We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Our researchers are specialists in areas that are of critical importance for the future, and are applying their knowledge, experience and skills to build an improved society.
At the University of Derby, we have a passion for transforming lives and our ambition is to create a stronger, safer and more sustainable future for everyone.
Our research impact is now being felt around the world and our latest projects, including the restoration of coral reefs, uncovering HPV cancer causes, and developing clean solar energy in sub-Saharan Africa have put Derby firmly on the map as an international leader of research innovation and impact.
Our expertise spans across a range of research fields and we specialise in six key areas known as our academic themes:
Professor Michael Sweet appointed as an advisor to the United Nations
University research used in a successful £15 million Levelling Up bid
Dr Stefano Valvano given High Commendation at Hydrogen Awards
Biomedical and Clinical Science
Improving the lives of patients with long Covid
Although we are fast approaching the fifth anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic, the disease still lingers, and it is taking an irreversible toll on many patients who are suffering from severe aftereffects.
A team of expert clinical scientists, led by Mark Faghy, Professor in Clinical Exercise Science, are exploring the causes of Post Exertional Malaise or Post Exertional Symptom Exacerbation in people living with long Covid – terms used to describe the worsening of symptoms after physical or mental exertion, even at minor levels. The intention? To develop better support strategies and effective treatments that will enhance quality of life. The study encouraged long Covid patients from across the UK to come forward and share their unique insights into the condition, allowing our researchers to understand what interventions are needed. At the University of Derby, we are already using our research to inform regional, national and international policies, and this research offers another opportunity to create a revised healthcare plan that is fit for purpose.
In October 2023, the University and its partners received funding from Gilead Sciences to help move this study along, allowing researchers to test whether a common anti-viral medication could be used to treat long Covid.Professor Faghyvisited 10 Downing Street in late December to call for more government backing and funding into long Covid research, citing the importance of developing new treatments and enhanced support services for millions of sufferers in the UK.
Supporting children’s mental health
Children’s health and wellbeing is paramount to schoolteachers and the Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) programme devised by researchers at the University, originally for adults, has now proven to be just as effective in helping young people overcome feelings of anxiety and depression.
Frances Maratos, Professor of Psychology and Affective Science, is leading a research study which aims to introduce pupils to the concept of compassion and equip them with the tools to improve their behaviour in the classroom and towards others.
The trial CMT lessons used a mixture of methods to explore different wellbeing parameters, including anxiety, compassion, perfectionism, moods and feelings, self-esteem, emotional literacy and prosocial behaviours. Results indicated that pupils enjoyed the CMT exercises and overall, they were able to better regulate their emotions, were kinder to others and had increased feelings of inclusion compared to before the trial.
Professor Maratos is now working with Mindfulness Wales and the Camden Mental Health Support Team (within Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust) to expand the study and encourage other organisations dealing with children to introduce CMT lessons into their regime, helping to improve mental health among our next generation.
Preventing and treating chronic liver disease
In collaboration with Cell Guidance Systems in Cambridge, the University of Derby is at the forefront of a new trial into a drug delivery system which hopes to increase the effectiveness of RNA drugs, widely used in vaccines and other therapies.
Dr Ali Kermanizadeh, Lecturer in Clinical Biochemistry and Toxicology, is part of the project team that has been awarded £350,000 by Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency. The two-year study centres around a nano-scale targeted delivery system that will aims to help the RNA drug pass through the cell wall more easily, making the treatment more effective.
Nanomedicine has advanced significantly in over last decade and with the introduction of new technology, scientists expect that the rate of change will now be even greater. Outstanding issues are still to be addressed however, such as the cost of production, batch to batch inconsistency, poor storage stability, adverse effects and lack of targeting.
The aim of the study is to help those living with chronic liver disease to better manage their condition. This study is a prime example of the positive steps we are taking as a university to transform the lives of millions – both here in the UK and around the world.
Business, Economic and Social Policy
Improving conditions for garment workers
Our researchers influence policies on a regional, national and international level, and in May 2024, we were involved in a project called Transforming Responsive and Relational Autonomy in the Garment Sector of the UK and Bangladesh (THRREADS), which aimed to promote more responsible business practices.
In collaboration with other UK university partners and supported by £645,000 funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, Samsul Alam, Professor in Sustainability and Accounting set out to improve economic, social and environmental sustainability and increase workplace autonomy in the ready-made garment and fashion sector in Leicester and Bangladesh.
The demand and pressure from retailers for a quick turnaround and cheap products has created a perfect storm for garment workers in these areas, and while there is still reputational work to do, this research project is helping the sector take positive steps towards fair and responsible policies.
Overcoming recruitment challenges
Researchers at the University of Derby are stepping in to support rural businesses in the Derbyshire Peak District with the recruitment and retention of staff members. Regional prosperity is high on our agenda and Carley Foster, Professor of Services Marketing and Head of the Centre for Business Improvement, worked with a research colleague at Newcastle University Business School to introduce a set of measures to promote Derbyshire as a positive place to work.
Early outcomes include the research being used in a successful £15 million Levelling Up ‘Ashbourne Reborn’ bid which will be put towards a two-year development project to transform Ashbourne town centre.
The THRREADS project team
Creative and Cultural Industries
Influencing EDI policies
At the University, we are on a mission to eradicate cultural discrimination and societal inequalities around the world by influencing fairer policies and safer practices.
Dr Matthew Cheeseman, Associate Professor of Creative Writing, is leading on a new project that aims to embed greater equality, diversity and inclusion in UK folklore. Dr Cheeseman was awarded £45,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to run an international research network which has since grown to over 50 members. Representatives from each area of equality, diversity and inclusion support the network with expert knowledge exchange, and a symposium was held at the University of Derby in March 2024 dedicated to this research, with delegates from the UK, USA and Norway in attendance.
