University news

University of Glasgow leads COVID-19 research response in Scotland

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:00:00 GMT

The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is at the heart of COVID-19 research response in Scotland and the UK

Shielding less effective than hoped

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 10:00:00 BST

Shielding those at highest risk from Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic may not have been as effective at protecting them from infection and death as hoped, according to a new study.

People with learning disabilities far more likely to die from respiratory illnesses

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:00:00 BST

People with learning disabilities of all ages are almost 11 times more likely to die from respiratory illness compared with the rest of the population

New imaging system brings brains into sharper focus

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:00:00 BST

A promising new technique is bringing the microscopic details of the brain into sharper focus, even over macroscopic volumes.

More sensitive kidney disease test reveals cancer risk link

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 10:00:00 BST

Using a more sensitive test than is commonly used in the NHS, researchers have been able to show, for the first time, that even mild kidney disease is associated with an increased risk of developing and dying from cancer.

Machine learning used to successfully measure attachment in children

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 12:15:00 BST

For the first time, researchers have used machine learning to successfully measure attachment in children – the vital human bond that humans first develop as infants to their caregivers.

Better access to quality health care could curb antimicrobial resistance in East Africa

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:00:00 BST

A One-Health review in East African countries shows that efforts to address antimicrobial resistance must go hand in hand with improved access to quality health care and antimicrobials.

The risks and trade-offs of renting from a private landlord

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:30:00 BST

People living in the private rented sector are forced to make hard choices in order to meet their basic needs, a new study from the University of Glasgow led UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence reveals.

University of Glasgow researchers part of EU project to engage citizens on the green agenda

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:00:00 BST

The University of Glasgow is part of a consortium of 13 institutions involved in a ground-breaking project to look at how best to engage citizens on sustainability and the climate emergency.

Study launched to investigate diet treatment for long COVID

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 08:00:39 BST

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have been awarded £1 million from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to investigate weight loss treatment for long COVID

Study highlights more effective and safe way to deliver chemotherapy

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:01:06 BST

A new study, led by the University of Glasgow and published in The Lancet, has compared the three main ways anticancer treatment is given to patients when administered via a central vein

What goes up must come down: Fujitsu helps to clean up space with first-of-its-kind mission optimiser

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 08:00:00 BST

Fujitsu UK prototype, created in collaboration with UofG, is using quantum-inspired computing and Artificial Intelligence to support the transformation of space debris removal.

Nationwide survey launched to map and measure the value of Scotland's music industry

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:00:00 BST

Research led by UofG will uncover the economic, social and cultural value of Scottish music business activities, as well as, ass the immpact of Covid-19 on the sector

Innovate UK funds University of Glasgow and eCom Scotland joint project

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 12:00:00 BST

The University of Glasgow is collaborating with the digital learning and assessment specialist, eCom Scotland is collaborating in a six-month project, funded by Innovate UK.

Ten organisations account for nearly half of all animal research in Great Britain

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:30:21 BST

Understanding Animal Research (UAR), an organisation that promotes open communications about animal research, has today (15 July 2021) published a list of the ten organisations in Great Britain that carry out the highest number of animal procedures – those used in medical, veterinary, and scientific research.

Scottish smoke-free vehicle legislation reduces under 5s asthma hospitalisations

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 23:30:00 BST

Hospitalisations for asthma in pre-school children fell in Scotland in the two years following legislation that banned smoking in vehicles containing a child

Teens with a history of self-harm have a significantly higher threshold for pain

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:00:54 BST

New research from King’s College London, in collaboration with Glasgow University, has found that teenagers who have self-harmed five or more times in their life have a significantly higher threshold for pain compared to adolescents that have not

New rehabilitation programme for people with multiple long-term conditions

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 11:00:37 BST

Researchers in Leicester and the University of Glasgow are developing a new programme to provide exercise-based rehabilitation to people living with multiple long-term health conditions

Scottish veterans’ heart health improving

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:00:00 BST

The risk of Scottish veterans developing heart disease is improving, according to new research.

