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Research & Knowledge Exchange

The University’s researchers are addressing some of society’s most pressing problems today and providing expertise to develop solutions and enact change.

From promoting inclusive societies and encouraging wellbeing for all, nurturing creativity and innovation, to tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges to secure a sustainable future, Edge Hill’s research focuses on building new partnerships, enhancing understanding and enriching lives.

Through its research agenda, the University’s work has a growing global reach and influence whilst seeking to gain a clearer view of the world that will shape new opportunities and create true social impact.

The University has made exceptional progress in research and knowledge exchange output and capacity over the course of the previous two REF cycles. The next Vice-Chancellor will continue to lead the development and trajectory of the University’s research agenda, to accelerate impact and grow research income.

Explore our university research

Our research highlights

Professor Ardhendu Behera – Professor of Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence

Edge Hill Professor Ardhendu Behera is leading research on how artificial intelligence may help early diagnosis of severe health conditions.

The Professor of Computer Vision & AI, and fellow researchers, have featured widely in the media for their work with ‘Robbie the Robot.’ It learnt to recognise symptoms of dementia by watching Emmerdale – studying the facial expressions and body language of Ashley Thomas, a character with the condition.

The team hopes that robots could help diagnose dementia within 10 years and be used to monitor those living with it to help reduce strain on the health service.

Professor Behera is also leading research into how AI could tackle pancreatic cancer. It’s currently one of the deadliest forms of the disease, as symptoms tend to appear once the cancer is too advanced to treat.

“This is a data-driven approach that aims to find out whether it is possible to use AI to signal that there are links between risk groups and those who have already been diagnosed. Using routinely collected data, the AI can identify the possible predictors of pancreatic cancer and will screen out people at high risk.”

His latest research will see him use AI to potentially save lives on the modern battlefield. Project ATRACT, which stands for A Trustworthy Robotic Autonomous system to support Casualty Triage, will see the development of a flying drone that can assist and speed up triage in the critical post-trauma minutes that shape battlefield survival chances. It has received over £1m in funding from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) and also involves PhD Research Projects.

A close up of a robot from the Robotics lab.
Dr Adjanie Patabendige – Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science

Senior lecturer in Biomedical Science, Dr Adjanie Patabendige, is helping us better understand the barrier that protects the brain from blood-borne toxins and pathogens, including what conditions can affect it and the long-term impacts.

In a first for Edge Hill, the Academy of Medical Sciences awarded £100,000 of Springboard funding to a project led by Dr Patabendige, looking at how to prevent cardiovascular diseases damaging the brain. This includes atrial fibrillation – a common heart condition twice as likely in people over 55 – which is linked to a higher risk of stroke, dementia and cognitive decline.

Individual working on a study in a medical lab

“The funds will support my research group at Edge Hill to study the blood-brain barrier using a new model developed using patient data. Eventually, we will use what we learn to identify health risks in patients earlier to improve their treatment and perhaps prevent problems from developing in the first place.”

And during her PhD, Dr Patabendige developed a porcine model mimicking the brain barrier. It’s now widely used by academics and pharmaceutical companies for drug screening and functional studies.

Professor Greg Irving – Professor of Primary Care

A new research project led by Professor Greg Irving, has been awarded £2.5m by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to expand research into children and young people’s mental health.

The project, designed to engage with local health, public health and social care systems, will focus on St Helens, Knowsley and Wigan, and the wider North West, where there are large numbers of people living with mental health conditions, limited local mental health research and low participation in mental health research studies.

By working closely with local communities more people will have the opportunity to take part in mental health research, improving diversity in research studies, which in turn will lead to better treatment and support for the children and young people who need them most.

“Children and young people in the North West face considerable mental health challenges.

Anxiety and depression rates exceed national averages, hospital admissions for mental health conditions among under-18s and self-harm rates in the region are among the highest in the country, primary and secondary care services are overwhelmed and efforts to improve community mental health services for this group are hindered by financial constraints and service cuts.”

The project, supported by University of Liverpool, University of Manchester and the NIHR North West Coast Applied Research Collaboration, will establish a Centre of Excellence for mental health asset-based community interventions, serving as a hub for pioneering interventions and providing essential support to tackle complex mental health challenges in the North West and beyond.

The £2.5m award will significantly strengthen Edge Hill University’s international standing in mental health research, adding to existing sector-leading expertise.

Adolescent children in discussion with lead and one child raising their hand to ask a question
Professor Vicky Karkou – Professor of Arts & Wellbeing

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, this innovative Arts and Wellbeing research project involves significant collaborative working to scale up place-based arts initiatives that support the mental health of children and young people (CYP).

The Arts4us project is a £2.5M AHRC funded project in collaboration with integrated care systems and community organisations. It focuses on the mental health of young people aged 9 to 13, a group at significant risk of developing mental health problems while transitioning from childhood to adolescence. The project will create an easy-to-use digital platform where evidence-based local arts activities can be made accessible for children and young people (CYP), their families and relevant organisations and services.

Child smiling and painting a picture

CYP will act as co-researchers maximising the benefits of arts activities that support their mental health. They will work jointly with community partners, health services and academic institutions to develop evaluative frameworks, digital material and good arts-based practice that will support the mental health of CYP in the North West.

The project is coordinated by the University’s Research Centre of Arts and Wellbeing which has developed over the last decade as an active research group which is engaged in interdisciplinary research activities in the form of research projects, publications, events and masterclasses.

Research methodologies celebrate creative and arts-based methods next to verbal accounts of lived experiences and standardised methods of measuring change, allowing for diverse types of evidence to emerge that speak about different aspects of the work to different audiences. The centre draws expertise from across faculties, championing interdisciplinary research.