The University of Manchester has launched the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Manchester Centre of Research Excellence to support world-class cardiovascular disease research from the leading charity. The University matched BHF’s funding, bringing the total investment in cardiovascular disease research at Manchester to £8 million.

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya, are a significant health inequality and a major cause of poverty. In Africa, particularly in coastal Kenya, cases have risen sharply over the past 30 years. Understanding the factors behind disease transmission is key to effective management. 

Research by teams at The University of Manchester has highlighted high genetic diversity in forest Aedes aegypti and other forest Aedes species in Africa. Notably, differences in their odorant receptors are leading to increased feeding on humans. This diversity may result from interbreeding with domestic Aedes aegypti from outside Africa or the invasion of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes from Southeast Asia. 

This project, co-developed and led by researchers in Kenya and at The University of Manchester, will investigate these possibilities in the Tana River region and Kenya Coast. These areas contain forested regions near the port of Mombasa, a key entry point for invasive mosquito species. 

By integrating data on mosquitoes, viruses, monkeys, and humans across the coastal Kenyan landscape, the project aims to map disease transmission patterns. Identifying the environmental and socio-behavioural factors driving transmission will help the Ministry of Health improve surveillance efforts and support local communities in preventing and mitigating disease spread.

This project involves pharmacy undergraduates delivering assessed core curriculum public engagement workshops to high school pupils. Workshops covers a variety of public health topics relevant to 14–16 year-olds such as Antibiotic Resistance, Alcohol, Diabetes, Mental Health & Sexual Health Awareness.

The University’s partnership with Mansoura University, Egypt, is pivotal in addressing the urgent global health workforce shortage. Established in 2006 as Egypt’s first international medical programme, it equips students with integrated training that prepares them to serve globally, prioritising patient-centred care and competency-based education. 

The aim of the Dentists in Primary Schools project is to implement engaging oral health sessions in primary schools across Greater Manchester, especially those in socially deprived.  

A group of undergraduate students have taken the local Dentists in Primary Schools (DiPS) programme halfway across the world. Through International DiPS, students from the Manchester Pediatric Dentistry Student Society have introduced healthy oral hygiene habits to hundreds of young children in Kisumu, Kenya.  

The Manchester Christmas Dinner project started in 2013 with a vision: “No care leaver will be alone on Christmas day.” The initiative aims to provide young care-experienced people, usually around 50, with a memorable Christmas Day experience. It offers a warm and welcoming venue, delicious food, engaging activities facilitated by friendly hosts, and, of course, presents. The initiative received a Making a Difference Award for its outstanding professional services in social responsibility. 

The University has been awarded the University Mental Health Charter Award from Student Minds – the UK’s student mental health charity. The UMHC Award is a voluntary accreditation scheme that supports universities to understand their areas of strength and development to inform ongoing improvement in mental health and wellbeing, recognising good practice along the way. 

The Purple Wave is a UoM Sport initiative designed to bring our community together to celebrate physical activity and shared experiences. It’s all about participation, not elite performance – just having fun, making friends, and being active with like-minded people. As part of this, people can become a Purplewave fundraiser, raising money at events like the Great Manchester Run. Over the years, hundreds of wonderful fundraisers have raised tens of thousands of pounds to support good causes right here on campus. From rebuilding the Paterson Cancer Research building to providing disadvantaged students with scholarships – brilliant Purple Wave fundraisers have helped make some amazing things happen for our community.