Commonalities found between COVID-19 and Rheumatoid Arthritis could help development of new treatment strategies for Long Covid

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 06:01:00 BST

Severe COVID-19 and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) share some common pathogenic mechanisms, according to a new study.

Rare meteorite could hold secrets to life on Earth

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 09:00:00 BST

Scientists are set to uncover the secrets of a rare meteorite and possibly the origins of oceans and life on Earth, thanks to Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) funding.

Major boost for prestigious UofG collaborative medical PhD programmes

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 09:30:00 BST

The University of Glasgow has been doubly successful in the prestigious Medical Research Council 2021 Doctoral Training Partnership competition, working in partnership with institutions across the UK and beyond to deliver two outstanding PhD programmes

First detection of gravitational waves from black holes swallowing neutron stars

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:00:00 BST

For the first time, scientists have picked up the ripples in space-time caused by the death spiral of a neutron star and a black hole.

Funding boost for UofG gravitational wave research

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:45:05 BST

Gravitational wave research at the University of Glasgow is set to benefit from a major funding boost from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

No increased risk of dementia in veterans

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 06:00:00 BST

The number of Scottish veterans who develop dementia in later life is no greater than in the wider community, according to new research

Regius Professor appointed at James Watt School of Engineering

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:00:00 BST

Professor Margaret Lucas FRSE has been appointed as Regius Chair of Civil Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering.

UofG researchers to play a key role in major EU arthritis research project

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 09:00:00 BST

Researchers at the University of Glasgow will play a key role in the major new EU research project, HIPPOCRATES, which will promote the early identification of and improve outcomes for patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Applications open for Minority Ethnic Leadership Development Programme

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 10:00:00 BST

Applications have opened for a new leadership development programme in Scotland aimed at removing barriers faced by minority ethnic people.

Climate education project takes root in high school gardens

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 08:00:00 BST

A project which aims to plant the seeds of climate awareness and action through gardening is branching out across Glasgow high schools.

Alcohol burden on ambulance service in Scotland three times higher than previous estimates

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 06:50:00 BST

86,780 ambulance callouts were identified as alcohol-related in 2019, using a new method based on the notes taken by paramedics at the scene. This figure, an average of more than 230 call-outs every day, is more than three times higher than previously reported.

UofG scoops top awards at Herald Higher Education Awards

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:04:00 BST

The University of Glasgow has been named the Higher Education Institution of the Year at the prestigious Herald Higher Education Awards.

At-risk species of freshwater fish reintroduced to Scotland’s lochs

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:32:00 BST

An at-risk species of fish has established itself in lochs across Scotland with the help of conservation managers and by rapidly adapting to its new environment, resulting in changes to their DNA, their ecology, and body shape, according to a new study.

New research brings age of 65m-year-old meteorite impact into sharper focus

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 19:00:00 BST

New research into one of the most volatile periods in Earth’s geological history has narrowed down the precise age of a meteorite impact in the Ukraine around 65 million years ago, ruling out the chance that it contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs but offering new insight into the planet’s climate history.

Poorer health in most deprived areas may be linked to microbiomes in the gut

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:01:00 BST

An earlier onset of disease and ageing in the most deprived could be linked to gut health and poor diet

Honeycomb plastics offer a PEEK into future of smart prosthetic design

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 10:00:00 BST

A new form of lightweight, impact-resistant plastic-based ‘honeycomb’ structures which can sense when they have been damaged could find use in new forms of ‘smart’ prosthetics and medical implants.

Home carers' mental health worsened during lockdown

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:00:00 BST

A new study has found the mental health of home-carers deteriorated more during lockdown than non-carers

UofG lends support to STEP towards UK fusion energy

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 12:00:00 BST

The University of Glasgow is lending its support to a trio of bids to bring a prototype fusion energy plant to Scotland.

Robot chemist offers insight into the origins of life

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 10:00:00 BST

A robotic ‘evolution machine’ capable of exploring the generational development of chemical mixtures over long periods of time could help cast new light on the origins of life, scientists say.

