Imprinted Diagnostics, a University of Manchester spinout, has created a diagnostic device designed to redefine emergency cardiac care by delivering rapid, lab quality diagnostics at the point of need. The portable device delivers accurate troponin readings from a finger prick in under 30 minutes, dramatically reducing patient waiting times in emergency and critical care settings. By eliminating the need for external lab processing, frontline clinicians can make faster, life-saving decisions. After successful early tests on 50 patient samples, Imprinted Diagnostics is now preparing to scale up development, supported by a £75,000 UnitM innovation award from the University. 

Visit Imprinted Diagnostics to find out more. 

With more than 300 million people worldwide suffering from serious fungal infections and 2 million of these individuals dying each year as a result, our researchers set about changing the understanding and treatment of Aspergillus disease to improve patient quality of life and survival.

Through international collaboration and research, Aspergillus antigen and antibody tests are now listed as essential diagnostics by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The world’s first frontline therapy for the disease has also been licensed, along with the creation of the world’s first national clinical centre for fungal disease.

In East Java, Indonesia, Manchester’s researchers are working to increase the awareness of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries. In a two-year trial across eight villages, they screened 12,000 people over the age of 40 for heart disease.

After working with collaborators to design an algorithm to use within the SMARThealth app, the blood samples were analysed in real time to identify those at normal, medium and high risk. More than half of participants were identified as high risk and could be prescribed lifestyle changes or drugs. This resulted in a 14.5% reduction in the number of people at high risk following the trial. The screening has since seen a wider roll-out in the Malang district and will be scaled up to reach three million people in the region.

Manchester researchers Martie Van Tongeren and Hua Wei are examining the impact of gig working on health and wellbeing in the UK and China. With 84 million gig workers in China and 7.25 million in the UK (as of the end of 2022), the sector makes up a significant percentage of the total workforce in both countries. The stress and pressure of working at speed, along with the emphasis and importance of customer feedback, could lead to mental health problems and burnout. This is further compounded by worries over pay and the rising cost of living.

The research looks at whether there is something unique about the app-based technology associated with gig work that increases the risk of stress and burnout. As the scale of the work continues to expand, the intention is to develop interventions to help gig workers combat the negative impact of their jobs on their health.

The Rapid Access Diagnostics in Asthma (RADicA) project is developing and testing new approaches to improve the accuracy of asthma diagnosis. RADicA has made a significant impact across both clinical practice and research. Patients who participated have seen a marked improvement in the accuracy of their diagnoses.  

The University of Manchester was one of the original signatures of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, a set of four commitments to help organisations which carry out animal research to communicate openly about their work and the reasons why they do it. The University of Manchester has also been awarded ‘Leader in Openness’ status by Understanding Animal Research, which recognises organisations who dedicate significant resources to embedding best practice throughout their organisation. 

The Dating App Connections, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, is a project that is researching and providing free resources with the aim of supporting the healthy, safe, and fun use of dating apps. Based on research on heterosexual and LGBT+ dating app users in the UK, the resources explain some important considerations, how dating apps are shaping our worlds, and some do’s and don’ts for dating app users.

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.

The African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) is a collaborative research programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), designed to address the complex urban development challenges in Africa’s rapidly changing cities.  

Led by the Global Development Institute at The University of Manchester, ACRC aims to generate robust insights and evidence that will improve living conditions and urban services for all city residents, especially disadvantaged communities. 

In Nairobi, Kenya, ACRC is utilising research processes to bring together key stakeholders from local communities and government to navigate contentious urban issues. The initiative aims to establish new approaches across the city and beyond. Nurturing coalitions of urban reform champions is also a key focus at the city level. This work is being led by teams from cities, Slum Dwellers International (SDI), the University of Nairobi, Strathmore University, LVCT Health, and others, with support from the Global Development Institute. 

Findings from ACRC research highlight a range of urban development challenges in Nairobi and provide several recommendations for advancing urban reform in the city.

The collaboration between the African Constituency Bureau (ACB) and The University of Manchester presents a significant opportunity to strengthen Africa’s position in global health governance.  

Established by African Ministers of Health in 2017 with the endorsement of the African Union (AU), the ACB has been instrumental in advocating for policies that address Africa’s specific health challenges, particularly in areas such as HIV, TB, malaria, and more recently, COVID-19. 

By supporting the ACB’s institutional growth, technical expertise, and policy advocacy, The University of Manchester aims to play a transformative role in shaping Africa’s health future and contributing to the broader global health community. 

This partnership will focus on achieving long-lasting improvements in sustainable health financing, disease prevention, and the resilience of African health systems.

Kisii University, The University of Manchester, and the County Government of Kisii are working in partnership to develop a Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Education and Training (CEHET). 

This Centre will train flexible, multidisciplinary healthcare workers required to meet the evolving health needs of the local population in the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) in Western Kenya, and across the country, supporting Kenya’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage. 

A major challenge in Kenya is the low doctor-to-patient ratio, with only twelve (12) doctors per 100,000 people, well below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended ratio of thirty-six (36) doctors per 100,000 people. 

