Research and Innovation

Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing [3.3.1 - local]

The Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing (ACHA) is dedicated to improving care and support for older people in northeast London through research, education, and training. Queen Mary University of London is partnered with Barts Health NHS Trust and Barts Charity in this collaborative project.

Based within Whipps Cross Hospital, with strong local community links, ACHA is closely connected to the Integrated Delivery Framework (IDF), a system-wide approach to transforming health and care services across the whole Whipps Cross catchment area. ACHA improves health outcomes for older people by translating healthy ageing and frailty research into frontline NHS care, developing the local health and care workforce, and redesigning services around the needs of older adults.

Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) [3.3.1 - local]

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Tower Hamlets Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) brings together the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service, Queen Mary University of London, University of East London and London Metropolitan University to improve health and reduce health inequalities across the borough. The partnership strengthens the use of evidence within local government, generating and applying research on issues identified by local communities to inform services and policy decisions. By embedding research in local decision-making, the collaboration supports healthier communities and improves long-term health outcomes for residents.

In 2024, Queen Mary were proud winners of the London Higher Award for Best Research Collaboration in London, alongside the University of East London and London Metropolitan University, as part of the HDRC. 

East London Genes and Health Project [3.3.1 - local]

Genes & Health is one of the world’s largest community-based genetics studies, led by Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with King’s College London, Barts Health NHS Trust, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. The project is It is supported by the Medical Research Council, Health Data Research UK, and major industry partners.

It aims to improve health among people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage by analysing the genes and health of 100,000 local people. Community engagement and public and patient involvement activities ensure communities are involved throughout the research process. By generating evidence from populations historically underrepresented in medical research, the collaboration aims to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for local communities.

The Wolfson Institute of Population Health [3.3.1 - local]

The Wolfson Institute of Population Health is a major partnership hub for improving health and wellbeing through collaboration between academics, healthcare providers, policymakers and communities. Bringing together more than 500 staff across public health, primary care, mental health and data science, the Institute works closely with NHS organisations, local authorities, national government and international health bodies to address health inequalities and improve population health. Its partnerships include NIHR Policy Research Units, which provide evidence to inform national health policy, and a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre supporting international public health priorities. Through programmes focused on prevention, early diagnosis, data-driven health improvement and equitable access to care, the Institute helps translate research into practical improvements in health services and outcomes.

The Partnership for Black People’s Health [3.3.1 – national]

The Partnership for Black People’s Health is a community-led research project that engages Black African and Black Caribbean communities in research to reduce the widely recognised disproportionate burden of health inequalities they face in all areas of medicine and public health.

The project is part of a wider effort to address the systemic racism/issues that contribute to health inequalities in Black communities. By working with communities to develop and implement research, the project is helping to create a more equitable healthcare system for all.

To date, the programme has engaged more than 5,000 people across London and Manchester and recruited 1,700 participants, helping build the evidence needed to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment for future generations

Organisations involved in the PBPH include Positive East; Positively UK; SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London; The Love Tank; The Black Health Activists Mentoring Empowering Network (BHAMEN); Tottenham Rights; Women’s Inclusive Team; Off the Wall Players; University of Nottingham; University of Oxford.

The 100,000 Genomes Project [3.3.1 – National]

Through our ongoing collaboration with Genomics England, Queen Mary has played a leading role in the national 100,000 Genomes Project, which sequenced the genomes of NHS patients with rare diseases and cancers. By linking genetic data with clinical information, the initiative has transformed how conditions are diagnosed and treated, paving the way for personalised medicine within the UK’s public health system. The project has already improved diagnosis rates for rare disorders and provided actionable insights for thousands of families.

The collaboration continues to generate health benefits. In 2025, Queen Mary researchers analysed data from 72,690 genomes within the project and identified genetic variants in 69 previously unknown disease-related genes. The findings create new opportunities for diagnosing rare diseases and developing future treatments, with the potential to improve health outcomes for patients and families in the UK and internationally.

Sexual Health, HIV All East Research Group (SHARE) Collaborative [3.3.1 – Local/National]

The SHARE Collaborative at Queen Mary University of London is a pioneering partnership uniting clinicians, researchers, and community organisations to tackle inequalities in HIV and sexual health across East London and beyond. Based within one of the UK’s largest HIV services, SHARE works directly with local NHS partners and community groups such as Positive East to co-design inclusive, patient-centred research and interventions.

Through research themes spanning HIV prevention and treatment, Mpox, health equity, community participation and the impacts of discrimination on health outcomes, SHARE generates evidence that directly informs public health practice. Its studies address barriers to early diagnosis, access to treatment, and participation in clinical trials, ensuring diverse representation, with more than half of participants from under-represented groups.

In 2025, SHARE’s Director, Dr Sara Paparini, received a Tower Hamlets Civic Award recognising the project’s impact on health equity and community engagement.By embedding research within healthcare services and community settings, SHARE helps reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for populations disproportionately affected by HIV and sexual ill-health.

NIHR Global Health Research Group [3.3.1 – global]

The NIHR Global Health Group on developing psycho-social interventions in low and middle income countries is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between Queen Mary University of London, East London NHS Foundation Trust, and partners in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Clinical Center, University of Sarajevo), Colombia (Javeriana University), Uganda (Makerere University, College of Health Sciences), Argentina (University of Buenos Aires), Pakistan (IRD Global) and Peru (Cayetano Herida University).

Through these partnerships, the collaboration develops and evaluates community-based psychosocial interventions designed to improve access to mental healthcare, reduce social exclusion and support recovery. Alongside improving care for patients and communities, the programme strengthens local research capacity through training, knowledge exchange and collaborative research, helping partner institutions develop sustainable expertise in global mental health.

