemical processes.

The discovery allows for simple handling and implementation processes and has shown versatility across a wide array of chemical transformations, making it accessible for non-specialist users to exploit ruthenium catalysis. Collaborative efforts with AstraZeneca demonstrate this new catalyst’s applicability to industry, particularly in developing efficient and sustainable drug discovery and manufacturing processes.

Dr James Douglas, Director of High-Throughput Experimentation who collaborated on the project from AstraZeneca said: “Catalysis is a critical technology for AstraZeneca and the wider biopharmaceutical industry, especially as we look to develop and manufacture the next generation of medicines in a sustainable way. This new catalyst is a great addition to the toolbox and we are beginning to explore and understand its industrial applications.”

The new approach has already led to the discovery of new reactions that have never been reported with ruthenium and with its enhanced versatility and accessibility, the researchers anticipate further advancements and innovations in the field.

McArthur, G., Docherty, J.H., Hareram, M.D. et al. An air- and moisture-stable ruthenium precatalyst for diverse reactivity. Nat. Chem. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-024-01481-5

Using the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank the researchers from the UK, Germany and Australia have shed new light on radio emission coming from a magnetar, known as XTE J1810-197.

Magnetars are a type of neutron star and the strongest magnets in the Universe. At roughly 8,000 light years away, this magnetar is also the closest known to Earth.

The magnetar is emitting light which is strongly polarised and rapidly changing. The scientists say this implies that interactions at the surface of the star are more complex than previous theoretical explanations suggest.

The results are published in two papers in the journal Nature Astronomy today.

Detecting radio pulses from magnetars is already extremely rare; XTE J1810-197 is one of only a handful known to produce them.

XTE J1810-197 was first observed to emit radio signals in 2003 before going silent for well over a decade. The signals were again detected by �鶹ǿ��'s 76-m Lovell telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in 2018.

Since then, researchers at the University, in collaboration with institutes including the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and the University of Southampton have been closely observing the magnetar.

Using the Lovell, Effelsberg and Murriyang telescopes, researchers have since noticed significant changes in the radio signals coming from the magnetar, particularly in the way the light was polarised, indicating that the magnetar's radio beam was shifting its direction in relation to Earth.

The researchers believed this was caused by an effect called free precession where the magnetar wobbles slightly due to slight asymmetries in its structure, similar to a spinning top.

Unexpectedly, this wobbling motion decreased rapidly over a few months and until it eventually stopped altogether. This contradicts the idea proposed by many astronomers that repeating fast radio bursts could be caused by magnetars undergoing precession.

Gregory Desvignes from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, and lead author of one of the two papers, said: “We expected to see some variations in the polarisation of this magnetar’s emission, as we knew this from other magnetars but we did not expect that these variations are so systematic, following exactly the behaviour that would be caused by the wobbling of the star.”

But the reason as to why the circular polarisation changes, where the light appears to spiral as it moves through space, remain uncertain.

Dr Marcus Lower, a postdoctoral fellow at CSIRO, who led the Australian research using Murriyang, CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope, said: “Our results suggest there is a superheated plasma above the magnetar's magnetic pole, which is acting like a polarising filter. How exactly the plasma is doing this is still to be determined.”

Papers
Desvignes, G., Weltevrede, P., Gao, Y. et al. . Nat Astron (2024).
Lower, M.E., Johnston, S., Lyutikov, M. et al. Linear to circular conversion in the polarized radio emission of a magnetar. Nat Astron (2024).

The Clinical Academic Training Programme will invest £58.7m at nine research centres including the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre in partnership with the Christie NHS Foundation and �鶹ǿ�� and The University of Leeds.  

Clinician scientists play an essential role in translating cancer research, helping to bridge the gap between scientific research carried out in laboratories and clinical research involving patients. Working across both research settings, their contributions to new knowledge and its translation to clinical practice are critical for cancer research.

Cancer Research UK’s Clinical Academic Training Programme Award will continue to transform clinical research training at nine of its research centres over the next five years. It builds on the 5-year £50.7 million investment awarded by the charity in 2019. In total, the Cancer Research UK will have invested more than £109 million in this programme over ten years, signalling the critical role the charity plays in supporting the UK’s life sciences ecosystem.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive, said:  “Clinician scientists have a very important role to play by bringing their knowledge and experience of treating people with cancer to scientific research.

“We need all our doctors and scientists to be able to reach their full potential, no matter their background. That’s why we are continuing to provide flexible training options for early-career clinician scientists. After the success of the first five years of this programme, we want to encourage even more clinicians to get involved in cancer research to help us get closer to a world where everybody lives longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.”

Becoming a clinician scientist usually involves doctors taking time out of their medical training to undertake a PhD, before returning to train in their chosen specialisation, but many clinicians don’t come back to research after qualifying as consultants.

To address this problem, Cancer Research UK awarded funding to provide flexible training options alongside mentorship and networking opportunities to better support clinicians who want to get involved and stay in cancer research, through building stronger clinician scientist networks within and across research institutes.

In particular, the funding allows universities to offer combined Bachelor of Medicine-Doctor of Philosophy (MB-PhD) qualifications to early career clinicians – which allows medical students to complete a PhD earlier in their medical training.

Data from the Medical Schools Council Clinical Academic Survey reports a decline in the number of clinical academic positions between 2011–2020. US data also suggests that offering combined qualifications retains more women in clinical research roles.

Welcoming Cancer Research UK’s renewing of clinical training funding in Scotland, the Director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Professor Charlie Gourley, said:  “We are delighted to gain further Cancer Research UK funding and to work with colleagues across Scotland to offer doctors new and flexible training opportunities so that they can become the clinical cancer researcher leaders of the future.

���� is vital for our laboratory scientists to be able to work with clinicians at all levels and specialities to find new and better treatments for cancer. This will undoubtedly lead to benefits for cancer patients in the longer term.”

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre is one of eight centres in England receiving further CATP funding The Director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre and Professor of Cancer Studies at �鶹ǿ��, said: “Renewing funding for this programme of training and support for clinician scientists is another step forward.  The increased flexibility offered, and additional funding and support after doing a PhD will allow more time for doctors to do research, no matter their background and personal circumstances.

“This continued investment by Cancer Research UK will deliver a highly enthusiastic, educated, and diverse workforce in the UK who will help bring new cancer treatments and diagnostic tests to those who need it most.”

Medical student, transferred to a CRUK-funded MB-PhD course in 2020. Under the supervision of , her PhD focussed on using a new way of measuring obesity-related factors in individuals, called “overweight years”, similar to how “pack-years” is used to measure an individual smoker’s tobacco use.

She completed her PhD studies in 2023 and should complete her medical degree next year, with her gained research experience informing her studies and medical practice.

Reflecting on her MB-PhD studies, Dr Nadin Hawwash said: “The MB-PhD pathway to become a clinical scientist stood out for me, because it helps medical graduates to stay in research following undergraduate training.

“The course allowed me to: undertake data science-focused cancer research; create international collaborations; assemble and analyse a consortium with over 1.4 million individuals from 10 countries; and present my research globally.

“I am thrilled that more aspiring researchers will be able to train as clinician scientists in �鶹ǿ�� and elsewhere, to contribute to cutting-edge cancer research projects that will ultimately benefit patients.”