This gap can only be addressed by increasing the number of healthcare professionals in training. The development of this Centre will significantly improve the availability of specialist care, reduce the number of Kenyans seeking medical treatment abroad, and increase the number of patients, primarily from other African countries, seeking care in Kenya.

The University of Manchester in collaboration with the Kisii County Health Ministry and Kisii University, is addressing gaps in the emergency care system, particularly in rural areas where systems are underdeveloped. The Kisii Emergency Care Project is a multi-pronged initiative designed to build a sustainable and effective emergency care system, aiming to improve healthcare delivery in Kisii and across Kenya. 

To support the development of an emergency care system aligned with the Kenyan Emergency Medical Care Strategy, our University teams are helping design and implement a new emergency care model for Kisii. This model could eventually be expanded to other regions of Kenya. The project focuses on strengthening the chain of survival in emergency care through five key areas: Emergency Call Centre, Community First Responders, Ambulance Service, Specialist Emergency Nursing, and Accredited Specialists in Emergency Medicine. 

Researchers at The University of Manchester are developing a novel approach to investigate the relationship between changes in surface water, human and animal interactions, and gastrointestinal disease prevalence. 

Chronic zoonotic waterborne diseases are a leading cause of morbidity in landscapes shared by people, livestock, and wildlife in East Africa. However, disease surveillance remains focused on acute, epidemic diseases. 

Co-created with local partners and institutions in Kenya and Tanzania, this project aims to examine how environmental factors, such as water availability and quality, contribute to the spread of diseases among humans, livestock, and wildlife in the region. There is an urgent need to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, especially for vulnerable populations, to reduce preventable deaths. 

An interdisciplinary team of experts in epidemiology, disease ecology, and physical geography will examine issues like water scarcity and contamination to deepen our understanding of how these factors affect health across different populations. 

The findings will inform strategies for sustainable water management and disease prevention, aiming to reduce waterborne disease risks and lower mortality rates in East Africa. Additionally, the results will contribute to global policy frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, WHO International Health Regulations, and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Researchers from The University of Manchester are collaborating with partners in Kenya to investigate the impact of air pollution on health outcomes among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and other vulnerable populations. The project aims to drive actionable interventions to reduce health risks. Co-designed with researchers at The University of Nairobi, the project will address these deficiencies by generating data to support evidence-informed public health action. By establishing clear links between air pollution and health outcomes in PLHIV, this research will inform public health strategies and policy enforcement in Kenya and the East Africa region. 

We will establish a new Centre of Excellence in Cancer Genomics at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), to advance precision cancer medicine and improve cancer care in Kenya. This initiative will include a dedicated genomics laboratory to study the genetic causes of cancer in East African populations and support the training of specialist healthcare professionals in genomic medicine and research.  

Genetic knowledge plays a crucial role in cancer detection, diagnosis, and management. Advances in genotyping technology, which allow for the identification of genetic changes, are significantly improving cancer treatment. The new Centre of Excellence at KUTRRH will provide the scientific foundation needed to transition to precision cancer medicine in Kenya. 

The University and the Christie Hospital in Manchester have formed a long-term partnership Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) to enhance cancer services and early detection in Kenya and the East African region.  

Cancer care places a growing strain on Kenya’s limited health resources. In 2020, the National Cancer Institute estimated that cancer was the third leading cause of mortality in Kenya, claiming 27,000 lives. With 70% of cases diagnosed at a late stage, patients face poorer outcomes and higher treatment costs. Reducing this burden requires improved early detection and more precise treatment. 

The University of Manchester and The Christie Hospital have chosen to partner with KUTRRH as they have world class facilities for the detection and treatment of cancer, including the Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre, molecular pathology, Cyberknife, and a LINAC machine. 

Greater Manchester is set to become the first Creative Health City Region, thanks to a £800,000 grant from Arts Council England’s National Lottery-funded Place Partnership Fund. Led by NHS Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, this ambitious three-year project will unite public services, health and social care providers, cultural and voluntary organisations, higher education institutions, and local communities. The goal is to use creativity, culture, and heritage to tackle health inequalities and enhance the wellbeing of residents. 

In a significant show of collaboration, the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement partners – University of Bolton, Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Manchester, The University of Salford and The Royal Northern College of Music – will play a pivotal role in the research and learning elements of the initiative under the banner of the Mayor’s Civic University Agreement. 

As the fourth most heavily populated country in the world, the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Indonesia is particularly alarming, accounting for 1 in 3 deaths. The SMARThealth programme tackle the high risk of CVD in rural parts of Indonesia and is projected to prevent 120,000 deaths. The team designed the SMARThealth app as a low-cost intervention to tackle CVD in Indonesia.

Each year we launch a report which highlights how we are addressing key issues facing humanity as set-out by the United Nations.  As the UK’s first university to have social responsibility as a core goal, we’ve developed a strategy to tackle the SDGs in four inter-related ways: through our research, learning and students, public engagement and operations.   

Our latest SDG report shows that the University published over 22,000 pieces of research on the SDGs in the past five years, which is 4% of the UK’s entire share of publications. It details teaching and learning programmes that address the SDGs, such as our ‘Creating a Sustainable World’ interdisciplinary unit.