UofG and OIRSA work together to better understand Central America rabies spread

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:00:00 BST

The University of Glasgow has signed an important 3.5 year inter-institutional agreement with the Central American organisation OIRSA to better understand the corridors of viral spread of rabies in the region

World and UK rankings success for UofG

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 10:22:00 BST

University improves position in prestigious QS and Complete University Guide rankings

New report shows it is "not enough to mandate a human right to adequate housing; we need to define it"

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:00:00 BST

The report published by the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) has shown that not every household enjoys the human right to an adequate house and current housing policies may not be doing enough to improve things.

People with ‘healthy obesity’ are still at increased risk of disease

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:01:00 BST

A new study reveals that having a normal metabolic profile does not mean that a person with obesity is actually healthy, since they face an increased risk of diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, and respiratory diseases.

UofG cybersecurity projects win funding support

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 10:00:00 BST

University of Glasgow researchers have won a significant share of £3.6m in new funding which aims to tackle cybersecurity at the edge of the internet.

Researchers to study the brain health of victims of domestic violence

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 07:10:44 BST

New research is set to begin to investigate the lifelong consequences of domestic violence on brain health.

"National Conversation" urgently required over exam system, experts warn

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:00:00 BST

Millions of young people will continue to be left behind if exams in England are not given a radical overhaul, says a new commission chaired by UofG's Professor Louise Hayward.

Watership Down at 50 Conference

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 09:00:00 BST

Now academics at the University of Glasgow and Cardiff University are to host a conference to celebrate Richard Adams’ debut novel on its 50th anniversary and examine its continuing appeal to children over five decades.

University of Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall Study Centre benefits from major grant in new technology

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:00:00 BST

Researchers at University of Glasgow have benefitted from a major grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to help upgrade advanced analytical and imaging instrumentation.

£1.1m project aims to heat UK homes more sustainably

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 12:00:00 BST

A new project which aims to heat British houses more sustainably with a new generation of air source heat pump has won £1.1m in support from the UK Government.

Very high use of antibiotics in COVID-19 treatment could be reduced

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 23:30:00 BST

The very high use of antibiotics in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 is often not necessary, and risks worsening global antimicrobial resistance.

New insight into early stages of bowel cancer could provide an effective treatment strategy

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 16:00:00 BST

An international team of scientists have identified key factors underpinning the development of bowel or colorectal cancer in patients with a genetic predisposition to the disease.

UofG researchers spotlight big tech platform regulation in the UK

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:00:00 BST

High-profile research conducted as part of the Arts & Humanities Research Council Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) and published today has analysed how eight government and parliamentary reports and inquiries over an 18-month period have highlighted and set the agenda for platform regulation.

Diabetes remission diet lowers blood pressure and reduces need for medication

Mon, 31 May 2021 23:01:00 BST

New research has shown that if people achieve and maintain substantial weight loss to manage their type 2 diabetes, many can also effectively control their high blood pressure and stop or cut down on their anti-hypertensive medication

Online engagement event set to encourage Girls into Geoscience

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:00:00 BST

Young female and nonbinary people across the UK and Ireland are being encouraged to consider a career in geoscience with a virtual event day in June.

UofG students turn up the heat on conversational AI

Wed, 26 May 2021 16:00:00 BST

A team of postgraduate students is setting out to perfect the recipe for next-generation conversational assistants that perform multi-step tasks like cooking and home improvement.

Why data proved key to how Scottish Councils managed, and now move out of, the Covid-19 crisis

Wed, 26 May 2021 08:00:00 BST

Research by academics at the University of Glasgow has shown how data sharing has been critical to how Scottish local government managed the rapid response to the COVID-19 crisis in the last 12 months.

Memory details fade over time, with only the main gist preserved

Wed, 26 May 2021 10:00:00 BST

What information is retained in a memory over time, and which parts get lost? These questions have led to many scientific theories over the years, and now a team of researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham have been able to provide some answers.

