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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Journal:

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

DOI:  

Link:  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit or

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The research, published today in , tracks 130 years of changes in the “spirograph” Planetary Nebula IC418 - a glowing shell of gas and dust cast off by a dying star about 4000 light years from Earth.

By piecing together observations dating back to 1893, when astronomers first recorded the nebula by eye through a telescope, to today, scientists found the nebula’s signature green light, emitted by oxygen atoms, has grown around 2.5 times stronger since Victorian astronomers first studied it.

This change is being driven by the central star’s rising temperature, which has increased by around 3,000°C since 1893, or roughly 1,000°C every 40 years. For comparison, the Sun increased by the same amount during its formation, but took 10 million years to do it.

However, although the star is heating faster than ever observed, it is still slower than the latest models had predicted. This challenges current theories of how stars age and die, and may force astronomers to rethink the masses of stars capable of producing carbon — the element essential for life.

A planetary nebula marks one of the final stages in a star’s life. As the star’s core becomes unstable, it sheds its outer layers into space. The remaining core heats rapidly, energising the surrounding gas and dust to form beautiful structures. In the case of IC418, this creates an intricate, swirling structure, earning its nickname “the spirograph nebula”. Our Sun will undergo the same fate in about 5 billion years.

While planetary nebulae usually evolve slowly, the researchers discovered that IC418 is evolving fast enough to track within a human lifetime.

This makes it the most prolonged and rapid transformation ever recorded in a planetary nebula, and possibly any star.

The team examined 130 years of observations from a wide range of telescopes – from the human eye measurements in the late 1800s to the advanced technologies of today. They verified, calibrated, and combined the data before comparing it with detailed models of stellar evolution. This allowed them to measure the star’s heating rate, determine its current mass, and even estimate the mass of the star before it began its transformation.

The findings offer a rare insight into of how planetary nebulae evolve and suggest the night sky can change much faster than we usually think.

Co-author, Professor Quentin Parker from the University of Hong Kong, said: “We believe this research is important because it offers unique, direct evidence of how planetary nebulae central stars evolve. It will prompt us to rethink some of our existing models of stellar life cycles.

“It’s been a strong joint effort - collecting, verifying, and carefully analysing more than a century’s worth of astronomical data and then melding that with stellar evolutionary models. It’s a challenging process that goes far beyond simple observation, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our field in this way.”

Journal: The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Full title: The secular evolution of planetary nebula IC 418 and its implications for carbon star formation

DOI: 10.3487/2041-8213/ADF62b

Link:

The research also suggests that monks kept their copy of the charter safe for generations, possibly consulting it at annual rent payments or during disputes – ensuring the king’s message lived on.

By looking at this 1,100-year-old parchment not just as a legal record but as a piece of political theatre, the study opens a new window into how early English kings built and maintained their power.

The full article, ‘’, is published in the Journal of Medieval History.

The company is a spinout from the University of Manchester, founded by Dr Tim Echermeyer, based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (), and joined by Dr Steve Turley as executive-Chair.

PhovIR uses its breakthrough Near Infra-Red (NIR) optical sensor technology to identify the ‘optical fingerprint’ of constituents of solids, liquids and gases, in a portable device. Human eyes perceive a very narrow band of the optical spectrum, predominantly colours, yet there is much more information about materials and substances contained in longer wavelengths.

This innovation is a ‘platform technology’ which has far-reaching applications for human health, such as the detection of drink spiking and other contaminants to industrial safety, pollution monitoring and agricultural functions.

Although other NIR sensor devices exist, they are bulky, often difficult to integrate into portable devices and expensive to manufacture. The breakthrough achieved by PhovIR allows this to be manufactured on a silicon chip enabling a small, light and cost-effective solution that has the potential to be incorporated into a smart watch or phone.

PhovIR has developed a capability based on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology to create a flexible, portable, low-cost solution that captures a broader optical range. Its software is fully configurable, doing the job of multiple sensors, and can be manufactured at scale.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at ����Vlog�ٷ� said: “PhovIR is a fantastic example of the kind of innovation that defines ����Vlog�ٷ� – world-class research brought to life through collaboration, with the potential to change lives.

“It’s exciting to see this deeptech breakthrough moving towards real-world application, supported by the expertise of our Innovation Factory and partners like Northern Gritstone. My congratulations to the team behind PhovIR, this is exactly the kind of impact we want to see more of across our University and our region.”

PhovIR is chaired by Dr Steve Turley, who has over 25 years’ experience dedicated to scaling complex technologies into high growth businesses, including as Chair of Effect Photonics and ex-CEO of Perpetuum.

With the funding, PhovIR plans to bring its first commercial product to market, grow its team, and continue delivering on its vision for making the invisible visible to improve human and planetary health.

PhovIR recently completed Northern Gritstone’s pre-seed program, NG Studios, which has supported PhovIR to refine its commercial strategy as a customer-led organisation ready for growth and successful fundraising.

Active since May 2022, Northern Gritstone has already made 37 investments in early-stage businesses in the North of England, expanded its investment team and built NG Innovation Services, its venture building ‘toolkit’ offering, inter alia: talent management; growth advice; business services; and the accelerator program, NG Studios.

Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “PhovIR is a Northern Gritstone NG Studios graduate. ����Vlog�ٷ� is home to innovation in materials science including graphene. Northern Gritstone is delighted to back Dr Tim Echtermeyer and Dr Steve Turley – graduates of our NG Studios venture building program - knowing that PhovIR’s technology has the potential to create a global company.”

Dr Tim Echtermeyer, CTO of PhovIR, said: “I am exhilarated to enter the next part of PhovIR’s journey and turn our vision into reality. I am grateful to the many people contributing and making this happen; particularly Steve, and William Wren and Minh Vu from the Engineering team, who have worked relentlessly.

Dr Steve Turley, Chair of PhovIR said: “I am very excited to be working with PhovIR not only because of the immense potential that the technology has but also the great team in Manchester led by Tim. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that the UK can take excellent innovative technology and turn it into a global success story”

John Williams, General Partner of SCVC said: “PhovIR represents the future of deep tech: advanced hardware, unlocked by AI. It’s the kind of multi-tech breakthrough that creates entirely new categories—and the kind SCVC is here to back.”

Published today  in the journal , the study provides a major insight into the muscular dystrophy subtype known collectively as Collagen VI-related dystrophy – or COL6-RD for short.

The team are the first ever to determine the high resolution structure of collagen VI- one of the networks of protein molecules that give our tissues mechanical strength and the ability to stretch and bend.

Called the extracellular matrix, the protein network also enables cells to sense their environment and communicate with one another in response to mechanical forces.

COL6-RD, which includes Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD) and  Bethlem myopathy (BM), can cause a range of symptoms including muscle weakness, joint contractures, decreased muscle tone, and weak breathing muscles.

It is one of a number muscular dystrophy subtypes and others include the more prevalent Duchenne-  caused by mutation of another protein -   for which scientists are developing gene therapies.

However, so far equivalent therapies have not been developed for COL6-RD.

Collagens are the most abundant extracellular matrix proteins, and form long fibres many times smaller than a human hair, called microfibrils. 

Collagen VI forms one type of microfibril, taking on the appearance of a large bead-like structure, consisting of  three separate protein chains, that twist and fold together.

The research required the scientists to develop small fragments of collagen VI, which they called mini-collagens.

Mini-collagens will be useful tools for studying or even treating the diseases associated with collagen VI mutations.

Lead author of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded study Clair Baldock, Professor of  Biochemistry at the University of Manchester said: “It is extremely important to understand where mutations in the tiny protein chains called collagen VI that cause a subtype of muscular dystrophy are, to help in the design of future treatments.

“Using a technique called cryogenic-electron microscopy -  which can magnify collagen VI hundreds of thousands of times-   we were able to determine the organisation of parts of collagen VI and map the disease mutations.

“That provides an opportunity for scientists to design drugs which specifically target the mutations by focusing only on what's broken.

She added: “We are the first group to determine the high resolution structure of collagen VI; until now, no- one has been able to show the locations of these mutations on the collagen VI structure.

“This is an important step along the path of finding ways to treat these types of muscular dystrophy and will provide momentum  to accelerate scientific discovery in this area.

“We hope that our structure will provide vital information to help the scientific community develop treatments, such as gene therapy, for collagen VI-RD.

“This provides some hope to people with muscular dystrophy that one day treatments will be available to improve their quality of life and help them to stay active and independent.”

• The paper Collagen VI microfibril structure reveals mechanism for molecular assembly and clustering of inherited pathogenic mutations is . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62923-3

Jean, alongside her late husband Michael, co-founded the Oglesby Charitable Trust in 1992, building a legacy that has touched thousands of lives across the North West and beyond. The University has been privileged to share in that legacy for many decades. Jean’s approach to philanthropy was deeply personal – she wanted to understand the programmes she supported, meet the people leading them, and be certain that her giving would create lasting change.  

Through the Trust, Jean and Michael made transformational contributions to our work – from funding PhD scholarships at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre to advancing pioneering research in cancer and leukaemia, to supporting public health policy and environmental sustainability initiatives. Their leadership and generosity were instrumental in establishing the Manchester Cancer Research Centre’s new home, where world-leading oncology teams are now working to develop personalised cancer treatments that will save and extend lives.   

Jean also enriched the University’s cultural life. Her love of the arts was expressed through the Trust’s support for Manchester Museum initially for the vivarium and followed by support for wider capital projects. This was also demonstrated in the Trust’s commissioning of original artworks for the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, the John Rylands Library, and the Whitworth Art Gallery. These contributions have enhanced our campus as a place to learn, work and be inspired. 

