Research impact at Â鶹´«Ã½
Demonstrating our mission to advance knowledge and transform lives through research
Research impact is an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, health, the environment, quality of life, public policy or services.
The Â鶹´«Ã½ takes a solutions-oriented, systems-thinking approach to solving complex global challenges, addressing critical issues through the lenses of environment, society, economy and place to create strong, sustainable research impact beyond academia.
Aligning globally to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, our work aims to drive sustainability both on land and in the marine environment, improve human health and care, and support communities. Our research also drives innovation on our doorstep,and we contribute to the economic growth and development of the South West region.
Â鶹´«Ã½'s research and innovation consistently translates into real-world applications, reinforcing our broad leadership in marine and sustainability, and significant contributions to health and creative industry research.
Through partnerships and collaborations – spanning academia, industry, and local communities – we co-create impactful, scalable, and relevant solutions to critical challenges, influencing policy on both national and international stages to drive meaningful change for the benefit of society and the environment.
Professor Kevin Jones
Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Research and Innovation
Search research
Science
Stemming the tide of microplastics
From providing evidence to support legislation that prohibited the use of microbeads in wash-off cosmetics, to publishing research in high-impact journals on washing machines, car tyres and plastic shopping bags, the work of the International Marine Litter Research Unit, led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, has become the epitome of impact-led, socially engaged research.
Improving beach safety to save lives
Led by Professor Gerd Masselink, the Coastal Marine Applied Research team has been investigating the natural processes that drive the sudden manifestation of rip currents to determine the times and conditions that produce the greatest risk to bathers. This has been taken forward through the development of a rip current forecast, which is received by lifeguard managers around the UK and New Zealand.
Offshore and marine renewable energy
The development of new green energy sources, such as offshore renewable energy, is seen as fundamental to the UK strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. More than 40 industry partners have worked on 70 projects with the COAST Lab – and this collaborative track record is one of the reasons Professor Deborah Greaves OBE FREng has been leading the £9 million Supergen ORE Hub to provide research leadership to the sector.
Health
Improving the lives of people with MS
Developing better treatments and improving care for those with multiple sclerosis is of paramount importance – and a major focus for health services and drug companies. Led by Professor Jeremy Hobart, the University has developed patient-reported outcome measures that are being used in clinical trials around the world to better record the impact of drugs. And through the MS Brain Health Initiative, it has developed a positioning statement, international guidelines for MS care and an audit tool that is being piloted in 14 different countries.
The global threat posed by hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis C is a global health crisis affecting the lives of an estimated 180 million people. A major contributor to liver disease, in the UK alone, around 180,000 people are infected by hepatitis C at any one time. To counter this, Professor Matthew Cramp has established the Hepatology Research Group and built from scratch the South West Liver Unit at Derriford Hospital, from where he both treats patients and conducts clinical trials.
Person-centred care for long-term conditions
Faced with the challenge of an ageing population, person-centred approaches to care have also been shown to reduce costs, such as through reduced bed days and reduced readmission rates, and improve outcomes for patients, including increasing wellbeing, self-efficacy, and reductions in pain and fatigue. Dr Helen Lloyd’s work has been instrumental in developing models for integrating person-centred and coordinated care for people with multiple long-term condition