Research impact stories
Themes
Featured stories: the impact of our research
Selected highlights
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Properties of aerosols may hold clue to better drugs for lung disease
Lung disease is one of the most common causes of death in the Western world, claiming around 25,000 lives in the UK and over 13 million in the US. The most effective treatments come in the form of inhalers but the nature of existing technology can mean higher doses of drugs have to be administered to compensate for the inevitable waste from whatever doesn’t reach the lung surface. Researchers at Bristol University are exploring how to improve the process at the scientific and technical level – their findings could eventually lead to better outcomes for patients as well as cost savings.Theme: Health and welfare -
Altering cellular function of immune system could hold key to targeting allergies
Peanut allergy forms an increasing health burden in Western societies, with long term consequences and potentially life threatening effects. Yet despite more than a century of experimental therapeutics, there remains no clinically available curative treatment. A cellular and molecular perspective provided by Bristol University experts could provide new clues.Theme: Health and welfare -
Search for new cancer biomarker propelled by detailed exploration of cell structures
Advances in science, diagnosis and treatment mean that more people than ever before are surviving cancer. But with an increase in survival rates comes an increase in the possibility that for some people, cancer will recur later in life. This presents a continuing challenge for cancer research – biomedical scientists at Bristol University are finding new ways to find a solution.Theme: Health and welfare -
Understanding the brain’s role in obesity
The world’s growing obesity crisis is rarely out of the headlines, given the increasing burden on the healthcare system and the livelihoods of those affected. The abundance of highly calorific foods and aggressive marketing is often blamed. A new study hopes to find out the truth, using neuroimaging techniques to measure the neural, hormonal and behavioural responses to food consumption.Theme: Health and welfare -
Understanding chronic fatigue syndrome
Using a state-of-the-art MRI scanner helps researchers understand the cognitive impairment which is often associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.Theme: Health and welfare
About our impact stories
Research at the University of Bristol contributes to the University's international reputation, it informs our teaching and it is the basis of our economic and societal role in the region and of our collaborations across the world.
The stories here celebrate the range and depth of this research undertaken at the University of Bristol and how it impacts on society, on a local, national and international level.
New stories are added regularly to reflect our sustained and evolving research activity, focusing on key projects that are currently active or have recently been completed from each of the University faculties.
In addition to the research impact stories presented here, our public engagement stories delve further into how academic staff around the University are using their research and teaching practices to engage directly with and inspire members of the public.
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Use the links in the left hand navigation menu to filter our stories by theme, or view all our impact stories.