In 2015, Jean and Michael became two of the founding members of the Langworthy Circle of Benefactors, an honour that acknowledges our most significant donors. In 2016, Jean was also honoured with a CBE for services to philanthropy in the North West. But those who knew her will remember her most for her warmth, wisdom, and quiet strength - qualities that left an impression on everyone she met.  

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, said:  “Jean was a close friend to the University and a force for good. Her compassion and clarity of purpose were extraordinary. She believed deeply in the power of community.  She touched and inspired countless lives – in Manchester and far beyond. Her legacy will live on through the Oglesby Charitable Trust, the causes she championed, the institutions she supported and the communities she cared for so deeply.”  

On behalf of the entire University community, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Jean’s family and friends, and our enduring gratitude for her extraordinary partnership, which will continue to inspire for generations to come. 

“For an institution of our scale and ambition, continued progress on the global stage is both a challenge and an opportunity," Duncan added.

The 2025 ARWU result follows a strong year for Manchester in other leading global rankings - in June, it was named the 35th best university in the world in the QS World University Rankings.

The power of the University’s social and environmental impact has also been recognised on a global scale, being the only university in the top ten in both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, in recognition of its contribution towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The University’s research strength is further evidenced by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in which 93% of research activity was rated either ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).

“Manchester has always been a place where world-class research meets real-world impact,” said Vice-President for Research Professor Colette Fagan. “We are proud of our achievements, but even more excited about what lies ahead.”

The full 2025 ARWU list and methodology can be explored at ShanghaiRanking’s .

 Published in the American Journal of Nephrology today (11/08/25), the researchers show that higher levels of  Kidney Injury Molecule-1(KIM-1), a special marker of kidney damage in the blood and urine, are associated with higher risks of mortality and kidney failure, never before have the two been measured together. 

The research follows hot on the heels of their published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology last month, which measured 21 markers in blood and urine that reflect key processes driving kidney disease, inflammation, and heart disease. 

From the JASN study , the team pinpointed three standout markers that can predict both how quickly kidney disease will progress and the risk of death. 

Unlike the generic tests used in routine kidney clinics, the markers shine a light on the biological changes, underpinning CKD, that truly drive the disease. By revealing the hidden drivers, the discovery opens the door to new treatments designed to target the disease at its roots. 

Lead author Dr Thomas McDonnell, is both a researcher at ����Vlog�ٷ� and a kidney doctor at Salford Royal Hospital, part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. 

He said: “The progression of chronic kidney disease is highly variable between people,  so it’s difficult to predict which patients will progress to kidney failure or worse. 

“But our work raises the prospect of the development of  simple blood or urine tests that could better predict the degree of risk-  invaluable information for doctors and patients. 

“We think that , these models, which are more closely aligned with the underlying biological changes happening in chronic kidney disease, could allow a more tailored approach to the individual needs of patients.”

The researchers analysed the blood and urine of adults with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease from 16 nephrology centres across the UK.

They analysed blood and urine KIM-1 in 2581 patients for the KIM-1 study and looked at all 21 markers of kidney damage, fibrosis, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease together in 2,884 patients for the second

They used statistical analysis  to assess how or if biological signals associated with kidney failure and mortality, and developed risk prediction models.

Because chronic kidney disease can stay stable for years in one person but suddenly worsen in another, doctors find it difficult to identify which patients are most at risk.

Existing blood tests currently only give doctors a partial picture, missing important clues like  inflammation and scar build up. As a result, people with the same CKD stage are often labelled has having the same risk and are given the same treatments.

Dr McDonnell added: “This  discovery may will help doctors identify high-risk patients, so they enact more aggressive interventions, earlier specialist referral, and earlier treatment therapies.

“And by identifying low risk patients, they  would be able to prevent over-treatment.

“Living with chronic kidney disease often means managing fatigue, having limits to what you can and can’t eat, and being consigned to  frequent medical appointments.

“It can be physically and emotionally challenging, but with the appropriate care, it is possible maintain an active and fulfilling life.”

Plasma and Urinary KIM-1 in Chronic Kidney Disease: Prognostic Value, Associations with Albuminuria, and Implications for Kidney Failure and Mortality is published in   doi 10.1159/000547867is 

Biomarkers of kidney failure and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease  is published in the  DOI:10.1681/ASN.0000000767

The winner of this year’s Prize will be revealed on the evening of 1 October 2025, where they will be presented with a cheque for £25,000. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive a cheque for £2,500.

A new study, led by researchers at ����Vlog�ٷ�, in collaboration with Chester Zoo, found that birds appear to follow Zipf’s Law of Abbreviation (ZLA) – the idea that more frequently used sounds tend to be shorter. This rule, found in all human languages, helps make communication more efficient.

The findings, published in the journal today, offer new insight into how animals communicate and provide a new foundation for researchers exploring whether birds, like humans, shape their vocal signals according to the 'principle of least effort'.

Lead author Dr Tucker Gilman, Senior Lecturer at ����Vlog�ٷ� said: “In human language, if we say something a lot, we tend to shorten it – like saying ‘TV’ instead of ‘television’. It turns out that the same pattern exists in birdsong.

“We know that birds and humans share similarities in the genes and brain structures involved in learning to communicate but this is the first time we’ve been able to detect a consistent pattern of ZLA across multiple bird species. There’s still a lot more work to be done but this is an exciting development.”

Although previous studies hinted that animal communication might follow ZLA – including in penguins – it has been difficult to find clear evidence of ZLA in birdsong. That’s partly because most birds have much smaller repertoires compared to humans. While humans use thousands of words, birds may only produce a few dozen distinct sounds.

To tackle this, the researchers developed new method for studying ZLA in birdsong that focuses on how often individual birds use certain note types and how long those notes last allowing them to examine communication at an individual rather than population level.

They then applied this method using a new open-source computational tool called ZLAvian, which compares real-world observed patterns to simulated ones to determine if ZLA is present.

Using ZLAvian, the team analysed more than 600 songs from 11 bird populations spanning seven different species. They found that while individual populations didn’t always show clear signs of ZLA, a stronger pattern emerged when the data was combined, showing more frequently used birdsong phrases were shorter on average.

Co-author Dr Rebecca Lewis, Conservation Scientist at Chester Zoo, said: “Studying ZLA in birdsong is far more complex than in human language. Birds often have very few note types, individuals even within the same species can vary widely in their repertoires, and classifying notes is tricky too. Our research has taught that it’s important to look across a wide range of species when looking for language patterns and we hope ZLAvian will make it easier for other researchers to explore these patterns in  more birds but also other animals in the future.”

The team says that further studies are needed across a broader set of bird species to confirm their findings.

Paper details:

Journal: PLoS Computational Biology

Full title: Does Zipf’s law of abbreviation shape birdsong?

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013228

Link:

The academics for the first time, identified how GPs in England are becoming less engaged with their work — and how these signs often follow one after the other, ultimately leading to the decision to quit.

The study published in and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research () School of Primary Care Research (SPCR) and Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC), helps explain the current GP workforce crisis.

While there is substantial evidence both internationally and within the UK of a growing exodus of GPs, until now we did not fully understand the warning signs or how they are linked.

Of 351 GPs from 57 practices surveyed via an online questionnaire, up to one in three GPs experienced symptoms of burnout (27%) and expressed a moderate to high intention to quit patient care within the next five years (33%).

Also from the study, one in five (19%) GPs reported low job satisfaction, two in five (41%) indicated poor work-life balance, and up to one in four (27%) reported working while unwell over the past year.

Further analysis showed that symptoms of burnout and low job satisfaction were the factors most directly linked to GPs’ intentions to leave their roles, even when other work-related factors were taken into account.

The findings suggest that burnout and job dissatisfaction are key drivers influencing GPs’ decisions to leave patient care within the next five years.

Other signs of work disengagement — such as working while unwell or having a poor work-life balance — were more indirectly linked to quitting, often through their effect on burnout and low job satisfaction.

Lead author Dr Christos Grigoroglou, a health economist from ����Vlog�ٷ�, said:

“We found that job dissatisfaction and burnout are likely to be immediate signals that GPs are at high risk of quitting direct patient care. Poor work-life balance and working while unwell were also indirectly linked.

“This is why there is an urgent need to address these issues if we are to improve GP retention. If we do not, primary care may face unprecedented difficulties.”

The study authors suggested strategies including fair compensation, professional development, and a supportive work environment as ways to enhance job satisfaction.

Organisational support around time and resources to implement stress management programmes and mental health support could also help improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout, and retain GPs.

Preventative measures such as flexible working and fostering a supportive culture that encourages taking sick leave without stigma could improve work-life balance and reduce the tendency to work when unwell.

Principal investigator, psychologist Professor Maria Panagioti, said: “These findings highlight that GP retention policies should incorporate job satisfaction and wellbeing as core strategies to retain GPs.

“Additionally, improving work-life balance and reducing working while unwell can serve as effective early preventative measures to reduce burnout and job dissatisfaction — and in turn, help retain GPs.”

Associations between burnout and career disengagement factors among general practitioners: a path analysis is available

����Vlog�ٷ� has been awarded a major grant to lead a new programme that will transform the lifecycle of graphite in nuclear energy - an essential material for the future deployment of nuclear power.

The award brings together world-leading expertise led by ����Vlog�ٷ� in collaboration with the Universities of Oxford, Plymouth, and Loughborough.

Nuclear energy is expected to play a central role in the UK’s net zero goals as it emits nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions – but it comes with challenges.

The five-year ENLIGHT programme (Enabling a Lifecycle Approach to Graphite for Advanced Modular Reactors) will develop critical technologies to support the deployment of next-generation nuclear energy technology and will address two of the UK’s most pressing nuclear challenges - securing a sustainable, sovereign supply of nuclear graphite and finding solutions to manage the country’s growing volume of irradiated graphite waste.