Analysis of the interactions occurring at the ‘heart’ of SARS-CoV-2 virus reveals new paths to treat COVID19

Tue, 25 May 2021 08:00:00 BST

Analysis of the interactions occurring at the ‘heart’ of SARS-CoV-2 virus reveals new paths to treat COVID19

University of Glasgow researchers look at new modern prehistoric burial trend

Tue, 25 May 2021 09:00:00 BST

UofG academics are to look at the modern-day phenomenon of why people are wishing to be buried like their prehistoric ancestors.

Complex molecules could hold the secret to identifying alien life

Mon, 24 May 2021 10:00:00 BST

A new system capable of identifying complex molecular signatures could aid in the search for alien life in the universe and could even lead to the creation of new forms of life in the laboratory, scientists say.

Stressful city life affects birds' genes

Thu, 20 May 2021 10:01:00 BST

Great tits living in cities are genetically different from great tits in the countryside. Researchers made the discovery after a unique study where they examined populations of great tits in nine large European cities, including Glasgow.

Citizen scientists urged to help log bees and map their habitats on World Bee Day

Thu, 20 May 2021 08:00:00 BST

Citizen scientists urged to help log bees and map their habitats on World Bee Day

New report highlights satellite observation as vital to tackling climate change

Fri, 14 May 2021 12:00:00 BST

Professor Marian Scott of the School of Mathematics and Statistics is one of the co-authors of a new briefing paper from the COP26 Universities Network.

History of significant head injury in women prisoners linked with disability and past abuse

Thu, 13 May 2021 23:30:00 BST

New research has found that 78% of women prisoners in Scotland have a history of significant head injury – most of which occurred in the context of domestic abuse that often lasted over periods of several years

Major Long COVID study launched in Scotland

Wed, 12 May 2021 00:00:58 BST

A major new COVID-19 study is being launched in Scotland to understand the long-term health of people who have had COVID-19

International Experts Launch First Global Initiative to Map Ungulate Migrations

Fri, 07 May 2021 07:30:00 BST

An international team of 91 scientists and conservationists, including from the University of Glasgow, has joined forces to create the first-ever global atlas of ungulate (hooved mammal) migrations, working in partnership with the United Nations’ Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

‘Stressed’ trees share resources to overcome environmental challenges

Wed, 05 May 2021 10:00:00 BST

New research suggests trees may work together to form resource-sharing networks, helping the group collectively overcome environmental challenges.

UofG geographer is honoured by Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Tue, 04 May 2021 10:00:00 BST

Professor Christopher Philo, UofG's has been awarded the Society's Victoria Medal, which recognises outstanding geographical scholarship, specifically for his promotion and contribution to research in health, social and cultural geographies.

New online resource uncovers the hidden history of Scottish fiddle music

Wed, 05 May 2021 08:00:00 BST

A new online resource dedicated to the earliest known sources of Scottish fiddle music is being launched today

‘Bat-sense’ tech generates images from sound

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 08:00:00 BST

Scientists have found a way to equip everyday objects like smartphones and laptops with a bat-like sense of their surroundings.

UofG experts contribute to climate change briefing paper

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 10:00:00 BST

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have contributed their expertise to a new report on how nature-based solutions could help nations mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

James McCune Smith Learning Hub opens

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 13:57:03 BST

The £90 million learning and teaching facility opens to students, with COVID restrictions in place

Ground-breaking AVATAR therapy trial launches in Scotland

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 09:00:00 BST

A ground-breaking trial, which uses digital avatars to represent the auditory hallucinations experienced by people with psychosis, has launched in Scotland.

Teenage girls at double concussion risk of boys playing football

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:00:10 BST

New findings published today shows that teenage girls playing football are at almost double the risk of concussion compared to teenage boys

Rugby legends join large dementia prevention study

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:00:33 BST

World-leading rugby players, Shane Williams and Ben Kay, have signed up to a large-scale Alzheimer’s Society funded study. The research will look at important and unanswered questions, such as whether elite rugby players show more early warning signs of dementia than the general population

University of Glasgow academic honoured by Learned Society of Wales

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:00:00 BST

Professor Gwyn Bellamy, Professor of Mathematics, University of Glasgow, is among the new entrants to the Learned Society of Wales’ Fellowship.