In acknowledgement of his international network leadership, Dr Cheeseman was invited by civil servants at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to consult on the UK government’s decision to ratify the UNESCO 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultura Heritage. Dr Cheeseman and his network will contribute to the implementation of this convention.
Data Science
Online addiction
Technology and the internet are inescapable features of modern life, but an international study led by Dr Hassam Waheed, from the University’s College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Dr Peter Macaulay, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and colleagues in Malaysia and Australia found that they are taking a detrimental toll on young people aged between 10 and 19 years old who are at a crucial stage of their physical and psychological development.
The study examined the parallels between online addiction and symptoms including daytime sleepiness and depression, which impacted on their ability to participate in positive social interactions and physical activities.
Researchers involved in the study recommended several helpful interventions such as focused study time to create a healthier relationship with technology and the internet.
Road and rail inspection breakthrough
In a significant achievement for both the University of Derby and Bloc Digital, a data science research team, led by Dr Alaa AlZoubi, has successfully completed an Innovate UK project in Deep Learning for Engineering Inspection (DL4EI), which revolutionises the inspection process within the rail and road industries. This solution has the potential of enhancing inspection accuracy, reducing operational costs, and improving fleet management efficiency by providing real-time data on object conditions. The developed system can construct accurate 3D models from photographs gathered with a mobile phone, relate these models to the known history of parts and fleets, and analyse the state of assets over time which is a game changer for Bloc Digital customers across a wide range of industries.
Public Services
Promoting inclusivity
The Irish Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, published the University of Derby Consortium’s End of Year Three Evaluation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).
Led by Professor Deborah Robinson, Professor of Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND), the research investigated the implementation and impact of Ireland’s flagship AIM model which seeks to build more inclusive practices for children with disabilities in early education.
Funded by the Irish government, the research involved gathering data from more than 2,000 stakeholders. The findings from the evaluation have already informed the phased extension of the AIM programme (announced in the Irish governmental budget 2024), and the government department responsible for AIM has developed its action plan to respond to areas for improvement identified in the research.
Zero Carbon
Saving precious corals and endangered turtles
What a year it has been for Michael Sweet, Professor of Ecology and Nature-based Solutions, and of course his hard-working team of inspiring researchers. Their discovery – cracking the code of ex-situ coral spawning – has made waves across continents and is now a well-regarded technique the world over.
Encouraging corals to spawn on cue is not a new phenomenon and was in fact first developed by Professor Sweet and his PhD student Dr Jamie Craggs in 2016. What is new, however, is the creation of what the press like to call ‘super corals’ which are able to resist disease and rising temperatures in the wild. This is achieved through analysing the DNA genetics of corals to establish strong characteristics that can be combined to form a lab-constructed super coral. Coral survivorship is vital to the future of our planet and if successful, this groundbreaking project will have a major impact on conservation and restoration efforts across the world.
Not only has this impressive researched piqued the interest of scientists, but it has also attracted mass attention from the national press, with some of the biggest UK news associations wanting to credit Professor Sweet and the University of Derby. Coral spawning featured in the Times in January 2024, and then later in the Guardian as part of the University’s Guardian Lab series. Professor Sweet was also on a BBC one-hour special on coral - Our Changing Planet, Restoring Our Reefs.
Professor Sweet’s passion for marine biology does not stop there and he has been involved in two recent projects to help safeguard the future of the world’s vulnerable sea turtle species. Funded by Friends of Frontiers and working in partnership with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP) and the Environmental Protection Agency, Professor Sweet spent time in the Maldives investigating the genetics of hawksbill turtles – the first study of its kind into this critically endangered animal.
The second study aims to explore the use of natural probiotics to support the rehabilitation of turtles rescued from what is known as ghost gear – discarded or abandoned nets in which turtles can become entangled. Professor Sweet invited a group of undergraduate students out to the Maldives to learn about marine biology, providing a fantastic opportunity to see the conservation efforts of coral reefs and turtles in the wild.
Professor Sweet is a world-renowned figure of authority on marine biology and has been appointed as an advisor to the United Nations and a Red List Assessor for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Professor Michael Sweet
Sustainable cooking technology helping to save lives
Dangerous pollution caused through using traditional open-fire cooking methods indoors is linked to over 500,000 premature deaths each year in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Innovate UK funded Hybrid Energy Cooker project, led by researcher Dr Zaharaddeen and Dr Mounia Karim, continues to make strides in introducing sustainable cooking technology to local communities across Ghana and Nigeria. This innovative device combines concentrated solar power with a thermoelectric generator, enabling it to cook meals using solar energy while also providing electricity for small household appliances.
High Commendation Award
The High Commendation at this year’s Hydrogen Awards went to Dr Stefano Valvano, Associate Professor in Integrated Computational Materials Engineering. His research project aims to develop innovative, high-performance liquid hydrogen tanks that meet the aviation industry’s safety requirements for storage and transportation, helping to accelerate the UK aerospace industry’s zero emissions capabilities. The project is known as AETHER (Advanced Solutions for Hydrogen Zero Emission Fuel) and has been funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute.
The work being carried out by the team is providing a critical contribution towards efforts to reduce emissions and achieve net zero by 2050. The Air Transport Action Group has committed to limit CO2 to 50% of 2005 levels by 2050, requiring radical approaches, including up-scaling Sustainable-Aviation-Fuel (synthetic hydrocarbon) and hydrogen propulsion. In September 2020, Airbus revealed plans for hydrogen-powered zero-emission aircraft to meet UK and international commitments to achieve Net-Zero by 2050.
This High Commendation came in the category of UK Universities’ Award for Excellence in Hydrogen Research and Innovation.
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