The project is supported with an £8.2m grant from UK Research and Innovation’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Higher Education Institutions, and around £5m of contributions from industry partners.

The programme of research, collaboration, and skills development aims to secure the UK’s position at the forefront of nuclear innovation and a global leader in advanced reactor technology and clean energy innovation.

Graphite is a critical component in many next-generation Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), including High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors and various Molten Salt Reactor designs - technologies key to achieving the UK’s ambition to deliver 24GW of new nuclear power by 2050.

The material accounts for around one-third of reactor build costs, yet despite its importance, the UK currently relies entirely on imports to meet demand.

With the existing Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor fleet approaching decommissioning by 2028, and more than 100,000 tonnes of irradiated graphite already in storage, ENLIGHT will pioneer new approaches to both recycling legacy material and producing new, sustainable high-performance graphite suitable for future AMRs.

Dr Greg Black, Senior Advisor at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency look forward to participating as a partner in the ENLIGHT programme. As the environmental regulator for the nuclear industry in England, we consider the ambitions of the ENLIGHT programme on 'sustainable graphite' aligns with our Regulatory and RD&I areas of interest.”

The programme will focus on three strands of work:

• Sustainable Graphite – Developing processes for decontaminating, recycling and reusing irradiated graphite from AMR deployment.
• Graphite Selection & Design – Designing new graphite materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions in AMR environments.
• Graphite Performance – Understanding how these new materials behave in novel AMR conditions to improve its lifespan.

These advances could save the UK up to £2 billion in future waste management costs and offers a pathway to strengthen the UK’s unique position as a global hub for graphite research and innovation.

, Professor of Energy Materials at the University of Oxford will lead theme two around graphite selection and design. He said: “I’m delighted to be leading Theme two (Graphite Selection & Design – Designing new graphite materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions in AMR environments) in this major project.  Materials will contribute to several work packages across the whole activity, and our initial focus will be on novel studies of mechanical damage to support the design and qualification of new nuclear graphites for advanced fission reactors.”

At Loughborough University, researchers are contributing advanced computational modelling to explore how nuclear graphite behaves under extreme conditions.

Senior Lecturer in Materials Modelling at Loughborough University, said: “This will help us predict how and when these critical reactor components may fail, guiding the design of stronger, more reliable materials for the reactors of tomorrow. Our research also supports the reuse and recycling of existing graphite, helping to make future nuclear energy both safer and more sustainable."

The University of Plymouth will bring expertise in the analysis of porous materials, which will play a critical role in evaluating the performance and suitability of repurposed graphite.

, Lecturer in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Plymouth, said: “This project is not just about scientific discovery; it's about pioneering sustainable solutions for nuclear energy, turning waste into a valuable resource and bolstering the UK's energy security for decades to come. This consortium embodies a truly cyclical and green approach to nuclear solutions, aiming for a cleaner energy transition and helping to demystify some of the traditional concepts that surround the nuclear industry. Our expertise in analysing the intricate properties of porous materials will be instrumental in ensuring the suitability of repurposed graphite for next-generation nuclear reactors, and we are particularly excited to have the opportunity to grow our relationship with ����Vlog�ٷ� – and our industrial partners across the nuclear industry – through this initiative.”

ENLIGHT will also focus on skills development to expand the national graphite research community and train the next generation of graphite scientists and engineers essential to the UK's clean energy future.

Home to the and a core partner in the , ����Vlog�ٷ� is uniquely positioned to lead the ENLIGHT programme. The University brings together cutting-edge facilities from the Irradiated Materials Laboratory and the .

ENLIGHT will also build on Manchester's role in flagship activities and initiatives including, the , the and

“Understanding how counter fraud work is carried out is important for improving its effectiveness," added Dr Benson. ”Our research will better understand the experiences of those delivering these services, identifying what challenges they face and what support they need. This insight is vital for shaping a more strategic and joined-up approach to tackling fraud across the NHS."

The research was a partnership with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and is published in the journal .

 

The study, published in journal Social & Cultural Geography, offers important lessons for researchers, policymakers and the public. By listening to how people make sense of their lives, especially during the long stretch of middle-age, we can better support their needs - and challenge the idea that middle-age is boring or unimportant.

Dianne said of the CATE recognition: "I feel truly privileged to have led the development and continued delivery of our PGCert programme. At the heart of our success is a team philosophy grounded in open dialogue, mutual respect, and trust—where every individual voice is valued. It's a genuine pleasure to work in an environment where collaboration and support are embraced by all, and I couldn't be prouder of what our team has achieved together."  

Bip added: “The PGCert team is truly unique in the way it functions, supporting colleagues to achieve their very best. I am delighted the team has been recognised for our excellence in collaborative working which showcases the very best of what teaching looks like when we truly work together for the flourishing of colleagues and learners.”  

The PGCert Medical and Health Education is offered through the University’s Transnational Education operation to expand its reach, value and impact, helping healthcare systems around the world and improving health outcomes for patients globally. 

Professor April McMahon, who was Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students at the time of the nominations, said: “Many congratulations to Ang, Jenni, Dianne, Bip and everyone who has supported them. The NTFs and CATE awards are highly competitive and prestigious, and it is wonderful to see that again our Manchester people have done so well. Our students, and those considering coming to join us in September, should also be encouraged that teaching excellence is such a focus for us at Manchester.”

The 2025 awards ceremony will take place on 25 September in Bristol, hosted by incoming Advance HE Chief Executive Alistair Jarvis.  

In the past, aid helped these countries avoid economic crises. But over time, aid became more about short-term goals like fighting poverty or improving health, and less about helping countries grow strong, independent economies. “We’ve forgotten that aid used to be about helping countries stand on their own two feet,” says Dr Behuria.

The research also takes aim at what’s called ‘Global Development’ - a newer idea that treats poverty in rich countries the same as poverty in poorer ones. While this sounds fair, Dr Behuria says it confuses the issue and weakens the case for giving aid to the countries that need it most. “Yes, there’s poverty in London and New York - but that’s not the same as poverty in Malawi or Bangladesh,” he explains.

Dr Behuria calls for a new way of thinking - what he terms a “structuralist” approach - where we tackle the deep, historical roots of inequality between nations. He says academics, governments, and the public all need to reconnect with the original purpose of aid: correcting global injustice.

"I hope to contribute to the growth of the institute, which has been phenomenal in the past 15 years, and help position the institute for the new challenges emerging around the world."

"The HCRI has always been known for its excellence in research and teaching, and for its policy-relevant work, engaging a multitude of stakeholders on the ground. I plan to build on this track record to further consolidate the HCRI's position in the UK, Europe and beyond as one of the key institutes to study and do research in humanitarian, disaster, global health and peace and conflict studies."

Professor Lemay-Hébert will lead an Institute at the forefront of research in humanitarian, conflict and disaster studies, as well as a thriving teaching unit at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. HCRI’s teaching portfolio includes a pioneering - and in the current times of global conflict, ever more important - joint degree programme in Humanitarian Practice, in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

The project will run from September 2025 and is open to pupils aged five to 11 as part of their PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education. Children will explore not only bereavement but other forms of loss – such as the death of a pet or a friend moving away – through archaeology-inspired art and poetry. Parents will be invited to information sessions and can choose whether their children take part. 

‘Lost and Found’ builds on the success of previous AHRC-funded projects, including ‘Continuing Bonds’ and ‘Dying 2 Talk’, which used archaeology to support conversations about death in secondary schools. The new pilot will result in a workshop resource pack for other schools to replicate the approach. 

This initiative also aligns with the UK Government’s recent inclusion of grief education in . 

‘Lost and Found’ builds on nearly £100,000 in AHRC funding and follows two earlier projects:  and . These initiatives explored how archaeology can support conversations about death, dying, and bereavement in non-medicalised, creative ways. 

Continuing Bonds brought together archaeologists, healthcare professionals, and psychologists to explore legacy and loss, while Dying 2 Talk co-produced resources with secondary school pupils, using artefacts and workshops to help young people reflect on grief and caregiving through the lens of the past. 

The study sets out clear recommendations for further improvements, based on direct community feedback. These insights are expected to inform future active travel strategies both locally and nationally.

The full report is available here: .

The study, published in Nature Physics, and carried out at ETH Zurich, demonstrates how researchers used a finely tuned laser and vacuum system to trap and cool a 100-nanometre glass disc composed of billions of atoms. The work sets a new benchmark for quantum purity, a measure of how closely a system behaves according to the rules of quantum mechanics. 

Dr. Jayadev Vijayan, a Research Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at ����Vlog�ٷ�, explains: “This high-purity quantum state of motion gives us the best starting point to test whether objects 10,000 times heavier than the current record-holder show wave-like behaviour characteristic of the quantum world.” 

A new cold source for quantum experiments  

In the quantum world, atoms can behave like both particles and waves at the same time, appearing to being  “in two places at once” – an effect that only happens in the quantum world.  

To observe these effects in larger objects, their motion must be cooled close to absolute zero – where the only remaining motion is due to quantum fluctuations, the jittering of empty space itself. 

To achieve this for the first time, researchers used a laser beam to trap a nanoparticle and make it levitate inside a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber removes all the air, so nothing can bump into the particle and heat it up. Next, they placed the particle between two mirrors facing each other, forming a cavity to cool the motion of the particle. 

Professor Carlos Gonzalez-Ballestero, Institute of Theoretical Physics at TU Wien, explains: “The laser can either supply energy to the nanoparticle or take energy away from it. By carefully adjusting the cavity mirrors, we can make sure that the laser almost always takes energy away. The particle then spins slower and slower until it reaches the quantum ground state.” 

What makes this result remarkable is the record-breaking purity of the quantum state. High purity means the object is behaving in a way that is almost entirely quantum, with very little influence from the environment. That level of control and precision opens doors to experimental tests of quantum mechanics at completely new scales. 

