Summary of the impact

People who develop psychosis (1% of population) typically experience lengthy delays (months to years) before treatment. Researchers at the University of Manchester (UoM) established a concrete and significant association between delay in treatment of the first episode of psychosis and outcome. We demonstrated that outcome of psychosis could be improved considerably if these lengthy delays were reduced. This research influenced policy and practice in the UK and abroad. Policy changes included the establishment of early psychosis teams dedicated to early detection and treatment (50 in England alone). Practice changes included amendments to clinical guidelines in the UK and abroad that now require clinicians to respond urgently to a first episode of psychosis. These changes to clinical practice have increased the proportion of patients with a short DUP from 55.6 to 77.4%.

Summary of the impact

15m people have a stroke each year worldwide. In England alone, stroke generates direct care costs of £3bn and a wider economic burden of £8bn. Service users report high levels of unmet need in relation to cognitive dysfunction (e.g. concentration). Improving cognition was the number one priority agreed by users and providers (James Lind Alliance, Lancet Neurology 2012). Research led by the University of Manchester (UoM) underpins recommendations in several recent clinical guidelines for stroke management and rehabilitation in the UK and internationally. Our 2012 aphasia trial and qualitative study made key contributions to the recommendations in the recent NICE (2013) and Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party (2012) guidelines. UoM-led Cochrane reviews (e.g., neglect, apraxia, perception) have directly influenced recommendations in guidelines produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, the European Stroke Organization and the Australian National Stroke Foundation.

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Manchester (UoM) has changed the landscape of medical care and research in fungal infections internationally. The impacts include: the world's first commercialised molecular diagnostic products for aspergillosis and Pneumocystis pneumonia (£10m investment); pivotal contributions to the preclinical development (£35m investment), clinical developments and registrations of 3 new antifungals with combined market share of ~$2 billion; one (voriconazole, 2012 sales >$750m worldwide) now first line therapy for invasive aspergillosis with improved survival of 15-20%; and internationally validated methods to detect azole resistance in Aspergillus (an emerging problem partly related to environmental spraying of azole fungicides for crop protection).

Summary of the impact

Falls are a common (30-40% >65 year olds fall each year) and important age-related health problem costing the NHS and social care >£5.6m each day. University of Manchester research has contributed to reducing the burden of falls worldwide.

We demonstrated that falls are better predictors of fracture than bone mineral density. We developed an effective intervention, reducing falls amongst older people by 30%; identified barriers to service use, and approaches to increasing uptake and adherence; and developed a fear of falling instrument (FES-I), now translated into 30+ languages and widely used in clinical practice.

By 2012, 54% NHS Trusts used training programmes based on our research. It moulded service provision nationally and internationally, changing the emphasis of how falls prevention services are presented, from "reducing risk" to "improving/maintaining independence".

Summary of the impact

Hull-based research on critical systems thinking has been used for public, private and community benefit in Australasia, due to pivotal partnerships with the International Centre for Complex Project Management in Australia and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) in New Zealand. Benefits include: the reconciliation of economic and environmental imperatives in NZ water management, valued at NZ$1.7bn of economic growth; NZ$6.2m for ESR projects serving government clients; improved stakeholder consultation on NZ science investments; the development of new systems thinking capacity in the Victoria Department of Primary Industries (Australia); and 5% cost savings in key Australian defence procurements.

Summary of the impact

Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The University of Manchester (UoM) Lung Cancer Group has generated insights that underpin new standards of care in the treatment of advanced, metastatic small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), contributed to the results required for licensing of new drugs and secured approval for new treatment regimens now in routine clinical use internationally. Key contributions include an increase in survival of 23% in advanced NSCLC with the use of chemotherapy and doubling one-year survival from 13% to 27% in patients with incurable, extensive stage SCLC by the use of prophylactic cranial irradiation. The Group's research has impacted on outcomes for thousands of patients worldwide.

Summary of the impact

Many of the millions of people worldwide with disfigurement face significant psychological challenges. Research at UWE's Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) has made a substantial contribution to the interventions and healthcare provision available for patients with the most common congenital disfigurement — cleft lip and palate — in the UK and internationally. Specifically, our research has underpinned: (1) The inclusion of psychologists as key members of all UK cleft teams; (2) The development of effective forms of psychological support and interventions currently in use by psychologists and charities across the UK and abroad; (3) The development of evidence-based training packages currently being used by practitioners across Europe.

Summary of the impact

Although, by definition, individually rare, the cumulative burden of `rare disease' is significant, with as many as 3m affected individuals in the UK. The University of Manchester (UoM) has an exceptional record in rare disease gene identification, with 29 such genes defined since 1993. This research paved the way for clinical diagnostic testing for patients and their families, demonstrating the immediate translational impact of gene discovery. The research has resulted in a reduced diagnostic burden for patients and health services and has enabled the provision of more effective counselling. Testing for genes identified at UoM is now offered in more than 140 laboratories in more than 30 countries worldwide. More than 1,100 patients have been tested for mutations in TCOF1, BEST1, IRF6, SAMHD1 and C9ORF72 in UK NHS laboratories alone.

Summary of the impact

Depression and anxiety are common, cause significant disability and are costly to the individual, the NHS and wider society. UK management of depression and anxiety has been revolutionised as a result of our research at the University of Manchester (UoM) on low intensity psychological interventions (cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) based Guided Self-Help (GSH)) which is the primary form of care for hundreds of thousands of people with depression and anxiety disorders (including generalised anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder) through the "Improving Access to Psychological Therapies" (IAPT) scheme. Between 2009 and 2012 more than one million people used the new services, recovery rates are in excess of 45% and consequently 45,000 people have moved off benefits.

Summary of the impact

University of Glasgow researchers have played a pivotal role in enhancing awareness and understanding of cosmology, relativity and gravitational-wave astronomy on the national and international stage.

• The 'Astronomy's New Messengers' public exhibition on gravitational-wave astronomy has been displayed at international events that have attracted a total audience exceeding a million people. A survey conducted at the World Science Festival 2010 indicated that 89% of visitors found the exhibition had increased their interest in science.
• The University of Glasgow has had a crucial influence on the redesign of the Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher Physics syllabus to include significant content on cosmology, relativity and gravitational astrophysics. In 2012 the revised Higher Physics pass rate was approximately 4% greater than that for the non-revised Higher, demonstrating significant impact in terms of pupil engagement and results.