The bid was delivered by a coordination team, which includes and from the University and has secured £49.35m from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund to establish C-MASS - a national hub-and-spoke infrastructure designed to integrate and advance the country’s capability in mass spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry is a central analytical technique that quantifies and identifies molecules by measuring their mass and charge. It is used across science and medicine, for drug discovery, to screen all newborn babies for the presence of metabolic disorders, to monitor pollution and to tell us what compounds are in the tails of comets.

Researchers at �鶹ǿ�� develop and apply mass spectrometry in many of its research centres and institutes, including the , the , , , the , and the

C-MASS will enable rapid methodological advances, by developing consensus protocols to allow population level screening of health markers and accelerated data access and sharing. It will bring together cutting-edge instrumentation at a range of laboratories connected by a coordinating central hub that will manage a central metadata catalogue. Together, this will provide unparalleled signposting of data and will be a critical measurement science resource for the UK.

The bid for the funding has been developed over the last 10 years and has included input and support from more than 40 higher education institutes, 35 industrial partners and numerous research institutes.

Manchester is renowned for its expertise in mass spectrometry. J.J. Thomson, who was an alumnus of �鶹ǿ��, built the first mass spectrometer - originally called a parabola spectrograph - in 1912. Later, another alumnus, James Chadwick, commissioned the first commercial mass spectrometer, built by the Manchester firm Metropolitan Vickers, for use in the second world war to separate radioactive isotopes.

Now, many decades later, the University receives more funding in mass spectrometry than any other higher education institution in the UK and more mass spectrometers are made in the Manchester region than any other in Europe.

At the University, researchers across a range of disciplines including , , use mass spectrometry for wide range of world-leading research. Just some of those projects include: , improving the testing and diagnosis of womb cancer, improving our understanding of Huntington’s disease and rheumatic heart disease, diagnosing Parkinson’s disease and finding treatments for blindness.

The mass spectrometry laboratories at the University boast a range of industry-leading instrumentations, not just for staff and students, but also collaborating with many external companies. 

The aim of Population Health Improvement UK is to find innovative and inclusive ways to improve the health of people, places and communities and reduce health inequalities through the development and evaluation of long-lasting and environmentally sustainable interventions.

Population Mental Health is one of four initial research themes in the network. These themes are operationalised through investments in research clusters that bring together universities, government organisations, voluntary organisations and community partnerships, across the UK.

King’s College London (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience) and Thrive LDN are co-directors of this interdisciplinary research theme which aims to understand, identify and affect real-world policy change, to better address population-based improvement of mental health in the UK.

The other three themes in PHI-UK are Healthy Urban Places, Commercial Determinants of Health & Equity, and Enhancing Policy Modelling.

Research in the PHI-UK Population Mental Health theme is underpinned by three challenge areas: children and young people’s mental health, prevention of suicide and self-harm, and multiple long term health conditions, with a central focus on tackling mental health inequalities.

Principal Investigator and theme Director Dr Jayati Das-Munshi, from the IoPPN and the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College London said: “This is an exciting initiative to tackle a growing need to address public mental health challenges facing the UK today. We will strengthen our partnerships across local government, public health, voluntary organisations and universities across the UK. We will work with our stakeholders and people with lived experience, to harness large-scale data, to understand which population interventions hold the greatest promise, leading to good mental health for all.

At �鶹ǿ��, will co-lead the ‘Prevention of Suicide and Self-harm’ challenge and will co-lead the ‘Data, Linkages and Causal Inference’ cross-cutting platform.

Professor Webb said: “I am excited to be involved in this innovative collaborative research programme. My studies will evaluate the impact of population-level policies and public health interventions on suicide and self-harm inequalities.”

Professor Sutton said: “The UK has such rich data on the causes, conditions and consequences associated with mental health, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the UK in discovering what we can learn from them together.” 

Photo by  on 

Some differences in practice and performance of locum and permanent GPs were found, however the researchers suggest they are likely to be shaped by the organisational setting and systems within which they work.

The results of the study -  the largest ever carried out on temporary doctors, was published in BMC Medicine today (20/03/2024), and should allay concerns over the competency of temporary doctors in general practice.

The researchers found no evidence that emergency admission numbers occurring within seven days of a consultation were different when seen by a locum or a permanent GP.

Hospital admissions for conditions often managed in primary care such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Asthma, Diabetes mellitus, Epilepsy, Hypertension, Heart failure, Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and Hypothyroidism also did not differ after seven days. 

And eight out of the 11 prescribing safety indicators used by the researchers  in the study showed no differences between locum and permanent GPs.

Differences for the remaining three were small and two which showed locums to be prescribing more safely were not clinically meaningful.

The research team examined around 3.5 million patient electronic health records from the  CPRD GOLD database with linkage to Hospital Episode Statistics.

They analysed 37 million recorded consultations from a representative sample of the primary care population of England from 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2022.

However, there were some differences in practice found by the researchers: patients who had a consultation with a locum GP were 12% less likely to return to practice for another consultation when compared to patients who had a consultation with a permanent GP.

Those patients, suggest the researchers, could have opted to wait to see a permanent GP out of preference. Some practices may assign more straightforward cases, which wouldn’t require another consultation, to locums.

A consultation with a locum was 21% more likely to lead to a prescription for an antibiotic and 8% more likely to lead to a prescription for strong opioid painkillers. That may indicate locums are likely to be less aware of or compliant with practice prescribing guidelines, potentially explaining the difference.

Locum GPs were also markedly less likely to both order tests (20% less) and refer patients (15% less) to other services such as hospital outpatient clinics than permanent GPs.

That, suggest the researchers may be down to practices setting  constraints on such decisions by locums, requiring them to be reviewed or approved by another GP in the practice.

Lead author said: “Staff shortages in the global health sector are considered to be one of the most significant health issues of our time.

“That is why locums are a key component of the medical workforce in the NHS. However, evidence on differences in quality and safety between locum and permanent doctors is limited.

“There have been some past high profile examples of poor quality care by locum doctors, though the same could likely be said for permanent doctors.

“Indeed our qualitative research suggests that some patients actually welcome the opportunity to see a locum GP because they get a fresh perspective on their condition."

Study co-author added: “Despite  public concerns, the clinical practice and performance of locum GPs did not appear to be systematically different from that of permanent GPs in our study.

"Greater attention to the quality of induction, supervision, communication, and practice management may help address some of the differences we did find.

“We believe future research should focus on understanding how organisations can make best use of locums as part of their wider medical workforce and how locum doctors can be enabled to practice and perform effectively as members of the clinical team.”

The paper, ‘Comparing the clinical practice and prescribing safety of locum and permanent doctors: observational study of primary care consultations in England’, is available .

The ‘Team Womb’ collective, headed by Professor Emma Crosbie, Honorary Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology at MFT have been given the prestigious Team Science Award for their pioneering work on Lynch-syndrome associated endometrial cancer.

The team from Saint Mary’s Hospital (pictured below), part of MFT, will receive this award at the on Sunday 7 April in San Diego, California. The 10 researchers are from MFT, �鶹ǿ��, Manchester Cancer Research Centre, and NIHR Manchester BRC.

, who is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Co-Theme Lead at NIHR Manchester BRC and Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at �鶹ǿ�� said: “I am thrilled that our research means that everyone diagnosed with endometrial cancer in the UK is now offered testing for Lynch syndrome. The recognition of this work through the prestigious 2024 AACR Team Science Award is a tremendous honour and I would like to thank everyone who supported us along the way. This was a true multidisciplinary effort involving clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, researchers, patients and charities without whom none of this would have been possible.”

Manchester’s ‘Team Womb’ led a research programme that identified a link between womb cancer and Lynch syndrome, changing clinical practice across the UK.

Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer. It affects around 1 in 300 people, with most unaware that they have it. This condition runs in families and means anyone with the faulty gene carries a high risk of developing womb, bowel and other cancers.

Through unselected and comprehensive testing all womb cancer patients attending MFT between 2016-18, the team showed that 3% had Lynch syndrome and defined the best strategy for identifying them.

Following this study, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) commissioned an expert advisory group to assess the evidence, and resulted in a change in guidance which recommends universal testing of all endometrial cancer patients for Lynch syndrome. This guideline means around 1,000 new people per year in the UK alone can benefit from cancer prevention strategies.

The AACR founded the prestigious Team Science award in 2006 to recognise the growing importance of interdisciplinary teams in understanding cancer and for translating research through to clinical care.

Annually, this award recognises ‘outstanding interdisciplinary research’ teams for their ‘innovative and meritorious science’ that has ‘advanced or may advance our fundamental knowledge of cancer, or has applied existing knowledge to advancing the detection, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of cancer’.

2024-25 AACR President, Dr Patricia M. LoRusso said; “I believe that this team exemplify true team science, bring together an interdisciplinary team of academics, clinicians and healthcare staff from across medicine, oncology, pathology, health economics and behavioural science. Within this nomination I highlight their exceptional and practice changing work within detection, alongside several outstanding current and future projects they have in their portfolio.”

Picture captions:

Photo 1 – Team Womb (from left to right): Prof Ray McMahon, Ms Nadira Narine, Prof Katherine Payne, Dr Louise Gorman, Prof Emma Crosbie, Dr Neil Ryan, Dr Rhona McVey, Dr James Bolton. Also Prof Gareth Evans and Dr Durgesh Rana (not in photo)

Photo 2 – Team Womb (from left to right): Dr Rhona McVey, Dr James Bolton, Dr Louise Gorman, Ms Nadira Narine, Prof Emma Crosbie, Prof Katherine Payne, Dr Neil Ryan, Prof Ray McMahon. Also Prof Gareth Evans and Dr Durgesh Rana (not in photo)

• Director of Creative �鶹ǿ�� and Professor of Poetry,
• Writer, illustrator and opera-maker, Dr Rebecca Hurst, who was commissioned to write a poem celebrating the University’s 2024 bicentennial year
• Manchester-based poet and critic, Maryam Hessavi

Participants are invited to write a micropoem, of no more than 280 characters, and submit via email or on X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #micropoem24. Submissions are open to anybody and can explore Greater Manchester’s industrial past, dive into the modern-day city and everything it has to offer, or even imagine its blossoming future.

"�鶹ǿ��’s micropoetry competition sets the challenging task of translating a theme into a short, tweet-like form,” said Lemn. ����’s a craft to tell a story in such a manner and I’m looking forward to reading the 2024 entries, centred around the chosen theme. As someone who published a book of tweets in the form of quatrains, I urge you to pen your poem and enter our micropoetry competition.”

Entries must be submitted by Wednesday 10 April 2024, with winners to be announced Friday 17 May.

Prizes will be awarded for first place (£500) and the two runners-up (£250), with a £25 book token for winner of the under-18s category. Authors of the top three micropoems and the winner of the under-18 category will also be invited to attend �鶹ǿ��’s Community Festival on Saturday 8 June 2024.

"With the University celebrating 200 years of learning, innovation and research, it made sense to focus our competition theme on Manchester this year," John added. “As a city with a global reach that celebrates its connections across the world, we look forward to seeing people’s different takes on our beloved city.”

Find out more and try your hand at the #micropoem24 competition here: Uom.link/micropoem24

The study, which evaluated changes in Greater Manchester from 2016 to 2020 compared to the rest of England, is published in the journal Social Science & Medicine today (25/03/24). 

It builds on previous evidence by investigating how changes in the health system may have led to increases in life expectancy in Greater Manchester over this period, analysing 98 measures of performance.

It was funded by The Health Foundation and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM).

According to the study, there were 11.1% fewer alcohol related hospital admissions, 11.6% fewer first time offenders, 14.4% fewer hospital admissions for violence, and 3.1% fewer half school days missed from 2016 to 2020.

Same day GP appointments increased by 1.8% and unplanned A&E re-attendances were 2.7% lower, in line with increases in the GP and hospital workforce. Cancer screening rates also improved.

Adult social care effectiveness and overall satisfaction also improved by 17.6%, despite decreases in expenditure and staff.

However, adult obesity increased by 7.6% and median wait times for A&E treatment worsened by 12.2%. There were also mixed impacts of devolution on outpatient, mental health, maternity, and dental services.

The positive changes, argue the researchers, are likely to have been a result of different aspects of the Greater Manchester devolution deals.

These include the transfer of control over transformation funding for improving services to the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the development of collaborative relationships between the NHS agencies and local governments represented on the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership Board, or the impact of wider devolved public services.

The negative changes on other indicators, they add, are likely to be a result of difficulties local decision-makers had in re-prioritising how they used their resources given their limited powers to raise additional revenue through taxation or other means.

Lead author from �鶹ǿ�� said: “This study provides new evidence on the impact of devolution on health and care services , focusing on a large set of performance measures.

“Our findings suggest that devolution in Greater Manchester was associated with broad improvements in health services, social determinants of health, and subsequently, health outcomes.”

Co-author from �鶹ǿ�� and Deputy Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM) said: “These improvements were achieved despite limited formal devolved authority and control over health and care resources, suggesting that other features of the health and wider devolution deals played an important role.

“However, improvements were not universal. Restricted formal powers are likely to have made it harder to fully reprioritise resources.”

Co-author from �鶹ǿ�� said: “Unlike what we have seen in other devolved places, enhancements were observed in Greater Manchester even with limited health and social care powers, and without the ability to significantly raise revenue through taxes.

“The success of future devolution initiatives to improve population health might depend less on the devolution of formal powers, and more on alignment and collaboration between health and other public services within the region.”

Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said: “The past decade was incredibly challenging for health and social care services across England, so it is very positive that this research finds that life expectancy in Greater Manchester has been heading in the right direction. But devolution is complex and, as the researchers point out, it’s hard to know what aspects of the approach taken in Greater Manchester have helped - untangling causation from correlation is very difficult. 

“Ultimately, much of what makes us healthy sits outside of health care services and is instead driven by the building blocks of good health – such as secure housing, good work and education. As public finances get increasingly stretched, closer partnership working between the NHS, local government and communities is needed now more than ever, whether that’s a result of devolution or any other form of local collaboration.”

Chair of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, Sir Richard Leese said: “This latest research reinforces what we know, that working together in partnership, locally has better outcomes and supports people to live healthier and happier lives.

����’s encouraging that our approach has seen increases to healthy life expectancy and better access in some services. However, we recognise where we haven’t seen improvements or the change we hoped for, including against the national average. We’re continuing to work together as a system to improve health and care for everyone. Our commitment to partnership working will give us the best chance of success and tackling health inequalities.”

Chair of Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Devolution, in health and care and other areas, has given us the ability to unlock health benefits for our Greater Manchester communities by working together to deliver good housing, good jobs and more. The power, potential and importance of locally driven integration and collaboration is clear from this report. We must maintain this."

The paper “The Impact of Devolution on Local Health Systems: Evidence from Greater Manchester, England" is available .

The awards celebrate outstanding women post-doctoral scientists, and forms part of the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science UK & Ireland Rising Talent Programme, which offers awards to promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their scientific research careers in the UK or Ireland.

