Explore our research

Making an impact

At the heart of our University's strategic framework is a simple promise to make an impact: everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, staff and region. This promise is embedded in our research, knowledge creation and innovation activity too: it's all focused on making a practical, positive difference to people’s lives regionally, nationally and globally.

We are committed to delivering research that makes a real-world impact and our ground-breaking discoveries. Our research is focused into six research themes that are aligned to some of the local and global challenges we face. The interdisciplinary nature of our research enables us to deliver impactful and innovative solutions, concepts and technologies. We are committed to delivering research that makes a real-world impact. Our discoveries directly link back into our curriculum with our students receiving the most up-to-date and inspiring education possible. 

You can browse through our themes below to see how we've already made a difference to health, business, education, the environment, communities, arts and culture, and many other areas of society. 

Academic themes

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Biomedical and Clinical Science

Our research in the biomedical and clinical field is focused on ways to prevent and treat diseases, improving the health, wellbeing and care of people.

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Creative and Cultural Industries

Creative and Cultural Industries is one of our six research themes. Our research in this area is helping to build a socially responsive and engaged creative and cultural sector.

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Data Science

Our Data Science research builds on the academic expertise in the data science field. We develop collaborations with academics in a range of other discipline areas to extend the scale and impact of in...

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Business, Economic and Social Policy

Our research in this area aims to make a real difference to business, economy and society regionally, nationally and internationally. 

A researcher with primary school children
Public Services

Our research in this area brings together the disciplines of education; psychology, wellbeing, and therapeutics; nursing, health, allied health professions and social care; and criminal justice and po...

Christopher Sansom looking up at the solar power water tank - for Zero Carbon
Zero Carbon

Our Zero Carbon research aims to be a force for positive impact, proactive with the transition to a zero-carbon world and to inform regional, national and international policy.

Abstract impression of chronic pain in the spine

Research case studies

From helping people live with chronic pain, to using environmental DNA research to trace endangered or invasive species. Learn about some of the research projects we've worked on and what the outcomes have been.

Explore our case studiesExplore our case studies
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What's new?

Stay up to date with everything innovation and research: the latest news stories, events and articles from the blog.

Discover the latest news and eventsDiscover the latest news and events
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How our research is managed

Find out more about our research leadership, strategy and management.

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Research degrees

We are committed to research-led teaching and supporting the professional development of our students and academics at all stages of their career. By joining our active and growing research community,...

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Collaborating on research

Learn about some of the research projects we’re collaborating with others on and find out how you too could collaborate with us.