Putting large quantum systems to use 

This breakthrough creates a pathway to revolutionary new technologies. The larger a quantum object is, the more sensitive it becomes to certain types of forces, potentially making them incredibly sensitive quantum sensors. For example, levitated nanoparticle-based sensors could provide: a new type of precise navigation system that does not need global satellite systems; early detection systems for earthquakes and volcanic activity; and mapping tools for subterranean topology. 

• This research was published in the journal Nature Physics. Full title: High-Purity Quantum Optomechanics at Room Temperature. DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02976-9 . Available

The team introduced a new type of thermal switch utilising high thermal conductivity graphite films. When a voltage is applied, ions insert between graphite layers. These ions disrupt phonon motion, cutting thermal conductivity by up to 1,300%. Removing the voltage expels the ions and restores the original heat-carrying capacity. This powerful modulation allows the device to actively turn heat conduction "on" and "off" at will, mirroring the functionality of electronic transistors, but for heat instead of electricity.

 “What makes our device truly transformative is its ability to operate reliably in extreme environments such as space,” said Dr Pietro Steiner, lead author and current technology lead for graphene-based thermal technologies at , a spinout from the University of Manchester. "The solid-state nature and absence of mechanical parts make it particularly attractive for aerospace applications, where reliability, weight, and efficiency are critical."

Beyond basic switching, the team demonstrated that their device could actively steer heat flow in desired directions. By configuring voltages across patterned electrodes, they created anisotropic thermal conduction pathways, opening possibilities for programmable thermal management systems.

Lead author added, "This thermal switching technology could revolutionise spacecraft thermal regulation, offering dynamic and reconfigurable solutions to manage excess heat without complex moving mechanisms or bulky radiators."

Spacecraft often rely on radiators or mechanical valves to dump excess heat. These systems add weight and risk mechanical failure under vibration. A thin, solid-state switch removes those constraints. It can operate in ultra-high vacuum and tolerate radiation levels found in orbit.

Next, the group will test switching speed under high thermal load. They plan to integrate the switch with prototype electronics. Faster ion motion and alternative intercalants could boost performance further. By directly linking electrical signals to heat transport, this work lays the groundwork for programmable thermal management in aerospace, electronics cooling and adaptive insulation.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Electrically controlled heat transport in graphite films via reversible ionic liquid intercalation

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw8588

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

Silver has long been used to combat bacteria, particularly in wound care, due to its ability to release ions that disrupt bacterial cells. However, current approaches have limitations; silver can be released too rapidly or unevenly, potentially harming surrounding healthy tissue and resulting in short-lived or inconsistent antibacterial protection.

The Manchester team tackled these issues by designing a graphene oxide-based membrane that can release silver ions slowly and precisely over time. The key lies in the structure of the membrane itself, its nanoscale channels act like filters, regulating how much silver is released.

"Our research represents a paradigm shift in antimicrobial coating technology," states lead author . "By harnessing the potential of graphene oxide membranes, we've unlocked a method for controlled silver ion release, paving the way for sustained antimicrobial efficacy in various applications.”

The team also created a testing model that better reflects real biological conditions. By using foetal bovine serum in lab trials, they could simulate the environment the coating would encounter in the body, offering a clearer view of how it performs over time.

“This approach allows us to deliver just the right amount of silver for extended protection,” first author Dr Swathi Suran adds. “It has potential in many areas, including wound care dressings and antimicrobial coatings for implants, and could bring long-term benefits for both patients and healthcare providers.”

As the team looks ahead, they're focused on exploring how this coating could be integrated into a range of everyday and medical products, making bacterial resistance less of a hidden threat and more of a manageable challenge.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Tunable Release of Ions from Graphene Oxide Laminates for Sustained Antibacterial Activity in a Biomimetic Environment

DOI:

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

The PDER was coordinated by the Policy Profession Unit, prepared for publication in the Department for Work and Pensions, and launched by the Cabinet Office with support from the University of the Arts London. 

The report represents a true cross-sector effort to rethink how government can better serve the public. Professor Richardson’s involvement highlights how academic research can directly shape public services, and help to build more responsive, trusted and inclusive government.

The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined the African women traders who have long shaped the retail and distribution of this cloth.

For many decades , the Dutch textile group which traces its origins to 1846 and whose products had been supplied to west Africa by European trading houses since the late 19th century, dominated manufacture of the cloth. But in the last 25 years dozens of factories in China have begun to supply African print textiles to west African markets. Qingdao Phoenix Hitarget Ltd, Sanhe Linqing Textile Group and Waxhaux Ltd are among the best known.

We conducted to establish how the rise of Chinese-made cloth has affected the African print textiles trade. We focused on Togo. Though it’s a tiny country with a population of , the capital city, Lomé, is the trading hub in west Africa for the textiles.

We conducted over 100 interviews with traders, street sellers, port agents or brokers, government officials and representatives of manufacturing companies to learn about how their activities have changed.

“Made in China” African print textiles are substantially cheaper and more accessible to a wider population than Vlisco fabric. Our market observations in Lomé’s famous Assigamé market found that Chinese African print textiles cost about 9,000 CFA (US$16) for six yards – one complete outfit. Wax Hollandais (50,000 CFA or US$87) cost over five times more.

Data is hard to come by, but our estimates suggest that 90% of imports of these textiles to Lomé port in 2019 came from China.

One Togolese trader summed up the attraction: “Who could resist a cloth that looked similar, but that cost much less than real Vlisco?”

Our research shows how the rise of China manufactured cloth has undermined Vlisco’s once dominant market share as well as the monopoly on the trade of Dutch African print textiles that Togolese traders once enjoyed.

The traders, known as Nana-Benz because of the expensive cars they drove, once enjoyed an economic and political significance disproportionate to their small numbers. Their political influence was such that they were key backers of Togo’s first – himself a former director of the United Africa Company, which distributed Dutch cloth.

In turn, Olympio and long-term leader General Gnassingbé Eyadéma provided policy favours – such as low taxes – to support trading activity. In the 1970s, African print textile trade was considered as significant as the phosphate industry – .

Nana-Benz have since been displaced – their numbers falling from 50 to about 20. Newer Togolese traders – known as Nanettes or “little Nanas” – have taken their place. While they have carved out a niche in mediating the textiles trade with China, they have lower economic and political stature. In turn, they too are increasingly threatened by Chinese competition, more recently within trading and distribution as well.

China displaces the Dutch

Dating back to the colonial period, African women traders have played essential roles in the wholesale and distribution of Dutch cloth in west African markets. As many countries in the region attained independence from the 1950s onwards, Grand Marché – or Assigamé – in Lomé became the hub for African print textile trade.

While neighbouring countries such as Ghana limited imports as part of efforts to promote domestic industrialisation, Togolese traders secured favourable conditions. These included low taxes and use of the port.

Togolese women traders knew the taste of predominantly female, west African customers better than their mostly male, Dutch designers. The Nana-Benz were brought into the African print textile production and design process, selecting patterns and giving names to designs they knew would sell.

They acquired such wealth from this trade that they earned the Nana-Benz nickname from the cars they purchased and which they used to collect and move merchandise.

Nana-Benz exclusivity of trading and retailing of African print textiles cloth in west African markets has been disrupted. As Vlisco has responded to falling revenues – over 30% in the first five years of the 21st century – due to its Chinese competition, Togolese traders’ role in the supply chain of Dutch cloth has been downgraded.

In response to the flood of Chinese imports, the Dutch manufacturer re-positioned itself as a luxury fashion brand and placed greater focus on the marketing and distribution of the textiles.

Vlisco has opened several boutique stores in west and central Africa, starting with Cotonou (2008), Lomé (2008) and Abidjan (2009). The surviving Nana-Benz – an estimated 20 of the original 50 – operate under contract as retailers rather than traders and must follow strict rules of sale and pricing.

While newer Togolese traders known as Nanettes are involved in the sourcing of textiles from China, they have lower economic and political stature. Up to 60 are involved in the trade.

Former street sellers of textiles and other petty commodities, Nanettes began travelling to China in the early to mid-2000s to source African print textiles. They are involved in commissioning and advising on the manufacturing of African print textiles in China and the distribution in Africa.

While many Nanettes order the common Chinese brands, some own and market their own. These include what are now well-known designs in Lomé and west Africa such as “Femme de Caractère”, “Binta”, “Prestige”, “Rebecca Wax”, “GMG” and “Homeland”.

Compared to their Nana-Benz predecessors, the Nanettes carve out their business from the smaller pie available from the sale of cheaper Chinese cloth. Though the volumes traded are large, the margins are smaller due to the much lower final retail price compared to Dutch cloth.

After procuring African print textiles from China, Nanettes sell wholesale to independent local traders or “sellers” as well as traders from neighbouring countries. These sellers in turn break down the bulk they have purchased and sell it in smaller quantities to independent street vendors.

All African print textiles from China arrive in west Africa as an incomplete product – as six-yard or 12-yard segments of cloth, not as finished garments. Local tailors and seamstresses then make clothes according to consumer taste. Some fashion designers have also opened shops where they sell prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) garments made from bolts of African print and tailored to local taste. Thus, even though the monopoly of the Nana-Benz has been eroded, value is still added and captured locally.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese actors have become more involved in trading activity – and not just manufacturing. The further evolution of Chinese presence risks an even greater marginalisation of locals, already excluded from manufacturing, from the trading and distribution end of the value chain. Maintaining their role – tailoring products to local culture and trends and linking the formal and informal economy – is vital not just for Togolese traders, but also the wider economy.

, Reader, Global Development Institute, and , Postdoctoral fellow, Duke Africa Initiative,

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

Approximately one in 50 people will develop wounds that fail to heal with the issue a particular problem for older people and in diabetes. 