Dr Swidah, a postdoctoral researcher at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, was one of five winners at the award at a ceremony at the House of Commons in London on Monday, 18 March.

Other winners were awarded in the categories of engineering, life sciences, mathematics and computing and physical science.

Reem said: “I am honoured to announce that I have been awarded the prestigious L'Oréal UNESCO Award for Women in Science in the category of Sustainable Development.  

“These awards are vital for supporting and celebrating women in science, offering recognition and inspiration. It provides financial research support, fosters networking and collaboration among recipients, and contributes to reducing gender disparities in STEM fields. By highlighting the achievements of women scientists, the award inspires future generations and advocates for gender equality in science.

“Programs like L'Oréal UNESCO  for women in science are critically important, providing vital recognition and support for women scientists while challenging prevailing stereotypes and biases.  Believe in yourself, defy stereotypes, continuously enhance your professional skills, and persist in pursuing your dreams. If opportunities don't come your way, create your own path. Seek mentors, embrace learning, take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and surround yourself with supportive peers. Remember, diversity in STEM drives progress and innovation.

“This award will enable me to balance motherhood and research while gaining the necessary support to make a meaningful impact in my field.”

Reem received a £25,000 grant that is fully flexible and tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institute to support 12 months of research. Her work currently focuses on the genome minimization project (part of the Sc3.0 project initiative), focusing on genome minimization within the synthetic yeast strain (Sc2.0).

Reem was selected for the award for her drive and ambition to leverage her skills in synthetic biology to address global challenges and her work to harness the exceptional evolutionary abilities of synthetic yeast strains to develop innovative and cost-effective technologies to produce biofuels.

She believes that these advancements hold the potential to combat climate change and play a pivotal role in achieving the ambitious goal of Net Zero emissions by 2050, a key strategic objective of �鶹ǿ��.

She added: “This award will enhance childcare support for my baby and will afford me the time and financial resources to develop my professional skills. I intend to engage in one-to-one career coaching programs and leadership training, which will help me unlock my full potential and excel in my role, which I currently cannot do.

“The grant will also enable me to attend international conferences, where I can engage with scientists and stay updated on global challenges and solutions and it will help me to enhance my research independence by using the grant to purchase small equipment and to conduct essential experiments to boost my research objectives.”

The Women in Science National Rising Talents  is run in partnership between L’Oréal UK and Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society.

Thierry Cheval, L'Oréal UK and Ireland, Managing Director said: “As a company founded by a scientist over 100 years ago, L’Oréal, together with UNESCO, is committed to driving gender equality in STEM and recognising the exceptional work of female scientists who are vitally contributing to solving the challenges of tomorrow.

“Congratulations to this year’s Fellows who are a true inspiration for generations to come.”

Professor Anne Anderson, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO's Board of Directors, added: “Congratulations to the 2024 Rising Talents. As we stand at a pivotal moment in time for scientific advancement, UNESCO continues to highlight the importance of true gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the vital role women play in a more equitable scientific society.

“The United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO is proud to support these young women in STEM from the UK & Ireland and celebrate their achievements as researchers paving the way for a brighter global future.”

The research, published in the Ebiomedicine, part of the Lancet Discovery Science, reports that the test has over 95% accuracy in identifying post-menopausal women with cancer as the cause of their bleeding, and is more accurate than current methods.

The scientists hope the new test could improve the diagnosis of womb cancer and reduce the need for more invasive, painful and anxiety-provoking tests currently used in hospitals, such as hysteroscopy.

The study was led by , academic clinical lecturer and senior clinical oncology speciality registrar at The University of  �鶹ǿ�� and , Honorary Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at �鶹ǿ�� and Principal Investigator.

Working with collaborators including Professor Anthony Whetton from the University of Surrey, they identified a five-marker panel of proteins in the vaginal fluid that accurately discriminates those with womb cancer from those that do not have cancer.

Samples were taken from symptomatic post-menopausal women recruited from Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of MFT, 53 with and 65 without endometrial cancer.

Samples were taken from symptomatic post-menopausal women, 53 with and 65 without endometrial cancer.

The scientists used a high tech method called SWATH-MS, a technique used in mass spectrometry, which measures the masses of molecules, providing information about their composition and structure.

SWATH-MS  helped them to analyze molecules, and create digital maps of proteins from the samples.

Then, they used machine learning to find the proteins that were most different between samples, creating a simple and accurate diagnostic model based on proteins.

The research was funded by Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre

Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK with around 9,700 new cases every year.

Abnormal bleeding, especially after the menopause, is the main symptom. However, only 5-10% of women with bleeding have womb cancer as several other benign (non-cancerous) conditions such as polyps and fibroids can also cause bleeding.

Currently in the UK, women with suspected womb cancer undergo a transvaginal ultrasound scan, where a probe is inserted into the vagina to measure the thickness of the lining of the womb.

Those with a thickened womb lining then have their womb visually inspected by hysteroscopy, in which a narrow telescope with a light and camera is passed into the womb through the vagina and cervix.

Where needed, a biopsy will also be taken. The investigations are invasive and can be painful, and for most, unnecessary, since only 5-10% of symptomatic women have a sinister underlying condition.

Lead author, Dr Kelechi Njoku who has also recently been awarded the inaugural Eve Appeal/ Northwest Cancer Research Fellowship said: “The implications of this study are significant. If translated into clinical practice, a non-invasive, cost-effective, and accurate detection tool could improve patient care by swiftly identifying those with womb cancer while sparing many healthy women from unnecessary invasive tests.

“Building on this work and with funding support from the Eve Appeal and Northwest Cancer Research, we will be looking at developing clinically feasible assays based on established technologies like ELISA or Lumipulse®, or even newer platforms like lateral flow tests for point-of-care testing.”

Dr Helena O’Flynn, a General Practitioner and Trustee at Peaches Womb Cancer Trust, said: “This new test has the potential to better streamline the diagnostic process and may be used in primary care as a triage tool for women with suspected womb cancer.”

Detection of endometrial cancer in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma: leveraging proteomics and machine learning for biomarker discovery - published in eBioMedicine (thelancet.com) is available

Mountain ranges covering vast areas of the world are warming much faster than surrounding lowland areas, triggering huge reductions in snow cover and rapid upward movement of dwarf-shrubs, such as heather.

Scientists at �鶹ǿ�� have found that these changes are disrupting the timing of crucial alpine ecosystem functions performed by plants and soil microorganisms.

The research, published today in the journal and funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, shows that high mountain ecosystems may be less capable of retaining the important nutrients needed to sustain plant growth and maintain biodiversity in these harsh environments.

Every year, seasonal changes in mountain ecosystems prompt large transfers of nutrients between plants and microbial communities in alpine soils. Following snowmelt in spring, plants start to grow and compete with soil microbes for nutrients, thereby triggering a shift in the storage of nutrients from soil to plants. This transfer is reversed in autumn, as plants die back, and nutrients are returned to the soil within dead leaves and roots.

During alpine winters, snow acts like an insulating blanket that allows soil microbes to continue functioning and store nutrients in their biomass and enables plants to survive cold alpine winters. Climate change is predicted to cause an 80-90% loss of snow cover by the end of the century in parts of the European Alps and advance the timing of snowmelt by five to 10 weeks.

Prof Michael Bahn, a collaborator on the project from the University of Innsbruck, said: "Declining winter snow cover is one of the most obvious and pronounced impacts of climate change in the Alps. Its effects on the functioning and biodiversity of alpine ecosystems are a major concern for people living in Alpine regions and beyond.”

