Impact UK Location: Wakefield

REF impact found 11 Case Studies

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Debunking MMR vaccine associated scares

Summary of the impact

Professor Rima's research on measles and mumps viruses over 4 decades at Queen's University allowed him to play an important role in re-establishing public confidence in the safety of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Claims that MMR vaccine could cause autism in 1998 undermined the vaccine uptake but Rima's expert testimony and that of others established in court that these claims were unfounded. This re-assurance and subsequent promotion of MMR vaccination reduced measles cases in the UK. In the USA, it also reduced the real risk that the Vaccine Court Fund, which compensates vaccinees for genuine vaccine related adverse events, would be bankrupted by over 50,000 claims amounting to between $30-50 Billion.

Submitting Institution

Queen's University Belfast

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Immunology, Medical Microbiology

Enabling Transnational Artistic Exchanges on Gender and Conflict in South Asia

Summary of the impact

Ananya Kabir's pioneering research on how the visual arts in South Asia express trauma generated by conflict resulted in a major exhibition at Leeds and associated events nationwide, attracting over 130,000 visitors. Her focus on female artistic responses enabled long-term partnerships with South Asian cultural producers, whom she helped to connect with museums and galleries in the UK. Through both her research and direct involvement with impact, Kabir has facilitated transnational pathways of professional development whilst creating and interpreting South Asian cultural capital for British and South Asian heritage audiences.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

English Language and Literature

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies, Literary Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies

Enhancing adults’ and children’s awareness of healthy eating today by using research into medieval ideas of healthy lifestyle and diet

Summary of the impact

Since June 2010, Dr Iona McCleery has led a programme of public engagement activities including workshops in schools and museum exhibitions. These activities enhance adults' and children's awareness of historical food and diets and encourage participants to reflect on their own diet through comparison with medieval lifestyles. Supported by the Wellcome Trust, the work has been a highly successful example of original historical research's ability to fire the public imagination and to inspire children in formal education to follow a healthier lifestyle (50,000 adults and children in Yorkshire have participated in the project to date.)

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

History

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Influencing international tobacco policy on standardised tobacco packaging

Summary of the impact

Ground-breaking experimental research at the University of Bristol assessing the effectiveness of standardised tobacco packaging legislation has been strongly influencing international tobacco policy and legislation since 2011. Work by scientists in the School of Experimental Psychology was the first to show, using direct, objective measures, that standardised tobacco packaging modifies relevant behaviours. Australia became the first country in the world to implement standardised packaging legislation in 2012 after reviewing the University of Bristol research in their High Court in response to legal challenges from the tobacco industry. That same year, the European Commission's update of the Tobacco Products Directive cited the same University of Bristol research to support the claim that standardised packaging would strengthen the effectiveness of graphic health warnings on tobacco products. The UK government has also used the University of Bristol research to inform the consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products.

Submitting Institution

University of Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Modern Church History Informing Civic-Religious Culture and Public Commemoration

Summary of the impact

Dr Chandler's publications have been extensively used and discussed nationally and internationally by Church leaders, politicians, journalists, public intellectuals, clergy and laity. They provide informed historical context for discussion of contemporary religion and offer a site for new associations and interactions. They have also impacted on the public commemoration of historical figures who have achieved an international reputation for the religious and moral significance of their life and work. Chandler is Reader in History at the University of Chichester where his position is co-funded by the Chapter of Chichester Cathedral to support his directorship of the George Bell Institute. His research focusses on the importance of national and international politics in the modern British churches, Anglo-German Church relations and ecumenical dialogues more generally.

Submitting Institution

University of Chichester

Unit of Assessment

History

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies
Philosophy and Religious Studies: Religion and Religious Studies

Case Study 2: Dante and Late Medieval Florence: Economic, Cultural and Religious Impact

Summary of the impact

The research findings of Claire Honess and Matthew Treherne on the relationship between Dante's poetry and political, religious and intellectual practice in late medieval Italy have brought significant benefits to visitors to Florence and to the Florentine tourist industry, to faith groups and to the general public.

By engaging with the tourist industry, faith groups, UNESCO and regional bodies in Italy, through the development of online resources, and by developing new ways of experiencing Dante's work, Honess and Treherne have enriched both cultural and religious life in Italy, in the UK and beyond, meeting a need identified by key partners.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Literary Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies
Philosophy and Religious Studies: Religion and Religious Studies

Improving Access to Effective Self-Help Support in Mental Health Services

Summary of the impact

Recent NHS policy has prioritised improving access to cost-effective psychological interventions for people with mental health problems. Research by Lucock at the Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CHSCR) has contributed to meeting this challenge by developing and evaluating self-help interventions which can be provided by a range of NHS staff without professional psychotherapy or mental health training. This work has resulted in the creation of the Self-Help Access in Routine Primary Care (SHARP) initiative, a programme that gives practitioners materials and training which enable them to deliver brief self-help interventions supported by a dedicated website and a range of leaflets that recognise service users' need for easy-to-understand material. Feedback from practitioners on the website and training has been positive. There is evidence of positive impacts of the training on practitioners' confidence in their ability to deal with anxiety and depression, and in greater use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approaches with patients. Evidence from testimony demonstrates impact on practice. Research also provides evidence of benefit to patients in terms of reduction of anxiety and depression and goal attainment. The research has also influenced national guidance on best practice.

Submitting Institution

University of Huddersfield

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Mental Health and Learning Disabilities: Heritage and Stigma

Summary of the impact

University of Huddersfield research into the history of mental health care has encouraged a broad range of stakeholders and individuals to challenge their values and beliefs about people who live with mental health issues and the services they use. The work has contributed to modern-day policy, practice and perceptions through a series of collaborations with health officials and practitioners, third-sector organisations, service users and the wider public, including museum exhibitions, online engagement and bespoke teaching and learning materials. Beneficiaries have credited the research with helping to "break down the barriers and stigmas" that surround mental health and with developing positive attitudes towards the issue.

Submitting Institution

University of Huddersfield

Unit of Assessment

History

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Nutrition, health and welfare of stabled horses

Summary of the impact

The domestic horse is often managed in sub-optimal conditions that provide inadequate forage and high levels of starch leading to respiratory, metabolic and behavioural disturbances. Research at the RAU over the past five years has had a significant ameliorative impact upon these welfare reducing phenomena via the development and marketing of the following products:

  • Hay steamers HG 1000, HG 600 and HG-GO (Propress Equine Ltd),
  • Aquacid foregut buffering supplement (Marigot Ltd)
  • Actisaf™ live yeast supplement (Lesaffre Feed Additives Ltd)
  • horseRATION iPhone application (Arkuris Ltd)

In addition, impact of both nutritional and behavioural data has been maximised via thorough dissemination of findings to the horse owning populace via scientific reviews and lay publications.

Submitting Institution

Royal Agricultural University

Unit of Assessment

Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Veterinary Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences: Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Nutrition and Dietetics

Restoring 'Fresh Expressions' to the Parish as the Focus of Mission in the Church of England

Summary of the impact

Research on ecclesiology undertaken by Revd Dr Alison Milbank:

  • Has informed the theology, policy and practice of mission in the Church of England by challenging the theological basis of the dominant Fresh Expressions movement and offering a new model based on mediation;
  • Has engaged cathedral visitors and church members in new ways of experiencing religious objects via video and barcodes;
  • Has informed and influenced curricula and syllabi in Anglican ordination training on mission and ecclesiology.
  • Has exceeded its target audience of the Church of England, being discussed by other churches in the UK and worldwide.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Theology and Religious Studies

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies, Literary Studies
Philosophy and Religious Studies: Religion and Religious Studies

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