Chronic wounds are more likely to become infected and can even result in a need for amputation making tackling them a really important issue. 

The paper published in the , reveals that the enzyme-  called arginase 1 -  can  promote wound repair in the  skin, through modulation of  a protein called Lipocalin2. 

A major factor in non-healing wounds is a failure of the damaged outer layer of skin, the epidermis, to repair and regrow. This can be worsened by uncontrolled inflammation and infection. 

The authors show that on wounding Arginase 1 enhanced production of Lipocalin2, an anti-microbial agent, which was required to combat infection and help the skin cells reform the skin barrier. 

Arginase 1 also reduced levels of inflammatory products made by the damaged skin cells showing its potential for tackling the inflammation typically associated with chronic wounds.

 The researchers also showed that the function of arginase, could be restored to help skin regrow by adding products that arginase 1 can make which include metabolites called polyamines. 

The paper follows on from previous by the team, published in February, which showed how important this enzyme Arginase 1 was for healthy skin and eczema. 

A healthy skin barrier involves a balance between cells multiplying (‘proliferating’) and changing their function (‘differentiating’). A key feature of eczema is a disruption of this balance. Arginase is required for skin barrier regulation where it functions to promote cell differentiation, a process essential to maintain a protective healthy skin barrier. A process that is disrupted in eczema.

 Arginase 1 has been shown to have an important role in tissue repair but how it promotes skin health was until now, unknown. 

Lead author Sheena Cruickshank, Professor of immunology at ����Vlog�ٷ� ‘s Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, said: “These two studies highlight the mechanism by which arginase 1 promotes barrier function and ensures good wound healing. 

“It’s importance is highlighted by the abnormal levels of Arginase seen in wounds that don’t heal well and eczema 

“That is why we think that targeting arginase 1 has potential to be used in the treatment of eczema and non-healing skin ulcers. Data in the two papers suggest it might also protect the skin from infection.” 

She added: “Non-healing skin wounds, or ulcers, are incredibly common and serious skin conditions that are more common as we age. 

“They can have a devastating effect on the lives of patients, causing chronic pain, problems with mobility and can lead to increased morbidity. 

“Similarly, eczema can significantly impact quality of life, leading to intense itching, pain, and sleep disruption. It can also increase the risk of skin infections. 

“We clearly have a long way to go before these skin conditions can be cured, but knowing the crucial role of arginase 1 in the healing process and that we can rescue function in model systems is an important milestone.” 

Jason Wong, Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine  from ����Vlog�ٷ� said: “The burden of chronic wounds seems to be on the increase and any new insights to how we can treat the problem will save limbs.” 

The PhD studentship for coauthor Denis Szondi was funded by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Singapore and ����Vlog�ٷ�. 

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded a PhD studentship for co-author Rachel Crompton. 

Banked tissue collection was funded by Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). (Prof Wong is part of the Dermatology Theme at the NIHR Manchester BRC.

British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 193, Issue 1, July 2025, Pages 125–135, 

The publication includes detailed chapters on iconic buildings such as Whitworth Hall, the John Rylands Library and Jodrell Bank’s Lovell telescope, as well as little known aspects of campus history including lost rivers, nuclear reactors, Toblerone-shaped halls of residences and unrealised plans for an underground station.

The book particularly highlights the architectural significance of Owens College, and how its Gothic Revival buildings designed by Alfred Waterhouse established a distinct identity in Victorian Manchester. These early structures set a tone of civic ambition and intellectual seriousness that still echoes through the campus today.

A dedicated section also explores the post-war expansion of science and engineering facilities at the University, driven by Cold War priorities and rising student numbers. It examines the rapid, often pragmatic construction of labs and lecture theatres, many of which defined the university’s mid-20th-century landscape.

“This book offers the public a chance to see behind the scenes - to understand why buildings were built the way they were, and how the campus continues to evolve to meet the needs of students, researchers and the wider city,” added Dr Hopkins.

The publication was made possible through the generous support of both internal and external partners. Within the University, from the School of Environment, Education and Development and the University of Manchester Library. Additional support was provided by companies that have worked closely on building projects across the campus over the years, including Avison Young, Arcadis, Balfour Beatty, BDP, CBRE, Halliday Meecham Architects, Recom Solutions, Rider Levett Bucknall, and Sheppard Robson.

Building Towards the Bicentenary is available to view for free .

Professor Devinney joins other Manchester-based Fellows including Professors James Nazroo, Melanie Giles and Penny Harvey, who have all been elected to the British Academy in recent years reflecting the University’s enduring commitment to cutting-edge scholarship and societal impact.

President of the British Academy Professor Susan J. Smith said: “One of my first acts as incoming President is to welcome this year’s newly elected Fellows, who represent the very best of the humanities and social sciences. They bring years of experience, evidence-based arguments and innovative thinking to the profound challenges of our age.”

“Every new Fellow enlarges our capacity to interpret the past, understand the present, and shape resilient, sustainable futures. It is a privilege to extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”

The team uncovered a rare type of wave, known as a shear phonon polariton, in a two-dimensional form of the material. Phonon polaritons are light-matter hybrid waves that emerge when light interacts with atomic vibrations in certain crystals. They can travel through materials in unusual ways and concentrate light into extremely small volumes.

In this study, the researchers found that in  thin films of gypsum, these waves undergo a topological transition, shifting from hyperbolic to elliptical behaviour, passing through a unique canalized state.

This transition allows scientists to tune how light propagates through the material.

“The studies of shear phonon polaritons in previous studies were limited to bulk crystals in the hyperbolic regime. In our study we aimed to complement those initial findings with shear polaritons in a 2-dimentional material,” said Dr Pablo Díaz Núñez, who co-led the study. “And remarkably, we discovered that shear phonon polaritons in gypsum support a topological transition from hyperbolic to elliptical propagation, with canalization in between.”

Dr Díaz Núñez added, “Moreover, we were able to confine light to a space twenty-five times smaller than its wavelength and slow it down to just a fraction of its speed in vacuum, this opens up new possibilities for manipulating light at the nanoscale.”

The research also highlights the role of crystal symmetry. Gypsum belongs to a class of materials with low symmetry, specifically to the monoclinic crystal system, which gives rise to asymmetric light propagation and energy loss, the central characteristic of shear polaritons.

These findings extend beyond fundamental research of phonon polariton propagation and could support future developments in areas that rely on precise control of light, such as thermal management, sensing, and imaging beyond the limits of conventional optics. Moreover, the study introduces gypsum as a new platform for exploring advanced photonic concepts in emerging areas like non-Hermitian photonics.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Visualization of topological shear polaritons in gypsum thin films

DOI:

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

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of ����Vlog�ٷ� also commented: “Lord Alliance was a close friend to the University and a remarkable figure whose contributions extended far beyond it. His belief in the transformative power of education created opportunities for generations of students, while his leadership and philanthropy shaped the Alliance Manchester Business School and the wider Manchester region. His story will remain a source of inspiration for years to come, and his legacy will endure in the lives he touched and the institutions he helped to build.”

The study, led by ETH Zurich and supported by ����Vlog�ٷ�, sheds new light on how fast-moving mixtures of water, soil and rocks – known as debris flows – develop into a series of surges, destroying everything in their path. 

Using highly sensitive 3D laser scanners, the scientists collected measurements during a major debris flow in the Illgraben valley in Switzerland on 5 June 2022. Analysis enabled the scientists to pinpoint how small surface disturbances evolve down the channel into powerful large amplitude waves that concentrate the flow’s destructive power.

The findings, published in the journal , are among the most detailed measurements of a real-life debris flow ever recorded.

Debris flows are a recurring natural hazard in steep terrain throughout the world, and are triggered by heavy rainfall, and increasingly, glacial runoff and permafrost melt. Recent landslides in the Alps continue to highlight the risks posed by debris flows, such as the 2017 Bondo landslide in Graubünden, which triggered a debris flow that travelled 4km downhill into the Bondasca Valley. This emphasises the urgent need to better understand and predict these hazardous events.

Due to the frequency of debris flow occurence, the Illgraben valley has been equipped with measuring instruments since 2000. It has recently supplemented by five highly sensitive 3D laser scanners, called LiDAR, which can determine distance and speed, and six high-speed video cameras.

On the day of the June 2022 event, 25,000 cubic meters of water, earth and debris poured approximately seven kilometres down the bed of the Illbach before the muddy stream was absorbed by the river Rhône at Susten. The devices measured surface velocities and the evolving free surface of the debris flow at three measuring stations with a spatial resolution of 2 cm and a temporal resolution of 0.1 seconds.

The team of scientists from ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (Birmensdorf) and ����Vlog�ٷ�, were able to document how the waves grew along the channel and use the data to develop a new friction law that was used in a debris-flow model to realistically simulate the  genesis and growth of the waves.

They found that near the top of the (about 2km from the outflow into the Rhône river), the debris flow had a fast-moving wave front, but no surges, while further down the channel the flow became shallower and spontaneously developed a series of waves. During the 30-minute event, researchers recorded 70 of these surges, which emerge from a surface instability that allows the waves to grow and as they move downhill.

Lead researcher, Jordan Aaron, Professor of Engineering Geology at ETH Zurich, said: "It has long been known that waves play a central role in the destructive power of debris flows, because they concentrate the forces that are applied to structures in their path.

"Thanks to the measurements around the debris flow of June 2022 and the modelling based on them, the researchers now have a better understanding. Our analysis provides new insights into the dynamics of debris flows and enables improved hazard management in the medium term.”

This research, which was partially funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (), has been published in the journal Communication Earth & Environment

Full title: Detailed observations reveal the genesis and dynamics of destructive debris-flow surges

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02488-7

Link:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02488-7

The research study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), LifeArc and the Wellcome Trust and published in The Lancet Neurology today (16/07/25). 