The scientists from �鶹ǿ��, in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, carried out the work on a long-term field experiment in the European Alps. The findings highlight the detrimental effect of climate change on seasonal transfers and retention of nutrients between plants and soil microbes.

For scientists, understanding how ecosystems respond to multiple simultaneous climate change impacts remains a major challenge. Interactions between direct and indirect climate change factors, such as snow cover change or less obvious ones such as dwarf-shrub expansion, can lead to sudden and unexpected changes in ecosystem functioning. These effects are impossible to predict by studying climate change factors in isolation.

The University is one of 21 universities to receive the status by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - the UK's lead technical authority on cyber security.

It is one of several initiatives outlined in the UK government’s ‘Protecting and promoting the UK in a digital world’, which describes how the government is working with academia and industry to make the UK more resilient to cyber attacks.

The scheme aims to enhance the quality and scale of academic cybersecurity research and postgraduate training being undertaken in the UK; make it easier for potential users of research to identify the best cybersecurity research and postgraduate training that the UK has to offer; and help to develop a shared vision and aims among the UK cybersecurity research community, inside and outside academia.

The Centre will be led by colleagues in the University’s , which has a long history of world-leading cyber security research and will be directed by and co-directed by Professor Daniel Dresner and .

Nicholas Lord, Professor of Criminology at �鶹ǿ��, said: “We are very proud to be recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. Receiving this status is further recognition of our long-standing commitment to world-leading cyber security research and key to the realisation of our five-year research plan.

“Our cyber security research has been a focal point for the University since founding our Digital Futures platform in 2018, with our sociotechnical approach to cyber security coming together recognisably in 2021 by the creation of our Centre for Digital Trust and Society - a truly unique Centre with a strong interdisciplinary nature.

“Over the next five years we hope that we can use our ACE-CSR recognition to strengthen our collaborations with other ACEs and NCSC, as well as enhance our collaborations with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority with a view to integrating cyber security into the city region’s business community.”

Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research at �鶹ǿ��, added: “I am thrilled that our University has been recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. This achievement, led by our Centre for Digital Trust and Security, underscores our commitment to pioneering cyber security research and innovation through interdisciplinary collaborative research. This approach and ambition is vital to ensure that the benefits of the rapid pace of technological change are developed in ways that ensure a safe and more secure digital world for our citizens and organisations.”

The University was required to show evidence of NCSC’s tough standards to be considered, including: commitment from the University's leadership team to support and invest in the University's cyber security research capacity and capability; a critical mass of academic staff engaged in leading-edge cyber security research; a proven track record of producing high impact cyber security research; and sustained funding from a variety of sources to ensure the continuing financial viability of the research team's activities.

Chris Ensor, Deputy Director Cyber Growth at NCSC, said: “I’m delighted that 21 universities have been recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, including four who have received the award for the first time. These recognitions are testament to the dedication of academics, support staff and senior management who have ensured that cyber security remains high on the university’s agenda. And they demonstrate that the UK has a growing number of world-class universities carrying out cutting-edge research into all areas of cyber security. We very much look forward to working with them over the coming years to tackle the most difficult cyber security challenges.”

The Centre for Digital Trust and Society at �鶹ǿ�� is one of few cyber and digital security and trust research centre in the UK led from social science, rather than a computer science or engineering department.

It focuses on barriers to, and enablers of, trust in digital and cyber technologies and has more than 80 active researchers affiliated to the Centre.

The Centre prides itself on its strong interdisciplinary engagement across the University and supports six multi-disciplinary research clusters: Trusted Digital Systems, Digital Technologies and Crime, Workplace and Organisational Security, Democracy and Trust, Privacy and Trust and Advanced Mathematics.

Dr Mustafa, Senior Lecturer in Systems and Software Security at �鶹ǿ��, said: “While our cybersecurity research across the Department of Computer Science provides the fundamentals and foundations of our Centre’s research, our social science academics provide the societal relevance and context: secure cyber and digital systems are grounded in everyday human behaviours and interactions. It is for this reason that we coordinate our sociotechnical cybersecurity research activities ensuring the people and social factors remain central. We do this by engaging in cross-cluster and cross-disciplinary research activities, realising our sociotechnical work through internally and externally funded research.”

Over the next five years, researchers will work on a wide range of projects from cyber security controls, building secure and safe (AI) software to counter threats, through understanding offending and victimisation of cybercrimes, to the application of cyber security research in development and industry, as well as the cyber risks to political-economic systems and organisational workplaces, and the need for data privacy and security.

The ACE-CSR will continue to hold strong national and international links - in particular - to work with its partners in the Greater Manchester Cyber Ecosystem and the wider North West Cyber Corridor.

Candice Purwin, the illustrator, animator and graphic novelist behind the Teenage Kicks exhibition, said: “Illustrating Teenage Kicks gave me a rare and unique opportunity to bring to life a deeply transformative period of British history for women and girls. The stories these eight women shared with us are rich in detail and experiences that deconstruct the teenage girl stereotype we are usually shown.  I’m excited for the exhibition to bring this history to a wider audience and that we get to share the work in such an iconic space.”

Caroline Gausden, Development worker for Curating and Engagement at Glasgow Women’s Library, added: “Our mission at Glasgow Women’s Library is to celebrate the lives and achievements of women and champion their contribution to society, so Teenage Kicks is a great addition to our busy programme. This generation of women, has played – and is playing - a huge part in how Britain has changed since the Second World War. We hope that visitors of all ages enjoy the exhibition, whether or not they remember the sixties themselves!”

There will be a linked to the exhibition at Glasgow Women’s Library on 18 April 2024.

Teenage Kicks is part of �鶹ǿ��’s , and has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The news offers hope that doctors may one day be able to investigate suspected kidney pathologies without carrying out invasive procedures such as biopsies, raising the tantalising prospect of earlier and simpler disease detection.

The impact of late detection of kidney disease can be severe and can lead to serious - and sometimes life threatening - complications.

The team led by University of Manchester scientists measured the levels of approximately 20,000 genes in each cellular sediment sample of urine using a technique called transcriptomics.

The British Heart Foundation-funded study benefited from access to the world's largest collection of human kidney samples collected after surgery or kidney biopsy conducted before transplantation, known as the Human Kidney Tissue Resource, at �鶹ǿ��.

They extracted both DNA and RNA from each sample and connected information from their analysis, together with data from previous large-scale analyses of blood pressure (called genome-wide association studies), using sophisticated computational methods.

Transcriptomics allows scientists to understand which genes are turned on or off in different situations so they can understand how cells respond to changes in their environment.

Such molecular-level understanding enhances the precision and effectiveness of diagnostic approaches, potentially improving patient care and outcomes.

The study, published in Nature Communications today (19/03/24) also showed that low levels of a specific gene in the kidney is likely to be one of the causes of high blood pressure.

The gene, called ENPEP, is an important part of the hormonal system which is essential for regulation of blood pressure, by making an enzyme called aminopeptidase A.

It was one of 399 genes identified by the researchers whose levels in the kidney are also causally related to either increasing or decreasing in blood pressure.

The study was led by Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at �鶹ǿ�� and Honorary Consultant Physician at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

He is also Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine Co-Theme Lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), which supported the research.

He said: “This study shows that using cutting-edge technology we are able to combine different unique datasets together using genetics as a connector.

“One of the most exciting findings of that is we discover how cells harvested from urine have the potential to provide a glimpse into the molecular operation of the human kidney.