By bringing together researchers, clinicians and health institutions across multiple countries, the programme contributes to stronger mental health systems, improved evidence-based care and better long-term outcomes for people experiencing severe mental illness in low- and middle-income countries.

Migration Health South Asia Network (MiHSA) [3.3.1 – global]

The Migration Health South Asia Network (MiHSA) is an international collaboration led by Queen Mary University of London that works with researchers, policymakers, practitioners and civil society organisations across South Asia to improve health outcomes for migrant populations.

The network strengthens research capacity, develops evidence on migration and health, and supports the development of responsive health policies for migrant communities, who often face barriers to healthcare access and poorer health outcomes. By creating a South-South learning platform, MiHSA enables organisations across the region to share evidence, identify priority health challenges and co-develop solutions that improve health equity for migrant populations. The network also supports the translation of research into policy and practice, helping ensure that migration and health systems work more effectively together to improve wellbeing and access to care.

Trialing a Learning Health System in Thailand [3.3.1 – Global]

Queen Mary University's Clinical Effectiveness Group co-leads an international collaboration with Chiang Mai University, the Thailand Ministry of Public Health and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to improve the prevention and management of chronic diseases in Thailand.  Supported by a £2.2 million award from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the programme is adapting Queen Mary's proven Learning Health System approach, to the Thai healthcare system.

The ‘Learning Health System’ pilot in Thailand, uses patient record data to help primary care doctors identify people who are at high risk of diabetes, kidney disease, or high blood pressure (hypertension), and inform their care.

The collaboration aims to translate routinely collected patient data into actionable insights that improve clinical care and population health. Analysis by the World Health Organization indicates that improved hypertension control in Thailand could prevent an estimated 14,000 deaths, 27,000 strokes and 18,000 heart attacks over five years. The programme is being piloted across 16 healthcare practices and has been designed collaboratively with healthcare professionals, patients and community champions to ensure it addresses local needs.

Beyond immediate health benefits, the partnership is building long-term capacity by training Thai researchers, PhD students and healthcare teams. This will create a sustainable model for improving care that could be scaled across Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia, improving outcomes for patients. Findings will be shared through collaborations with the Thailand Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization.

Helping London’s children breathe more easily: how Queen Mary research influenced the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone

Research, ‘Helping London’s Children Breathe More Easily’, led by Queen Mary scientists demonstrated how traffic-related air pollution was damaging children’s lung growth and overall health in London. The evidence directly influenced the creation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), one of the city’s most significant public-health interventions. The work connected air-quality data with clinical outcomes to show tangible health improvements when emissions are reduced. This research has shaped policy, reduced exposure to harmful pollutants, and improved respiratory health for thousands of children.

Barts Cancer Institute

The Barts Cancer Institute is part of the  Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, and has one overriding objective: to conduct pioneering research that drives meaningful progress for people with cancer.

The BCI is split into six Research Centres, and our more than 350 research staff and 100 graduate students focus their efforts on two objectives: increasing the chances of cancer survival through early detection and diagnosis and improving patient survival through the discovery and development of more effective and innovative therapies.

These objectives are underpinned by research into improving our understanding of the basic cell and molecular biology of cancer and the body's natural immune response to it.

Action leading the law – medication abortion pills changing access around the world

Queen Mary researchers in Geography and Global Health explored how medical abortion pills are reshaping reproductive rights and access globally. Their work documents how women and health networks navigate restrictive legal systems to secure safe and affordable care. The findings inform international policy debates and healthcare guidelines, highlighting the intersection of law, health, and gender equity. This research empowers evidence-based policy reform and protects women’s health through improved access to essential medication.

Research offers better health outcomes for British Bangladeshi and Pakistani people

Scientists at Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute uncovered genetic and environmental factors influencing the higher rates of certain diseases in British Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities. Their work integrates genomics with social research to tailor prevention and treatment strategies to specific populations. By identifying how genetic variation affects disease risk and medication response, this research promotes more equitable, effective healthcare. It also informs national health policy, ensuring underrepresented groups are included in medical innovation and public health planning.

A smart toothpaste that “knows” what you need

Researchers at Queen Mary’s Institute of Dentistry and the School of Engineering & Materials Science developed BioMinF®, a “smart” toothpaste using patented bioactive glass technology that releases fluoride, calcium and phosphate ions over 10–12 hours to protect teeth from decay and reduce sensitivity. Clinical trials show the product is twice as effective at reducing pain compared with other leading sensitivity toothpastes, and it is now used globally in over 20 countries, with >100,000 tubes produced per month.

The spin-out company BioMin Technologies Ltd (founded in 2014) today generates over £500,000 annual revenue through commercial licence agreements across multiple international markets. This research helps reduce preventable dental disease, improves oral health outcomes, and embeds innovative materials science into global healthcare markets—demonstrating how Queen Mary’s translational research advances wellbeing at scale.

Improving the oral health of vulnerable children

Queen Mary’s Institute of Dentistry is tackling childhood tooth decay—one of the UK’s most common preventable diseases—through community research and school-based interventions. The programme supports children in deprived areas with preventive care, education, and dental access, working alongside local authorities and NHS partners. By focusing on early prevention and community engagement, the project strengthens lifelong oral health and reduces health inequalities. It exemplifies how targeted, collaborative research can improve wellbeing in vulnerable populations.

Study uncovers the true burden of asthma in African pupils

A Queen Mary-led study revealed that asthma is a far greater health burden in African schools than previously recognised, affecting up to one in ten pupils in some regions. The research highlighted links between urbanisation, environmental exposure, and respiratory disease, identifying major gaps in diagnosis and care. By providing robust, continent-wide data, it supports better resource allocation and awareness among educators and healthcare providers. This study strengthens international understanding of respiratory health and promotes action to improve children’s quality of life globally.