Twenty-five years ago when Timothy Bingham was two years old, he had a mild flu like illness which left him unable to walk. 

Three years later following another infection, he was paralysed and has been in a wheelchair ever since. 

Then in 2011, doctors saw an 8-month-old girl at a UK hospital who had been completely fit and well until a mild chest infection left her unable to breathe without the support of a ventilator. 

They considered that there may be a genetic cause as her two brothers had experienced similar severe problems following mild infections. 

Genetic researchers at the University of Manchester have now discovered that changes in a gene called RCC1 led to this severe nerve damage in both Timothy and the family in Manchester. 

A further 20 children from 10 families from the UK, Türkiye, Czechia, Germany, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Slovakia have been found to have changes in the same gene leading to this severe nerve condition all triggered by mild infections. 

In over half of the children, doctors suspected the diagnosis of a different severe nerve condition that can develop after infection called . 

The researchers performed laboratory studies on skin cells taken from patients and in specially genetically  engineered fruit flies to show that the damage to nerves can be caused by certain chemicals. 

Skin cells from patients when looked at under special microscopes have changes very similar to those seen in the cells of patients with motor neuron disease where muscles, including those controlling breathing and swallowing, become weak. 

Bill Newman, Professor of Translational Genomic Medicine at the University of Manchester and Rare Condition co-theme lead at the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre led the research. 

He said: “Until this study, little was known about why some people experience severe nerve damage after they have had a mild infection like flu or a stomach upset. 

“This work provides families with an explanation and is the first step in us developing an effective treatment. As children are well before they develop nerve damage following an infection, this gives us an opportunity to treat at risk children before problems occur. 

“The similarity with Guillain-Barré syndrome and with conditions like motor neuron disease may help us understand these more common conditions and why some people are at greater risk and what treatments may be effective.” 

Kate Bingham, mum of Tim who is now 28, said: “About 25 years ago Tim got a flu like infection and a temperature. What seemed like a minor illness had devastating consequences. 

“The attack, and subsequent attacks - did terrible damage. First to his legs, then his arms, his face and his chest. 

“And now he needs 24-hour care. His diaphragm barely works at all so he can’t cough. It’s hard for him to chew and he can’t drink unassisted. He can’t move in bed so needs turning throughout the night. The things we all take for granted he can’t do. 

“But I’m proud of how strong Tim has been. He now has a girlfriend he met online who is wonderful. He proves there is life beyond disability.” 

She added: “As Tim’s mum the discovery of a gene which is linked to what happened to Tim means everything to me. For so long we have lived with uncertainty of not knowing the full picture. 

“This breakthrough brings us great hope as it will do to all those people who have waited years for answers. This is something that helps us look to the future.” 

Sam Barrell, CEO of LifeArc, said, ““For many people living with rare conditions, the wait for a diagnosis can be agonisingly long - around a third wait more than five years. In Timothy’s case, that uncertainty stretched for over twenty years.  This discovery provides a potential target for treatment and the first step towards delivering a brighter future for people that could be living with this same devastating condition.” 

Image: Kate and Tim and Tim with his dog, Red.

The paper Acute-onset axonal neuropathy following infection in children with biallelic RCC1 variants: a case series is published in The Lancet Neurology here DOI 

The research, published today in , investigates a meter-long flipper from a Temnodontosaurus - a giant ichthyosaur – with uniquely preserved with fossilised soft tissues.

The findings reveal that the marine reptile, which exceeds 10m in length, was equipped with evolved to have specialised fins that the scientists believe served to suppress the sound of its own movements when foraging in dimly lit environments about 183 million years ago - an evolutionary adaptation never previously seen in any aquatic creature, living or extinct.

The team involves an international team of scientists, led by Dr Johan Lindgren from Lund University in Sweden, in collaboration with one of the world’s leading ichthyosaur experts, , a Palaeontologist at ����Vlog�ٷ�, who has been working on the fossil for about six years and says the finding “represents one of the greatest fossil discoveries ever made”  and could revolutionise the way scientists investigate other prehistoric animals.

Dr Lindgren, who has pioneered research on ancient marine reptile soft tissues, said: “The wing-like shape of the flipper, together with the lack of bones in the distal end and distinctly serrated trailing edge collectively indicate that this massive animal had evolved means to minimise sound production during swimming. Accordingly, this ichthyosaur must have moved almost silently through the water, in a manner similar to how living owls—whose wing feathers also form a zigzag pattern—fly quietly when hunting at night. We have never seen such elaborate evolutionary adaptations in a marine animal before.”

Although many small ichthyosaurs have been found with soft-tissue preservation, scientists have never found anything on this scale.

Using a range of advanced imaging, chemical analysis and computational modelling techniques, the researchers also identified that the structure of the flippers were truly unique, with scalloped trailing edge reinforced by mineralised, rod-like structures that the team name ‘chondroderms’. 

Moreover, Temnodontosaurus also had the largest eyes – the size of footballs – of any vertebrate known, supporting the hypothesis that this aquatic reptile hunted under low-light conditions, either at night or in deep waters. 

Dr Dean Lomax, who is also an 1851 Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, said: “The first time I saw the specimen, I knew it was unique. Having examined thousands of ichthyosaurs, I had never seen anything quite like it. This discovery will revolutionise the way we look at and reconstruct ichthyosaurs (and possibly also other ancient marine reptiles) but specifically soft-tissue structures in prehistoric animals.”

 The fossilised flipper was discovered by fossil collector Georg Göltz, a co-author on the new study. Remarkably, Georg made the find entirely by chance whilst looking for fossils at a temporary exposure at a road cutting in the municipality of Dotternhausen, Germany.

The fossil consists of both the part and counterpart (opposing sides) of almost an entire front flipper. Although Georg looked for more, no other remains were found. As the top part of the fin is missing, the team surmise that it was originally an isolated flipper that might have been ripped off by a larger ichthyosaur.

Georg brought the specimen to the attention of palaeontologist and co-author Sven Sachs of the Natural History Museum, Bielefeld, who recognised the rarity of the find.

Dr Lindgren said: “The fact that we are able to reconstruct the stealth capabilities of a long-extinct animal is quite remarkable. Also, because human-induced noise from shipping activity, military sonar, seismic surveys, and offshore wind farms has a negative impact on today’s aquatic life, our findings could provide inspiration to help limit the adverse biological effects from anthropogenic input to the modern marine soundscape.”

 To unravel the mystery behind the features preserved in this fossil, it was subjected to a range of sensitive imaging, elemental and molecular analyses. The multidisciplinary research team included palaeontologists, engineers, biologists and physicists. This involved high-end techniques such as synchrotron radiation-based X-ray microtomography at the Swiss Light Source SLS at PSI and Diamond Light Source, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and infrared microspectroscopy, along with the reconstruction of a virtual model using computational fluid dynamics.

Dr Lomax added: “The fossil provides new information on the flipper soft tissues of this enormous leviathan, has structures never seen in any animal, and reveals a unique hunting strategy (thus providing evidence of its behaviour), all combined with the fact that its noise-reducing features may even help us to reduce human-made noise pollution. Although I might be a little bias, in my opinion, this represents one of the greatest fossil discoveries ever made.”

The very first ichthyosaur brought to the attention of science was discovered over 200 years ago by pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning and her brother Joseph. That fossil was also a Temnodontosaurus, the same type of ichthyosaur to which this flipper belonged.

“In a weird way, I feel that there is a wonderful full-circle moment that goes back to Mary Anning showcasing that even after 200 years, we are still uncovering exciting and surprising finds that link back to her initial discoveries”, added Dr Lomax.

Nature article reference: Lindgren, J., Lomax, D. R., Szász, R-Z., Marx, M., Revstedt, J., Göltz, G., Sachs, S., De La Garza, R. G., Heingård, M., Jarenmark, M., Ydström, K., Sjövall, P., Osbæck, F., Hall, S. A., de Beeck, M. O., Eriksson, M. E., Alwmark, C., Marone, F., Liptak, A., Atwood, R., Burca, G., Uvdal, P., Persson, P. and Nilsson, D-E. 2025. Adaptations for stealth in the wing-like flippers of a large ichthyosaur. Nature, 10.1038/s41586-025-09271-w.

Link to paper:

Up to £50 million is to be invested in a Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) in Exposome Immunology over the next 14 years.

These environmental exposures, which also include things like microbes and toxins, predominantly interact with our bodies at what we call ‘mucosal barrier sites’, for example our lungs and intestines. Here, they met by our immune cells, and can change how the immune system works, pushing some tissues into chronic inflammation, causing diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The centre will embrace AI technology to interrogate large data sets, such as those from UK Biobank, patient cohorts and long-term studies in hospital clinics, and identify common pathways by which environmental factors disrupt the immune system. Findings will be tested through laboratory studies and by exposing healthy volunteers to pollutants and common viral infections, leading to more accurate diagnoses, better prevention, and more effective treatment options.

Individuals from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds often have a more adverse exposome, facing greater exposure to pollution, mould (in poor quality housing), and occupational hazards (cleaning chemicals, industrial processes). The MRC CoRE is therefore key to ����Vlog�ٷ�’s mission to address , and builds on work investigating .

Professor Judi Allen, from ����Vlog�ٷ� is Director of the MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology.

She said: “Globally we’re facing a crisis in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. For decades we’ve been studying how our genes make us susceptible to disease. While very valuable, genetics has only got us so far. We need to understand how our environment interacts with our genes to make our immune system malfunction.”

“We will benefit from advances in new technologies to identify which of the many complex factors may be important in driving disease, but what’s different about our new Centre is we are going to define how the immune system is altered by these environmental factors and how that impacts inflammation. Changing environments, often made worse by socioeconomic disparities and rising pollution, appear to be increasing the rates of these diseases, making it even more imperative to find the causes.”