“That gives us an exciting avenue of research for non-invasive diagnostic testing.”

He added: “Persistent high blood pressure—or hypertension—can increase the risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

“Our results also show that the gene ENPEP in the kidney is a new promising target for development of new blood pressure lowering medications.

“There are several classes of effective antihypertensives available, though the last new medication approved for management of high blood pressure was over a decade and a half ago.

“While for some people, they are effective, side effects make it difficult for others to take over the long term. That is why we need more choice.”

Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “There is a well-known link between the heart and the kidneys in regulating blood pressure. This study uses cutting-edge scientific techniques to analyse genes present in kidney cells that are normally expelled in the urine. Analysing these cells could reveal which genes may be playing a key role in people with high blood pressure, and could potentially offer clinicians a new, non-invasive way to help diagnose those with kidney disease early on.

“High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and this research has identified a gene called ENPEP that regulates important enzymes in the kidney that could be a promising target for blood pressure-lowering drugs. This study has demonstrated the power in using large sets of data and in doing so, shows how funding research like this can help us to improve treatment for people with high blood pressure.”

The paper Genetic imputation of kidney transcriptome, proteome and multi-omics illuminates  new blood pressure and hypertension targets  is available . The DOI for the paper is 10.1038/s41467-024-46132-y

Mr Khan, who has represented Manchester Gorton in Parliament since 2017, also toured the Manchester Air Quality Supersite – one of the largest locations in the UK dedicated to air quality research – and took part in a roundtable discussion with senior academics.

Supported by the University’s endowment fund, the Firs upgrade delivered state-of the-art greenhouse facilities that support expert research on food security and climate change. They comprise 14 climate controlled growing compartments which simulate an assortment of different growing environments around the world ranging from tropical to sub-arctic.

The Manchester Air Quality Supersite, also located on the University’s Fallowfield campus, is home to a mobile research laboratory that gathers detailed data on the contents of harmful urban air pollution.  It is one of three air quality supersites across the UK established as part of a £6 million investment by the Natural Environment Research Council. 

Mr Khan was welcomed by , Professor , Professor and Dr Oliver Hughes, who all joined the roundtable discussion.

Professor Coe, a Professor of Atmospheric Composition and Director of the Manchester Environmental Research Institute, said: ���� was a pleasure to meet Mr Khan and lead the tour of the Manchester Air Quality Supersite which has the capability to work out where the gases and particles that pollute our air are coming from and how they form.

“We are immensely proud of the role �鶹ǿ�� plays in this area of academic research and the potential this work has to reduce air pollution on a global scale.”

Professor Cruickshank, a Professor in Biomedical Sciences and Public Engagement, recently published an on the Policy@Manchester website addressing how better community engagement can encourage more people to use modes of ‘active transport’ – such as walking and cycling - and reduce air pollution in high risk areas.  

She said: “My colleagues and I regularly engage with policymakers.  Having an opportunity to brief Mr Khan on our ongoing activities and exchange ideas was a useful part of this process.

“My article, published by Policy@Manchester, highlights the way that involving and empowering communities can identify key priorities to tackle pollution in neighbourhoods to enhance their lives.

“Greater Manchester has among the worst levels of pollution in the UK, with poor air quality estimated to contribute to around 1,200 premature deaths each year in the city region.

“That is a shocking statistic which underscores how important it is to involve local communities in the drive to reduce the impacts of air pollution.” 

Afzal Khan MP said: ���� was a privilege to visit the Firs Environmental Research Station and the Manchester Air Quality Supersite which are shining beacons in climate change and air quality research.

“My roundtable meeting also provided a fascinating insight into the many research activities taking place on-site.

“We face huge global climate challenges, and it is heartening to see the work going on here in Manchester to formulate evidence-based solutions to help address them.       

“I thank the University’s policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, for putting such an interesting programme together.”

First awarded in 2002, The Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences is presented annually to recognise contributions that have opened new fields of research or have advanced concepts in a particular biomedical discipline.

Raymond proposed the concept of a stem cell niche back in 1978.  Recognition for this seminal work comes over 45 years later as he approaches his 99^th birthday. At that grand age it is quite remarkable that he is still around to receive this accolade.

The Paterson Laboratories as they were known then assembled a pioneering group of notable haematology researchers and the Paterson Institute became part of �鶹ǿ�� in 2006. Working alongside Ray was Mike Dexter – at the time a postgraduate student – who later became the Director of the Institute and subsequently Director of Wellcome, and Brian Lord, who published over 130 papers and made many scientific break throughs in the of field stem cell biology and haematopoiesis. 

The photo features Ray on the left with colleague and friend Brian, who sadly passed away in 2021. Brian was the father of the current Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Professor Graham Lord. 

Ray worked at the Holt Radium Institute, later renamed the Paterson Laboratories after the first Director, Professor Ralston Paterson, until 1985 when he ‘retired’ to become a farmer in West Wales, where he still lives.

The new Paterson Building is on the same site as the original Paterson Laboratories, next to the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

“I am thrilled that Drs. Schofield, Kimble, and Spradling have been selected to receive the Wiley Prize for their discovery of the stem cell niche. This niche is a cellular microenvironment that maintains stem cells in their naive state and prevents them from differentiating. Their pioneering discovery, made by studying bone marrow stem cells and stem cells in the reproductive organs of C. elegans and Drosophila, has revealed how stem cells are regulated during human development and tissue maintenance,” said Professor Titia de Lange of Rockefeller University and Chair of the Wiley Prize awards jury.

Among the many distinguished recipients of the Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences, thirteen have gone on to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and two have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

“The Wiley Foundation honors research that not only offers breakthrough solutions to existing problems in biomedical sciences, but also fuels future discoveries,” said Deborah Wiley, Chair of the Wiley Foundation. “The work of the 2024 Wiley Prize recipients truly upholds this mission, laying the foundation for today’s life-changing discoveries in the field of stem cell biology.”

This year’s award will be presented at the Wiley Prize lecture on 5 April 2024, although Ray will not be able to attend given his age.

Article credited to Gill Campbell, CRUK MI

The driving force behind the podcast, named Big Sisters in STEM, is a recognition of the need for a supportive and inclusive environment where women and non-binary individuals in STEM feel seen and heard.

It explores the challenges, triumphs and experiences of women and non-binary individuals navigating through a traditionally male-dominated field and delves into the complex realities behind living in a society where just being present in the room is often hailed as a milestone achievement.

From grappling with imposter syndrome to the societal pressure to overburden ourselves, the challenges of being the only woman in the classroom and navigating a career while balancing family responsibilities, the podcast unpacks the multifaceted issues that hinder the full participation of underrepresented groups in STEM.

Host and producer Jasmine Luby Barrow (she/her), a Marketing and Recruitment Co-ordinator at �鶹ǿ��, said: “The idea behind Big Sisters in STEM was really about creating a safe space for women and people who know what it feels like to be othered.

“The prospective and current students I talk to are so often surprised to hear that successful career people or award-winning researchers still struggle with relatable things like self-confidence or learning how to say ‘no’. While it might be scary to hear that things like imposter syndrome linger on longer than we’d like, I hope it’s also heartening for people to know they are not alone, and that together we might be able to better support each other.

����’s somewhere to come together and share experiences and guidance in an open and genuine way – like sitting down for a ‘cuppa with your big sister.

“As in all areas of education and industry, it’s so important that STEM becomes more intersectional – and we talk about that a lot on the podcast. The more perspectives which inform a situation the more well-rounded our solutions will be – be that in climate change, use of new technology, or medical equality.”

