Research impact stories
Themes
Featured stories: the impact of our research
Selected highlights
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Studies link schizophrenia to functional disconnections in the brain
Attempts to understand schizophrenia and its diverse symptoms have taken researchers and psychiatrists on a journey throughout the brain. Schizophrenia is one of the most common of the mental illnesses and is thought to affect about 70 million adults worldwide – yet effective alleviation of its broad range of symptoms continues to elude medical practitioners.Theme: Health and welfare -
Studies of mutant fish reveal genetic roots of osteoarthritis
It is one of the UK’s major causes of disability, affecting eight million people. Over half the population of the Western world aged over 65 are affected by it. Yet osteoarthritis, and particularly the prevention of it, attracts a proportionately low level of research interest. For Dr Chrissy Hammond, this makes it an increasingly urgent issue, and her research is already making significant inroads into our understanding of joint deterioration.Theme: Health and welfare -
Calcium sparks: the discovery that revolutionised cardiac cell biology
The regulation of calcium in cardiac muscle cells is a well-documented problem that physiologists, biophysicists and mathematicians have made steps towards solving over the past century. Yet there remain major gaps in our understanding of how this process, the failure of which leads to heart failure and heart disease, works at the cellular level.Theme: Health and welfare -
Philosophical reasoning brings clarity to the complex
Are there any meaningful commonalities in how the different scientific disciplines tackle complexity and can they provide a reliable definition for this constantly evolving field? A rigorous investigation that unpicks the theories and crunches the numbers finds a way through the confusion - but points out that no definition can ever be absolute.Theme: Knowledge -
Cretaceous Sediment Investigations (CSI) of the Deep Biosphere
Buried deep within the sediments at the bottom of the ocean – up to a kilometer below the seafloor – there are organisms that we know little more about than had we discovered them on Mars. But thanks to Bristol researchers, we are learning more each day.Theme: Environment
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.
Browse our stories
Use the links in the left hand navigation menu to filter our stories by theme, or view all our impact stories.