“We hope to later expand our research to include more environmental factors, such as mould and microplastics, which are growing concerns. An ultimate goal of this research would be to discover the underlying causes of these chronic diseases so we can develop better prevention and treatments.”

Professor Fiona Powrie, co-director of the MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology, from University of Oxford, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring together complementary expertise in ����Vlog�ٷ� and University of Oxford to build a multidisciplinary team to tackle this challenge. Our Centre will train a new generation of scientists working across biology and environmental science, future proofing our efforts to combat the health effects of a changing environment.”

Professor Patrick Chinnery, MRC Executive Chair, said: “This new MRC Centre of Research Excellence will transform our understanding of how lifelong environmental exposures shape immune health and cause chronic inflammatory diseases. With chronic inflammatory diseases posing such a large and growing disease burden, the new centre is well placed pave the way for more effective and targeted treatments.

“Alongside exceptional scientific leadership linking two world-leading centres, and strong partnerships with patients and digital health innovators, the scientists’ commitment to the next generation of researchers will embed UK leadership in this field, with long-term potential to deliver a transformative, global impact for health.”

The research, published today in the journal, , demonstrates that compounds or ‘volatiles’ found in sebum — the oily substance produced by our skin —hold key biomarkers for identifying Parkinson’s in its earliest stages.

Using a technique known as Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), scientists at ����Vlog�ٷ�, in collaboration with Salford Royal NHS Trust and the Medical University of Innsbruck, analysed skin swabs from participants with Parkinson’s, healthy volunteers, and those with a sleep disorder called isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) — a known early warning sign of Parkinson’s disease.

The results showed that people with iRBD had distinct chemical profiles in their sebum that were different from healthy individuals, but not yet as pronounced as those with established Parkinson’s disease. This supports the idea that Parkinson’s disease leaves a detectable trace on the body well before physical symptoms appear.

Joy Milne – the ‘super smeller’ who inspired the research  –  was also able to distinguish swabs from people with iRBD from the control group and Parkinson’s patients. Intriguingly, she was able to detect both diseases in two of the swabs that came from iRBD individuals, who were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s at their next clinical appointment, after sampling.

Professor Perdita Barran, Professor of Mass Spectrometry at ����Vlog�ٷ�, said: “This is the first study to demonstrate a molecular diagnostic method for Parkinson’s disease at the prodromal or early stage. It brings us one step closer to a future where a simple, non-invasive skin swab could help identify people at risk before symptoms arise allowing for earlier intervention and improved outcomes.”

The study involved more than 80 participants, including 46 people with Parkinson’s, 28 healthy controls, and nine with iRBD.  They found 55 significant features in the sebum that varied between the groups. Those with iRBD often showed levels that sat between the healthy controls and the Parkinson’s group, reinforcing the possibility of detecting the disease in its early phase.

Dr Drupad Trivedi, a researcher from ����Vlog�ٷ�, built a model that examined the markers in a longitudinal sampling study. He collected samples from Parkinson’s patients over a three-year period and found patterns that suggest this method can also be used to map the progression of the disease, which could have use in refining treatment options and improve patient outcomes.

Sebum is also easy to collect using gauze swabs from the face or upper back, making it ideal for non-invasive routine screening and regular monitoring. by the team has also shown it does not need to be stored in the same cold conditions as other biofluids, such as blood, reducing associated costs.

The research is inspired by the observations of Joy Milne, who detected a unique scent in individuals with Parkinson's disease, prompting researchers at ����Vlog�ٷ� to explore sebum as a source of diagnostic biomarkers.

By using mass spectrometry, a technique that measures the weight of molecules, they have found that there are distinctive Parkinson’s markers in sebum, which has led them to develop this non-invasive swab test.

These findings have recently been validated in another paper, published today in the, where trained dogs were able to detect Parkinson’s in the patients recruited by Prof Barren and Dr Trivedi with remarkable accuracy by smelling skin swabs.

Now, the researchers are continuing to develop and improve the sebum-based testing to eventually use as a practical tool in real-world clinical settings.

Dr Drupad Trivedi, Lecturer in Analytical Measurement Sciences at ����Vlog�ٷ�, said: "Our goal is to develop a reliable, non-invasive test that helps doctors detect Parkinson’s earlier, track its progression, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

“We’re also keen to hear from other hyperosmic individuals, potential ‘super smellers’ like Joy, whose remarkable sense of smell could help extend our work to detect other diseases with potential odour signatures."

***

This research was published in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease

Full title: Classification of Parkinson’s Disease and idopathic REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder: Delineating Progression Markers from the Sebum Volatilome

DOI: 10.1038/s41531-025-01026-8

Link:

***

Biotechnology is enabling us to find new and more sustainable ways to produce chemicals, materials, and everyday products, by understanding and harnessing nature’s own processes and applying them at industrial scales. Supported by the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, our 400+ experts are innovating solutions in environmental sustainability, health and sustainable manufacturing. Find out more about our biotechnology research.  

The findings - based on the scans of 1,684 women - could make the difficult task of determining whether labour should be induced in the final stages of pregnancy easier, resulting in fewer complications, say the researchers.

Published today in the Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, the study was led by gynaecologist Sanne Gordijn of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in collaboration with Wessel Ganzevoort of Amsterdam University Medical Centre and Professor Alexander Heazell from ����Vlog�ٷ�.

When pregnant women feel their baby is moving less in the final weeks of pregnancy, they are referred to hospital where an examination is carried out to assess the condition of the baby.

The examination consists of monitoring the baby’s heart rate and an assessment of its growth and amniotic fluid - the fluid around the baby it.

Now the researchers have discovered that an extra ultrasound scan - in addition to the other tests-  is able to significantly help doctors to see whether a baby would benefit from being born earlier.

By measuring the resistance in the blood vessels of the umbilical cord and the baby's brain they were able to accurately assess the functioning of the placenta and the condition of the baby, making it easier to decide if doctors needed to induce delivery earlier.

The perception from mothers that their baby is moving less commonly can occur when a baby has changed position or the mother hasn’t noticed the movement because she is busy or distracted.

However in some cases, reduced movement could be a sign that the baby is unwell, which can be worrying for pregnant women and midwives.

Professor Heazell said: “We know that a reduction in baby’s movements is a common reason to attend maternity services. Thankfully, in the majority of cases the baby is ok.

“The findings of this study will help us to reassure the majority of mothers that their baby is healthy, and help us to focus intervention for the babies who will benefit from being born because they are not receiving enough oxygen or nutrients in the womb.”

Sanne Gordijn said: “We call the ratio between the two ultrasound measurements the Cerebro Placental Ratio (CPR). The idea is that an abnormal value may indicate that the placenta is not functioning properly.

“In that case, it is better for the baby to be born in the short term. We do this by inducing labour. If the value is normal, it would be better to wait for the natural moment of delivery, as the baby may not be completely ready yet. Women who want to give birth at home can still do so.”

“The results of this study show better outcomes for the baby when the result of the CPR measurement is known.

“This means that we see fewer complications during childbirth when this measurement is taken, compared to the current policy where it is not done.”

She added: “If doctors know the results of this measurement, they can better distinguish whether the baby's reduced movement has a harmless cause or whether it requires action.

“This ensures that mother and baby receive the care that best suits their situation.' The guideline on reduced fetal movements will soon be updated; the professional association will incorporate the results of this study into it.”

The study was funded by ZonMw from the Netherlands.

Sanne Gordijn conducted this CEPRA study together with researchers from Amsterdam UMC in 23 hospitals. Laura Lens, the MD, PhD student on this study presented at the international SMFM conference in Denver (USA) and Sanne in London. The study is published on July 10 in the authoritative scientific journal The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health.

• The study is published in the Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health and is available
• doi.org/10.1016/j.lanogw.2025.100002

Despite tearing his right knee ligament just eight weeks ago, the customer service officer – who works at a Halifax Housing Association – will walk 120 miles nonstop, without sleep.

Starting at the Angel of the North in Gateshead on Saturday 12 July, 42-year-old Ben will make his way to Tommy’s Rainbow Clinic and Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre at Saint Mary’s Hospital – the specialist unit that helped save his son’s life.

Just seven days later, after flying to Rhodes, Ben will climb the steep mountain road to Prophet Elias Monastery in Faliraki, Greece an exhausting 50 times – a gruelling test of endurance with no shade and where temperatures are likely to soar above 40°C.

Ben is aiming to raise £20,000 for Professor Alex Heazell, Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre and the University of Manchester-based team leading UK research to reduce preventable stillbirths and support families through pregnancy after loss.

Ben and his partner Gaynor Thompson lost their daughter Kallipateira to a preventable stillbirth at 37 weeks in October 2018. They later suffered a miscarriage in 2019.

Determined to stop other families going through the same heartbreak, they founded The Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation, which funds research and supports families affected by baby loss.

In 2020, their son Apollon was born safely at Tommy’s Rainbow Clinic, thanks to the specialist care of Professor Heazell.

Ben has since taken on multiple extreme solo fundraising feats.

“This year has brought mountains I’ve had to climb emotionally and physically. Now, I’m preparing to put myself through the mill – fuelled by love, grief, and purpose,” said Ben.

“There’s no pain greater than holding your dead baby in your arms – but every step I take will honour Kallipateira and help save other babies across the UK. I will once again show that because of love and a reason why, anything is possible.”

Every day in the UK, eight babies are stillborn – many of which are preventable.

The funds Ben raises will go directly to Professor Heazell’s team, who are making groundbreaking progress in understanding stillbirth and supporting parents in pregnancy after loss.

Alex Heazell, who is also Professor of Obstetrics at ����Vlog�ٷ� and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of MFT, said: “Ben’s unwavering commitment is extraordinary. His support has already helped us improve care for families and expand our research into stillbirth prevention. These challenges will fund new projects that could save lives.”