Each episode of the podcast hears from a combination of inspirational academics, industry professionals and students.

Episode one, which will air on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, features (she/her), a Lecturer in Aerospace Systems at the University, who specialises in Astrodynamics and Space Mission Design and in 2021 won the Institute of Engineering and Technology Woman of the Year award.During the episode Ciara shares her own personal experiences, talking about the turning point in her career when someone told her, her work on space was “frivolous”. She gives her take on the topic, space as a that can help “change the world” and shares fascinating insight into how satellite technology has a tangible impact on everyday lives on earth.

She said: “People think that space is so far away, but it’s not. Most of the satellites that we have in space are actually closer to us here in Manchester than we are away from Paris.”

Ciara goes on to talk about the lack of understanding around the breadth of engineering and frustration of losing potentially great people from the field through lack of understanding.

She added: “There are so many skills that are equally as important in engineering, and we probably lose those along the way… One of the things I talk about with industry partners we work with is how important human factors are. You can engineer the perfect aircraft or spacecraft but accounting for how people are going to behave is really hard – that’s where accidents happen, and mistakes are made. We need good communicators, and psychologists, and I worry that we’re losing those people along the way because people don’t feel like those are the skills we need in engineering.”

Ciara is joined by Earth and Environmental Sciences student Vannessa Thai (they/them), a first-year Earth and Environmental Sciences Student with a sought-after scholarship at the University.

They said: ����’s a lot of challenge to go through and fight for what you believe in and be heard, especially in spaces where people don’t look like you or from your background, especially climate engineering where it can feel like an exclusive space.

Other guests throughout the six-week series include Dr Zahra Montazeri (she/her) a Computer Science Lecturer, who is a Computer Graphics specialist and has previously worked with Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks - on everything from Star Wars to Frozen.

The season also brings conversations with Dr Charlene Gallery (she/her), who talks about her work in the fashion industry, working with new technologies to pioneer more sustainable practices,(she/her), a Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy at Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Ella Podmore MBE (she/her) IET Woman of the Year 2020 and Senior Materials Engineer, and (she/her) an inspiring Clinical Academic who focuses on the screening, prevention and early diagnosis of gynaecological cancers.

They are joined with students from a broad range of STEM areas, including civil engineering, computer science, materials science, chemical engineering, biotechnology and medicine.

The first episode of Big Sisters in STEM will launch on Wednesday, 27 March 2024 and will be available on all podcast platforms.

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Wellbeing inequalities: LGBTQ+ young people report lowest life satisfaction

Overall, this year’s #BeeWell survey results, which analysed data on young people from across all 14 Local Authorities in Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, found that young people are generally satisfied with their lives. However, there are noteworthy inequalities in life satisfaction, mental wellbeing and emotional difficulties across gender and sexuality.

• 41.2% of young people who identify as lesbian or gay reported a high level of emotional difficulties (e.g. worrying a lot, feeling unhappy, having problems sleeping). This figure rose to 44.5% for young people who identify as bisexual or pansexual. This is compared to 12.1% of heterosexual young people. High scores in this area could indicate that young people may require additional, preventative support
•  When considering gender differences, 22% of cisgender girls reported a high level of emotional difficulties compared with 6% of cisgender boys. The proportion reporting high levels of emotional difficulties rose to 33.9% for transgender and gender diverse young people and 21% for those questioning their gender
• These inequalities are also seen in life satisfaction and mental wellbeing scores, with gay and lesbian young people experiencing the lowest wellbeing and reporting that they are least satisfied with their lives, followed closely by bisexual and pansexual young people, and those who identify as transgender and gender-diverse

Building on the results, the #BeeWell programme is working with schools, partners and the wider community to act on these and other findings in the data. This has included an exciting collaboration with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which is working to deliver the scheme for young people in those neighbourhoods identified as having the lowest wellbeing.

“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award brings young people together and enables them to discover new passions, gain new skills and connect with their community - however, opportunities for personal development and enrichment, which we know help boost confidence, give people hope and drive success, aren’t always accessible to everyone – we’re working hard to change that,” said Ruth Marvel, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

“Using insights from #BeeWell, over the last 18 months, we’ve licensed eight new organisations in Greater Manchester, offering the DofE to some of the country’s most marginalised communities. Looking ahead, we’re excited to widen access to the DofE further, as we identify areas in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. Through this work, we hope to give young people the positive experiences, skills and capabilities they need to succeed in the future, which in turn, will boost wellbeing and optimism and that’s something we all so want to see.”

���� is great to see hope and optimism is improving for our young people - however, it is disappointing to see that the inequalities, particularly in regard to gender, are still so stark when it comes to life satisfaction and wellbeing,” said Professor Jess Deighton, Director of Innovation Evaluation and Dissemination at  Anna Freud. "We now need to work together to target these groups, understand what they need and start making the impact that is required to enable these young people to be heard and for their wellbeing to be improved."

“The findings from the #BeeWell survey provide us with an invaluable insight into the needs and aspirations of young people," said Anthony Harper, Deputy Director for Children's Care at the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. "It will support us in our drive to ensure early identification and support is available to children and young people where and when they most need it.”

“I am a firm believer in the importance of expanding the voices of young people in our society and giving solutions to the challenges we face,” said Uyuhansi Fernando, North East Councillor, Hampshire Youth Parliament. "All young people should have equal access to opportunities that help their wellbeing. I am confident that by listening to the voices of young people through #BeeWell, we can have a better understanding of the modern world ahead of us.”

#BeeWell Neighbourhood Data Hive

Following the release of the headline findings from the #BeeWell survey, an interactive public dashboard will show more detailed results and insights into young people’s wellbeing across 64 different neighbourhoods in Greater �鶹ǿ�� and 46 different neighbourhoods in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. This will be published online at the end of March 2024, with a view to inspiring action across local government and civil society.

Read our full report here: .

For further information on the #BeeWell survey and its initiatives, please contact beewellprogramme@manchester.ac.uk 

The new analysis shows that between 2019 and 2021, 46,200 people lost their lives due to Death of Despair in England – the equivalent of 42 people every day.

However, in the North East of England more than twice as many people lost their lives due to Deaths of Despair compared to London.

Deaths of Despair is a collective term for deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide, which tend to occur much more frequently in socially deprived communities.

The study, led by academics from Health Equity North (HEN), �鶹ǿ�� and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM) examined local authority data to identify geographical trends and risk factors that contribute to these kind of deaths.

The analysis found that northern regions and coastal areas of England are experiencing a much higher burden of mortality from these avoidable causes.

Out of the 20 local authority areas that experience the highest rates of Deaths of Despair, 16 are in the North, and all of the top 10 areas are in the North.

Conversely, none of the 20 local authorities with the lowest rates of Deaths of Despair are in the North.

The analysis also looked at associated factors that predict the risk of these kinds of deaths; living in the North was the strongest predictor. Local authorities with higher proportions of unemployment, white British ethnicity, people living alone, economic inactivity, employment in elementary occupations, and people living in urban areas had higher rates of Deaths of Despair.