New campaign aims to empower teens with lifesaving lessons

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:00:00 BST

A new campaign is setting out to help young people recognise the five early warning signs of a condition which causes 11 million deaths around the world each year.

UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence aim to guide newly elected Governments in housing policy change

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 10:00:00 BST

As we await the elections in Scotland and Wales, the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) is publishing new papers that set out evidence-informed priorities for the incoming Governments of both nations.

Scientists identified cases of human-to-cat COVID-19 transmission in the UK

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 05:01:00 BST

A team of scientists at the University of Glasgow has identified two known cases of human-to-cat COVID-19 transmission in the UK

New stroke rehabilitation system proven to work in impaired stroke patients

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 23:30:00 BST

A stroke rehabilitation system, developed by MicroTransponder Inc and studied by a team at the University of Glasgow, has been shown to significantly improve arm impairment and function in people with long-term arm weakness after ischaemic stroke

Marine experts sounding out salmon, basking sharks, skate, dolphins, whales and seals: Loughs Agency announces deployment of Europe’s largest fish counter

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:06:02 BST

The University of Glasgow is part of a unique marine research project led by Loughs Agency, which is underway to study the seas around Ireland and Western Scotland with the deployment of ‘Europe’s largest fish counter’.

UofG and partners win at Knowledge Exchange Awards for COVID-19 response

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 11:20:00 BST

The University of Glasgow-hosted Lighthouse Lab COVID-19 testing facility has won an award at Scotland’s premier awards celebrating business-academic knowledge exchange.

New research project explores experiences of walking and creativity during COVID-19

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 08:00:00 BST

New research project explores experiences of walking and creativity during COVID-19

Little evidence entry into the UK Armed Forces before age 18 increases PTSD risk

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:01:00 BST

Two studies led by researchers from the University of Glasgow and King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London have found there is little evidence that early recruitment to the UK Armed Forces is associated with an adverse impact on long-term mental health, despite previously raised concerns

Accumulation of infected red blood cells key to development of cerebral malaria

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:00:07 BST

White adipose tissue, or white fat, plays a fundamental role in the development of cerebral malaria in mouse models and humans

Archaeology offers a way to measure the extent humans have contributed to global climate change

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 09:00:00 BST

A worldwide team of academics are offering a new way to measure and quantify the extent humans have contributed to global climate change using archaeology, a new paper shows

UofG to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on blood vessels and blood pressure

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 00:00:57 BST

A project at the University of Glasgow that is aiming to better understand the effects that COVID-19 infection has on blood vessels and blood pressure has received a grant of £250,000 from national charity Heart Research UK

COVID-19 drug screening hub at the University of Glasgow begins work

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:30:14 BST

A new COVID-19 drug screening and resistance hub in Scotland, based at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR), has begun its vital work

Artificial Intelligence used to automate assessment of Mesothelioma

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 11:00:00 BST

Patients receiving treatment for the “asbestos cancer”, Mesothelioma, are being assessed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of a prototype imaging system which could revolutionise the way people with the disease are cared for

New research project aims to make indoor spaces safer during COVID-19

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 08:00:00 BST

A £1.35m research project is setting out to harness advanced fluid modelling techniques to make indoor spaces safer during COVID-19.

Psychologists develop first measure of social media impact on teen sleep

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 08:00:00 BST

Sleep experts have developed a new tool to help more accurately measure young people’s ability to disengage from social media before bed.

Beauty and attractiveness are not universally perceived

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 16:00:00 BST

Facial beauty and attractiveness are not universally perceived. Instead, according to new research, it is culture and individual preferences that shape the diverse spectrum of what we think is facially attractive.