Dignity Funerals, through Lawrence Funeral Directors Halifax, are proud headline sponsors of Ben’s 2025 challenge.

Stuart Cox, Head of Public Affairs at Dignity, said: “Ben is a true inspiration. We’re honoured to support The Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation and the vital work they do in memory of Kallipateira.”

To support Ben’s Mission donate now at: 

����Vlog�ٷ� project has been awarded the grant through the NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call with support from SBRI Healthcare (Small Business Research Initiative) as part of a new, unique national partnership which could save lives and improve quality of life.

Researchers in Manchester will implement an innovative lung cancer risk assessment tool and an adapted care pathway for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

The new multi-centre study started in June 2025 and will be running for two years within the existing NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme at 10 Cancer Alliances across England, including Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance leading the initiative.

Every year, around 2,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system (part of the immune system).

Although it is a highly curable cancer, treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the chest and lungs increase the risk of second cancers occurring in later life. This risk increases further for people who smoke.

Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma are six times more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population.

Study lead Dr Kim Linton, Senior Lecturer at ����Vlog�ٷ� and Living With and Beyond Cancer Co-Theme Lead at Manchester BRC, said: “It is crucial that Hodgkin lymphoma survivors can access screening to detect lung cancer at an early stage, when it is more treatable.”

Developed in Manchester, the new UK-wide programme aims to screen 500 Hodgkin lymphoma survivors over two years, which could detect early lung cancer in an estimated 10-12 people.

Joanne Murray, from Didsbury in Manchester, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1997 at the age of 29 and received successful treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

She took part in the pilot study in 2022 which helped Manchester researchers design the new national programme. Despite having no symptoms, the study found Joanne had stage 1 lung cancer.

Now 56 and living in North Wales, Joanne said: “I feel exceptionally lucky that this research has saved my life. I had no symptoms of lung cancer and had I not taken part in this study, it might have been too late for me once symptoms had appeared.”

Through the study, Joanne had a CT scan at The Christie in Manchester which revealed a ‘fluffy’ and opaque nodule (small lump) on her right lung. Following surgery to remove part of her lung, a biopsy revealed it was stage 1 cancer.

Joanne, who works for North Wales Police, explained: “After my scan, doctors closely monitored me through ‘watch and wait’, with regular check-ups to determine if the nodule grew or if I developed symptoms. In November 2023, after I had moved to Wales, a follow-up scan at my local hospital showed that the nodule had grown by 1mm. After discussing my treatment options, I decided to have surgery to remove part of my right lung.”

Joanne had the surgery in January 2024 at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. She said: “I was absolutely terrified of having the surgery, but it was fine, and all the staff were fantastic. I had video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [a form of keyhole surgery] which was less invasive, and I was back home in two days to recover.

“When I found out from the biopsy that it had been stage 1 cancer, I was in complete shock. I’m a positive person and thought I had just been overthinking it. I am so thankful for this vital research and the team at The Christie.”

Now 18 months later, Joanne has had two clear scans, with the next one due in early 2026.

On taking part in research, Joanne said: “When I read the letter asking me if I wanted to be part of research I thought, ‘there’s nothing wrong with me, but I’ll do it.’ You never know what’s around the corner.

“Without doubt, I would urge other cancer survivors to take part in screening. It might take 10 or 15 minutes out of your day, but it could save your life.”

Hodgkin lymphoma can develop at any age, but it mostly affects people between 20 and 40 years of age and those over 75. The most common symptom is a painless swelling in a lymph node, usually in the neck, armpit or groin.

Second cancers, such as lung cancer or breast cancer, can develop more than 10 years after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. Survivors can help to reduce their risk of a second cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle through not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight with a balanced diet, and getting regular exercise.

Dr Linton, who is also an Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Most Hodgkin lymphoma survivors do not meet current lung cancer screening criteria, so we hope the success of this study will support an application for routine adoption across England and Wales.

“In Manchester, we have been working on a lung cancer screening programme for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors for many years, including a pilot screening study at The Christie where we detected 3 lung cancers in 102 people who had showed no symptoms.

“This research helped us to design the national programme and confirmed that our proposed study meets the needs of this high-risk patient group. This work also builds on Manchester’s previous track record of successfully implementing breast cancer screening for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors within the national breast cancer screening programme.”

The new study will be open to Hodgkin lymphoma survivors aged between 45 and 74 who smoke or have previously smoked.

It will have an embedded programme to identify and tackle health inequalities, including people where their risk of lung cancer is highest, such as those with lower socioeconomic status, men and older people.

It will help address barriers to screening participation, such as fear of cancer diagnosis, low perceived risk of cancer and issues of cost, travel and time off work.

Screening will take place at convenient community-based settings to encourage participation, including in mobile clinics at supermarket car parks.

Researchers will actively promote screening participation for people with the highest smoking prevalence.

Participants will be offered health education and stop smoking advice to encourage supported self-management to prevent lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and other significant illnesses, which could lead to improved survivorship and reduced healthcare costs.

The Manchester-based project is part of the NIHR Manchester BRC’s , which aims to transform the detection of cancer recurrence and second cancers to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes for survivors.

Researchers will also be collaborating with the NIHR Manchester BRC’s , which aims to reduce cancer burden across society through implementing prevention and early detection strategies.

The project will be supported by the NIHR Oncology Translational Research Collaboration, Lymphoma Action charity and patient partners.

Health Innovation Manchester will work with Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance to support local adoption and run patient focus groups to understand barriers to engagement and develop solutions to improve uptake.

• images: Dr Kim Linton and  Joanne and Rob

The former GP, Director of Public Health and Medical Director was tragically killed in a terrorist attack while holidaying in Sri Lanka. 

She studied medicine at ����Vlog�ٷ� and started her medical career as a GP in Salford. 

Her brother Lord Keith Bradley will today (9/07/25) present this year’s prize to Mark Westwood, who received a distinction at the 13th International of Public Health. 

Mark, who has worked in the NHS and volunteered with the Scouting movement is hoping to join the University as a PhD student. 

Lord Keith Bradly – a Labour Party politician created the award in his sister’s name to recognise highest achieving Masters in Public Health (MPH) student from Greater Manchester. 

Prof Arpana Verma, Programme Director of the MPH said: “Sally was an inspiration to us all. Not only was she a remarkable clinician and public health doctor, she was a wife, sister, aunt, friend and colleague to countless many. 

“She was kind, clever and incredibly knowledgeable. She lit up the room with her charisma, charm and her infectious laugh. 

“There are no words to express our gratitude to Lord Bradley and Sally’s amazing family to honour our programme and our students with this inspirational award.” 

She added: “As we teach and train the next generation, we can give our students and alumni the incredible legacy Sally has left us. 

“Mark is a worthy recipient of this honour. He has been an exceptional student and will go on to make important contributions to the field of public health. 

“His voluntary work has been exceptional -  and signifies just how much he cares about the community in which he lives 

The Masters in Public health online programme, created in 2002 by Prof Dick Heller, was was one of first fully distance learning programmes in the UK. 

Since then it has grown to over 2,000 alumni from all over the world, offering fully flexible learning options to allow students to juggle working full time with their studies.

Lord Bradley said: “On behalf of my family, I am proud to pay tribute to my sister, Dr Sally Bradley, who was so cruelly killed alongside her husband Bill in the Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka some 5 years ago. 

“Since that time, I have recovered numerous messages of kindness remembering Sally and conversations with many of her former colleagues and friends who stressed how inspirational she was to their careers and her utter commitment to preventative healthcare and the crucial role of public health in that endeavour. 

“I am delighted that Mark Westwood will receive this year’s Dr Sally Bradley prize. He clearly encapsulates the values that my sister tried to instil in public health in Manchester and well beyond. He is a tremendously worthy winner. 

“I and my family are honoured to ensure that Sally’s legacy will live on and that we all continue to strive for improved health and wellbeing throughout our communities.” 

Students can to learn the ‘art and the science’ of public health at their own pace, with a choice of over twenty different course units covering what professionals need for their careers in public health both here and internationally. 

The course concentrates on research-led teaching and students are encouraged to participate and learn from research partners and projects, especially for their dissertations. 

The themes of this year’s festival are AI and In-Silico Public Health, Women’s research and Inclusive Research. 

• More information on the Masters in public Health programme is available here
• Image is of Sally Bradley.

Professor Richard Grencis was given the honour for his sustained commitment to the advancement of immunology, leading to significant changes in our understanding of how the immune system works. 

The scientist has been based at ����Vlog�ٷ� since In 1987 when he was appointed lecturer in immunology at the School of Biological Sciences. He became professor of immunology in 1998. 

Professor Grencis is also academic lead at the University’s Biological Services Facility, and has been a scientific member of the University of Manchester Animal Welfare Ethical Review body (AWERB) for many years. 

He has pioneered the study of immunity to parasitic infection, some of the most prevalent infections on earth and responsible for much debilitating disease and ill-health. 

Of all the types of parasite, roundworms (nematodes) which live in the gastrointestinal tract are the most common, with in excess of one and a half billion people currently infected. 

He said: “I am delighted to receive this award and grateful for the recognition it gives to this crucial area of research.

 “Our studies focus on defining the regulation of the immune response to roundworm infections which live in the gastrointestinal tract. 

“There is an urgent need to tackle this problem: millions of people living in low and middle income countries, especially children, have to contend with the terrible problems caused by roundworm parasites. 

“There are currently no vaccines for these parasites in humans and a deeper understanding of how the immune system deals with roundworms helps us towards this goal. 

“An added bonus is that our studies have also helped us make new fundamental discoveries of how the immune system works. 

“Much progress has been made in this area, but there is still a long way to go.”