Impact Global Location: Saudi Arabia

REF impact found 54 Case Studies

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Case Study 2: Improving the teaching and learning of conceptual scientific content in schools.

Summary of the impact

This longstanding research and development programme on teaching and learning conceptual scientific content has resulted in beneficial impacts on the day-to-day teaching practices of secondary school science teachers within and beyond the UK. The programme has resulted in three broad areas of impact:

  1. the content of curriculum materials used by teachers of physics, chemistry and biology in their practice;
  2. the initial training of science teachers;
  3. professional development programmes for science teachers.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Education

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy, Specialist Studies In Education

C4 - Bio Nano Consulting: a successful bio and nanotechnology consultancy business

Summary of the impact

Bio Nano Consulting (http://www.bio-nano-consulting.com) was established as an operating business in 2007 through a joint venture between Imperial College London and UCL, whose formation was underpinned by research produced by Professor Tony Cass's group at Imperial. The company is the first consultancy in Europe to focus on the increasingly important intersection between bio- and nanotechnology, and it facilitates the development and commercialisation of new biomedical and nanotechnology-based techniques. Since its start-up, the company has attracted numerous clients across the aerospace and diagnostics sectors, including Lockheed-Martin and [text removed for publication]. The company's activities have generated £6M worth of revenue and it has a growing portfolio. The company, which is based in London, currently has 8 full time employees.

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)

Children’s speech and literacy difficulties: influencing professional practice

Summary of the impact

The psycholinguistic framework for research and practice developed by Stackhouse and Wells is now a key component of the majority of UK speech and language therapy courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition to influencing the design and delivery of course curricula in the UK, Europe, Australia, South Africa and USA, the framework is used in continuing professional development for speech and language therapists (SLTs), special needs teachers, and with parents. The resultant impact on clinical and educational practice, the assessment of children and the planning of therapy interventions can be seen across the spectrum of persisting speech difficulties, including those related to dyspraxia, dysarthria, dyslexia, cleft palate, Down Syndrome, stammering, specific speech and language impairments.

Submitting Institution

University of Sheffield

Unit of Assessment

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology, Cognitive Sciences

Clinical & Commercial Impact of a new Regenerative Bone Cement for Middle Ear Surgery

Summary of the impact

Research into the biocompatibility of glass-ionomer bone cements conducted at the School of Clinical Dentistry led directly to the start-up of a UK company to manufacture a new medical device, creating jobs in the supply chain and wealth creation via international sales. The new bone cement is safe and clinically effective, and has maintained or restored hearing to improve the quality of life of over 10,000 patients worldwide since 1st January 2008. In the course of supporting this commercial partner, Sheffield's staff also contributed to other non-academic tasks.

Submitting Institution

University of Sheffield

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Biomedical Engineering

Craniofacial Depiction for Forensic Identification and Archaeological Investigation

Summary of the impact

Wilkinson has developed, evaluated and applied techniques, standards and datasets for facial depiction and identification of the dead. The impacts include:

  • Improved social welfare by establishing an international forensic tool that has enhanced forensic identification from human remains, and correspondingly improved law enforcement services and disaster victim identification.
  • Delivered highly skilled people and international standards in forensic craniofacial identification.
  • Provided cultural enrichment through enhanced public engagement with science and art internationally, through the craniofacial depiction of historical figures and ancient human remains.

Submitting Institution

University of Dundee

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Genetics
Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Studies In Human Society: Anthropology

Development of bipolar resection devices that improve outcomes in cancer surgery

Summary of the impact

Dr Dickinson (Bioengineering) collaborated with Professor Habib (Surgery) to develop novel methods for removing or starving tumours. Resection (removing part of an organ) is theoretically an ideal method for treating liver cancer as the liver can regenerate, but it causes extensive blood loss. The Bioengineering team developed a bipolar electrode system that employs RF current to coagulate a track in the liver; the track can then be cut without bleeding. Prototypes were successfully tested in pre-clinical and clinical trials. 20,000 single-use devices (value: US$40M) have been sold under licence by AngioDynamics, with an estimated saving of >800 lives. Complications, intensive care, blood transfusions, and hospital stay have also been dramatically reduced. Dickinson developed further bipolar devices for maintaining the patency of ducts during pancreatic and biliary cancers, for ablating liver tumours and for blocking tumour blood supply. Sold by Imperial spin-out Emcision, these are also in current clinical use.

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences

Empowering rural digital communities in the developing world and the UK

Summary of the impact

Research in the area of mobile digital storytelling conducted at Swansea University has shown that hundreds of millions of people are disempowered by lack of appropriate digital devices, services and infrastructure. In a programme of research starting with real users in communities in rural India, Southern Africa and rural UK, we designed, developed and tested new systems, leading to the integration and delivery of new techniques and platforms by major service providers, including IBM. Open source software developed to simplify media creation and sharing is being used by communities around the world, and has been downloaded more than 14,000 times. The research has increased awareness of "digital divide" issues and has changed attitudes in technology companies and public audiences.

Submitting Institution

Swansea University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Technology: Communications Technologies

UltraCane and UltraBike: ultrasonic aids for visually-impaired people (Impact Case Study 3)

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Leeds led to the development of UltraCane — an ultrasonic cane for people who are visually-impaired that gives tactile feedback to the user's hand with progressive non-contact warning of obstacles (ground-to-head) up to 4 m. [text removed for publication]. Testimonials from users describe its transformative nature on their quality of life, giving `a true feeling of independence', whilst healthcare professionals commend `the simplicity of operation and ease of use'. Furthermore, with a technology mimicking bat echolocation, the UltraCane has informed and engaged the wider public in science and engineering through, for example, the BBC `Miracles of Nature' series. The technology has also been developed to allow people who are visually-impaired to cycle independently and safely around a cycle track — the `UltraBike'.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Technology: Communications Technologies

Identification of genes and mutations in genetic skeletal diseases leads to improved diagnosis and counselling through an international clinical and DNA diagnostic network

Summary of the impact

Genetic skeletal diseases (GSDs) are an extremely diverse and complex group of genetic diseases that affect the development of the skeleton. Although individually rare, as a group of related genetic diseases they have an overall prevalence of at least 1 per 4,000 children, which extrapolates to a minimum of 225,000 people in the European Union. This burden in pain and disability leads to poor quality of life and high healthcare costs. GSDs are difficult diseases to diagnose and there are currently no treatments, therefore, arriving at a confirmed diagnosis is vital for clinical management, psycho-social support and genetic counselling.

Research conducted at the University of Manchester (UoM) has had a major influence on establishing the correct diagnosis of specific GSDs by the discovery of causative genes and mutations and the subsequent development of accurate and reliable DNA testing protocols. This has significantly improved both accuracy of, and access to, genetic testing in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

Submitting Institution

University of Manchester

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Genetics
Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences

Impact on Maxwell Stamp PLC, its Government Clients and the Government of Azerbijan.

Summary of the impact

BU economic modelling research has driven increased profits for leading international consultants Maxwell Stamp PLC, to the tune of £12 million to date. Simultaneously, the research has benefited the company's clients, including several governments. For example, the research was used to provide advice critical in helping Namibia safeguard revenues of US$700 million annually from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Independent of Maxwell Stamp, the same techniques have been used to strengthen the research capabilities of the Institute for Scientific Research on Economic Reforms, Azerbaijan. This has been integral in the successful development of new, internationally competitive industries and the World Bank naming Azerbaijan one of the top 10 economic reformers.

Submitting Institution

Bournemouth University

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Economic Theory, Applied Economics, Econometrics

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