The study found that:

• On average, 14.8 per 100,000 more people die from Deaths of Despair in the North compared to the rest of England
• Even after accounting for multiple social and economic factors, living in the North of England was associated with a 5.8 per 100,000 increase in Deaths of Despair rate
• More than twice as many people died from Deaths of Despair in the North East of England than they did in London (54.7 per 100,000 and 25.1 per 100,000 respectively)
• The highest rate of Deaths of Despair in England (at local authority level) is in Blackpool – almost 2.5 times the national average
• Three areas in England, all in the North, experienced more than double the average Deaths of Despair – Blackpool (83.8 in 100,000 deaths), Middlesbrough (71.6 per 100,000 deaths) and Hartlepool (70.5 per 100,000 deaths)
• Alcohol-specific deaths made up almost half of Deaths of Despair in England, accounting for 44.1% of all such deaths
• Deaths of Despair accounted for 2.9% of all deaths in England
• Deaths of Despair were highest among people aged 45-54 (55 per 100,000)
• Deaths of Despair accounted for 2 in 5 deaths in people aged 25-29 (41.1% of all deaths)
• Coastal local authorities had a significantly higher average Deaths of Despair rate than inland local authorities (41.6 per 100,000 compared to 31.5 per 100,000)

The study is believed to be the first of its kind to explore geographical patterning and contributing causes of deaths of despair in England.

The researchers are calling on government to prioritise preventative policies which address the longstanding inequalities across England, with fair funding allocation distributed according to need.

Christine Camacho, lead author and PhD Fellow NIHR ARC-GM, said: “Our study shows that some of the risk factors of deaths of despair have a more pronounced impact in the North of England, where inequalities in health and wealth are persistent and have widened during recent decades.

“As well as specific public health interventions to prevent deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide, we need to move further and faster with Levelling Up in England to tackle the underlying inequalities which are leading people to die from despair.”

, Co-Academic Director at Health Equity North, and Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at �鶹ǿ��, said: “Time and time again, we see research exposing regional inequity with the North of England often being hit the hardest. Unsurprisingly, the findings of this study further highlight the persistent health inequalities in northern regions. This can’t be ignored – it is not acceptable that more than twice as many people in some deprived communities in the North are dying due to deaths of this nature.

“This research provides policymakers with a novel insight into the associated social factors of deaths of despair, which can help when developing comprehensive strategies that not only target specific risk factors but also consider the intricate relationships among these causes, contributing to more effective prevention and intervention efforts.”

A highlight of the life sciences calendar, the awards dinner was held at the Concorde Conference Centre on 7th March, with 339 attendees gathering for an evening of celebration and achievement.

According to the judges,  The University received the Partnership & Collaboration Award for being able to demonstrate a collaboration with their more than 15-year skin health and ageing research partnership with Boots.

The collaboration enabled new discoveries in skin biology to be incorporated into novel commercial products via a robust, clinical screening programme.

It has also brought several million pounds of investment into North-West bioscience, producing 100+ scientific publications, 10 patents and new employment opportunities.

Welcoming the award    said: “We are very honoured to receive this prestigious award from BioNow.

“Our partnership with Boots is built on a shared aim to uncover new insights into skin biology and to apply this knowledge to repairing accumulated damage.”

People in the image from �鶹ǿ��: , , Michael Sherratt,  . And from Boots: Vickie Wright, Jo Watson, Roboh Borke, Steph Franklin

Dr Abigail Langton said: “The acknowledgment from Bionow of our partnership with Boots is a significant achievement, and we're excited about the recent five-year contract renewal, extending our collaboration into its 20th year”.

The findings, published in Lancet Psychiatry today (13/03/2024) and funded by the and Wellcome, could indicate that most children are in a low risk group and won’t require long-term support, providing reassurance for children and their parents and caregivers.

However, the figures might also reflect an unmet need for some children and adolescents.

The study tracked the outcomes of around 370,000  3-18 year olds over five years using anonymised primary care health records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database.

All of the included children had symptoms of a possible psychiatric condition, such as depression, anxiety, Autism or ADHD. The research tracked the children’s contact with healthcare services to find out what happened over the ensuing five years.

Almost 208,000 (51%) of the children and adolescents who presented with psychological symptoms to general practitioners had few subsequent healthcare contacts over the next five years and were very unlikely to be prescribed medications, or referred to specialist services for their mental health.

The largest of seven groups identified by the researchers, these children and adolescents also had the lowest risk of future hospitalisation for either self-harm or suicide and were more likely to be younger, male, and from non-White ethnicities.

The next largest group (13% of the overall sample) had some ongoing contacts with the GP but didn’t receive medications. The other groups identified had either declining rates of contact over five years, or prolonged high levels of contact with GPs or specialists, or escalating rates of contact. Each of these groups made up less than 10% of the overall sample.

Children and adolescents from Black, South Asian, and other non-White ethnicities had lower rates of ongoing GP contact and there were similar, less pronounced differences for mixed-ethnicity children and adolescents.

The findings are published as increasing numbers of children are seeking help for mental health symptoms, as well as ADHD and autism. The results provide some insight into what happens next for these children and suggests that for most of the young people, the problems they experience will be transient, or that they may receive the support they need outside of medical settings.

Lead author Dr Morwenna Senior from �鶹ǿ�� said: “Our findings shows that a majority of children and adolescents with mental health symptoms have low or declining rates of ongoing contact with GPs and specialists.

“Increasing numbers of young people are experiencing mental health problems. At the same time, more children and families are seeking support from medical professionals for mental health conditions, ADHD and Autism.

“While this is concerning, previous research also suggests that for many young people, the prognosis is good and symptoms are likely to improve over time and this also fits with our findings.

“Though it’s not clear if a proportion of this figure is because children are not receiving the medical support they need, this study can provide some reassurance to parents and children that many, if not most children will get better. It is also reassuring that the children in the low-contact group were the least likely to be hospitalised for self-harm, or to die by suicide.”

Dr Senior added: “Future research is needed to understand whether children and adolescents with low-contact trajectories have unmet needs, that we are not measuring, and whether they receive further help elsewhere. Linked datasets can be used to examine relationships between different groups of children and adolescents presenting with  psychological symptoms, and their educational, social, as well as clinical outcomes.

She said: “We argue that services should differentiate between children and adolescents for whom early support might prevent deterioration from those whose symptoms are likely to resolve without further help.

“That could usefully inform changes to service configurations and preventive practice in services where resources are often stretched.

“For children whose problems are likely to resolve, reassurance and psychoeducation may be enough; whereas, for others, more intensive interventions might prevent deterioration in symptoms. We hope that our results will help distinguish these groups and better allocate limited resources.”

Dr Senior said: “These findings also add to substantial evidence that people’s experiences and use of health care for psychiatric conditions in the UK varies according to ethnicity.

“However, in our sample, it is difficult to determine the reasons for these differences. It might be that there were differences in how helpful children and their families found the support they were offered; or there may be differences in how and where people access support. For example, support within education or from family networks could play a bigger role for Black and South Asian children and their families.

Filmed in the German language, the movie is a UK/Poland co-production directed by Jonathan Glazer which deals with the day-to-day life of Nazi Commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig as they go about building their dream home next to Auschwitz. The film also picked up the award for ‘Best Sound’, upsetting favourites ‘Oppenheimer’ to the title.

Amis joined the Centre for New Writing in 2007 to take up his first teaching post at �鶹ǿ��. 

Famous for a series of novels including his London Trilogy, Martin was highlighted by The Times as one of the 50 greatest British novelists of the late 20th Century. He stepped aside from his teaching post in 2011. Martin passed away from cancer in May 2023 aged 73.

�Ѳ����پ���’s The Zone of Interest was published in 2014 and was �Ѳ����پ���’s fourteenth novel to be published. The Oscar-winning film of the same name is a loose adaptation of the novel.