Imprinted Diagnostics

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. 

Beyond the Creative City network

Through shared research and a knowledge exchange agenda, Creative Manchester’s Beyond the Creative City network brings together international academics from across disciplines including economics, urban planning, geography, sociology, cultural policy and creative practice. Together, the network is identifying challenges, producing peer-reviewed research, policy engagement and creative digital outputs for places and communities that have been previously left behind by national policy and investment.

At the University’s Productivity Institute, world-leading experts work directly with policymakers and businesses to better understand, measure and enable improvements in productivity across the UK, including living standards and wellbeing.

Improving quality of life for millions

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.

Developing computer-controlled 3D freeform surface weaving

Researchers at Manchester’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering collaborated with the Chinese University of Hong Kong to explore computer-controlled 3D freeform surface weaving. This new computer-controlled weaving technology enables the creation of woven structures as 3D shapes using non-traditional material threads with high-bending stiffness.

The research looks at how the computational solution converts inputted 3D freeform surfaces into weaving operations (as W-code) to guide the operation of the system. The process has the potential to work with a number of different materials including cotton threads, conductive threads and optical fibers and could be used in the future to print materials used in the treatment of various joint issues.

Reducing carbon emissions in transport and industry

In collaboration with our University, researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research worked alongside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and a team of modellers at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency to devise ways to reduce carbon emissions in the transport and industry sectors.

With these sectors continuing to grow and low-carbon technologies still in their infancy, our researchers identified new ways to accelerate decarbonisation. By developing and applying a novel framework, they discovered that the greatest reductions came from cuts in carbon dioxide and energy intensity. Other contributing measures included less air travel, reduced transportation of fossil fuels and more locally-produced goods.

Partnership with Electricity North West Limited

Our researchers partnered with Electricity North West Limited (ENWL) to help it better manage its network, improve sustainability and save money for the company and customers. Researchers developed a matrix that can be used to model the relationship between network voltage and demand. They were then able to demonstrate how reducing the amount of energy used at peak times, creating less of a strain on the National Grid, could result in cost reductions for everyone. This has enabled ENWL to increase its customer base and connect more renewable energy sources to the network to help meet the UK government’s 2050 carbon-reduction targets.

Partnership with Arvia Technology

Our researchers partnered with water treatment company Arvia Technology to develop an electrochemical process that dramatically reduces wastewater pollution levels and enables water recycling across several industries.

Delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 – ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all – the Arvia process has helped to reduce water demand and reliance on freshwater supplies, along with lowering pollutant levels from pesticides, pharmaceutical residues and natural hormones. The process is the first to use both capture and destruction methods to clean the wastewater. The solution has since been delivered to more than 25 companies in 11 countries.

Tackling complex issues in African cities

Funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) was established by our Global Development Institute. In collaboration with international partners, the ACRC tackles complex problems in some of Africa’s fastest-growing urban areas. Working closely with local partners and NGOs over several years, the project integrates systems thinking with rigorous political analysis to help catalyse sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Expanding our Kenyan partnership

The University has partnered with the Kenyan government predominantly focusing on bringing communities of clinicians, researchers and trainees together in Kenya and the UK to co-develop strategies and healthcare practices.

This ongoing collaboration now includes the Gender Equality Partnerships grant which aims to boost gender equity in leadership roles in both countries. Bringing together ten Kenyan and ten Manchester senior women from across academia and professional services for a 12-month programme, the strategy will pilot co-hosted events, diverse and inclusive leadership training, and cross-institutional mentoring and coaching. Its aim is to create and deliver an executive education programme for senior women in higher education and research that can be adapted to a global context.

SMARThealth

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.

Smart Cities Initiative

Led by the Manchester Urban Institute and Sustainable Consumption Institute, the ‘smart cities’ initiative is looking at ways to optimise urban services, including energy, transport and water, as cities become increasingly pressured by drivers of change. Cities are constantly evolving and so require new technology and increasing engagement from industry, government and citizens to stay ahead. We’re working with companies like Siemens, as a global ambassador, to train the next generation of engineers equipped to advance the connectivity, efficiency and sustainability of smart cities. True smart cities must engage their citizens, so we are collaborating with other leading institutions and public sector organisations across Europe as part of SMARTiP – a project funded by the European Commission to empower citizens to become active and involved in their cities.

Exploring the health of gig workers in the UK and China

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.

Technology and Economic Assessment Panel

The Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) is the “engine room” of the Montreal Protocol. It provides information updates through multiple reports that enabled the phaseout of CFCs to protect the ozone layer and now through the Kigali Amendment the phaseout of HFCs to mitigate global warming. The University of Manchester has supported the TEAP for over 30 years.

Rapid Access Diagnostics in Asthma Clinic

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 and The University of Cambridge cross-UK innovation partnership

The University of Manchester and The University of Cambridge has been awarded £4.8 million by Research England to accelerate inclusive growth and innovation collaboration. As the first cross-UK innovation partnership, it pioneers innovative research in ecosystem activation and integration; growing investment; and testing and learning.  

Driving urban transportation

Academics from Manchester Urban Institute at The University of Manchester have co-designed solutions that help to mitigate social exclusion with regards to public transport provided by the Greater Manchester Bee Network. They have co-produced a blueprint for community engagement and provided actionable recommendations to inform the development of more socially equitable services.

The Roundview

The Roundview, developed by University of Manchester academics through research and co-production with a range of partners, is a toolkit for sustainability thinking and learning. The toolkit offers a unique, holistic approach to counteract potential barriers to action; shifting away from overwhelm and anxiety towards hope and inspiration. Learning toolkits have been provided to libraries across Greater Manchester to engage schools and community groups. 

Concordant on Openness on Animal Research

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. 

Dating App Connections project

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.

Tyndall Centre delivering lowest-carbon live music

A report from the University’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, ‘Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music’, successfully supported Massive Attack in delivering the lowest-carbon live music event of its kind. Commissioned by the band, the roadmap set out clear, measurable targets for the live music industry to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and align with the Paris Agreement.

Greenhouse gas monitoring station at Jodrell Bank

We have established a atmospheric monitoring station at The University’s Jodrell Bank Observatory to improve the accuracy of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions estimates. The station, part of the UK’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measurement and Modelling Advancement (GEMMA) programme, will monitor and provide crucial data on key climate-relevant gases, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). A new high-precision analyser for monitoring atmospheric hydrogen (H₂) is also being deployed at the site to monitor atmospheric hydrogen (H₂) generated through the growth of the UK’s hydrogen economy.

British Heart Foundation’s Centre of Research Excellence

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.

Understanding mosquito-borne diseases at the Kenyan coast

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.

Advancing urban reform in Nairobi

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.

Partnership with African Constituency Bureau

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.