2026

Wasps move in on ant–plant partnership, disrupting a 10‑million‑year mutualism

New research reveals unexpected intruders in a classic tropical tree–ant relationship, raising concerns for forest recovery in human‑altered landscapes. 

Blog: Kidney disease is growing in Africa: big new study casts light on genetic risk factors

Segun Fatumo, Professor and Chair of Genomic Diversity at Queen Mary University of London, has written for The Conversation on ‘Kidney disease is growing in Africa: big new study casts light on genetic risk factors.’ 

Animals are powerful landscape engineers shaping the Earth’s surface

Animals are constantly reshaping the landscapes around them, often in ways that go unnoticed

From Beijing to London: shaping the next generation of engineers

What does it take to become a successful global engineer? For Professor Yue Chen, the answer lies in a journey shaped by curiosity, global experience, and a passion for innovation. As part of our celebration of Women’s History Month, we spotlight her journey from Beijing to a leading academic career in London.  

Largest genomic study of kidney function in Africa reveals new genetic risk factors

An international research collaboration led by Queen Mary University of London and University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa has published the most comprehensive genomic investigation of kidney function ever conducted in African populations.  

War in Iran has already produced emissions equivalent to a year of Iceland’s carbon output

New analysis involving Queen Mary researchers estimates more than 5 million tonnes of CO₂e generated in just two weeks of conflict

Queen Mary convenes partners to improve growth, skills and innovation across East London

Yesterday, 18 March, Queen Mary University of London’s East London Civic Action Network (ELCAN) brought leaders from higher education, industry, non-profits, local authority and the City together to define an ambitious, collaborative, and deliverable shared vision for growth, skills and innovation in East London.  

Queen Mary PhD Students Champion Neurodivergent Inclusion at Night of Science and Engineering

Three Queen Mary University of London PhD students took centre stage at this year’s Night of Science and Engineering, sharing research that pushes forward understanding, equity and inclusion for neurodivergent people.

Queen Mary’s Night of Science and Engineering celebrates innovation, partnership, and impact

Yesterday (Tuesday 17 March) Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Science and Engineering welcomed partners, collaborators, and invited guests to its annual Night of Science and Engineering.  

Landmark trial on whole blood transfusion published in NEJM

The results of a landmark clinical trial on the use of whole blood transfusions in pre-hospital trauma care have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Queen Mary's Digital Education Studio wins prestigious prize

Queen Mary University of London's Digital Education Studio has been awarded the 2026 Roger Mills Prize – one of the most prestigious honours in digital higher education – for its transformative approach to online learning through the CARE as Value-Led Digital Education Transformation initiative. 

AI’s game-playing still has flaws, research shows

New research published in Machine Learning shows pattern learning is not enough to train AI to tackle games – and abstract representations or hybrid approaches may help.  

Queen Mary researchers featured in international exhibition exploring AI and the paradox of agency

Work by the Planetary Portals collective, co-founded by two Queen Mary University of London academics, will feature in a major international exhibition examining the relationship between artificial intelligence, technology and human agency.

Blog: Queen Mary: improving the drug development pipeline

Professor Amrita Ahluwalia is the Dean for Research in Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, a pharmacologist and Professor of Vascular Pharmacology. She is also the former editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Pharmacology and inaugural Chair of the Basic and Translational Committee for the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 

Study highlights the hidden climate cost of the Israel–Gaza war

A new study led by Queen Mary University of London estimates that the Israel–Gaza war has generated around 33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), highlighting the often-overlooked environmental impact of armed conflict.

Dr Cara Croft receives Suffrage Science Award for Life Sciences

Dr Cara Croft, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London, has been awarded the 2026 Suffrage Science Award for Life Sciences. The prestigious peer-to-peer award recognises outstanding women in science for both research excellence and their commitment to inspiring others.  

Why averages fail for bacteria in the open ocean

How can bacteria that forage on organic particles survive in vast ocean regions where such particles are extremely sparse? A new study by researchers from Queen Mary University of London and ETH Zurich shows that variability at the level of individual bacteria plays a central role. Using a probabilistic population model linking mathematics and microbiology, the team demonstrates that rare, high-impact encounters sustain bacterial populations even when average conditions suggest decline.

By working with industry partners, bio-based solvents could replace fossil derived materials by the 2030s.

Queen Mary University of London spotlights UK–South Korea research links in ultrastrong & lightweight materials

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London helped to strengthen international collaboration in Advanced Materials Science through a major UK–South Korea bilateral symposium at The Royal Society focused on Advanced Materials (4-5 March).

Delocalised Electronic States: Powering Molecular Photovoltaics

Queen Mary Researchers Help Unlock the Secrets Behind 20% Efficient Organic Solar Cells.

Study finds shared genetic roots of MS across diverse ancestries

A new study published in Neurology and led by Queen Mary University of London, has revealed that people of South Asian, African and European ancestry share many of the same genetic risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS). 

New book explores how storytelling and imagination can reshape marketing education

How should marketing be taught at a time when artificial intelligence, automation, and data increasingly shape professional practice?

Queen Mary and New City College enter new partnership

Last week, Queen Mary University of London signed a Memorandum of Understanding with New City College (NCC), the largest further education provider in the country that is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Drug that targets immune cells shows potential as new treatment for diabetic heart disease

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found that a medication originally developed for glycemic control can reverse serious heart damage — not by controlling blood sugar as originally intended, but by retraining the immune system to protect the heart from within. 

Queen Mary joins the UK Reproducibility Network

Queen Mary University of London has become an institutional member of the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), a national consortium that aims to ensure the UK retains its place as a centre for world-leading research.

Single daily pill shows promise as replacement for complex, multi-tablet HIV treatment regimens

A phase 3 clinical trial, led by Professor Chloe Orkin of Queen Mary University of London, has shown that a new, daily oral tablet that combines two current HIV treatment medications – bictegravir and lenacapavir (BIC/LEN) – may simplify treatment significantly for people with HIV who currently take very complex treatments.

Queen Mary is one of UK’s best employers  

Queen Mary University of London is ranked 8th among Russell Group universities and 12th among all education sector employers in the UK’s Best Employers rankings 2026.  

High-risk patients account for 80% of post-surgery deaths

Large UK-wide study shows that high-risk patients account for nearly 80% of post-surgery deaths, highlighting the need for open conversations and more tailored care.  

Blog: For neighbourhood care to work, we need a shared data infrastructure

Dr Anna De Simoni, Clinical Reader in Primary Care Research at Queen Mary University of London, wrote for the Health Service Journal (HSJ) about what is needed for neighbourhood care to work.

How charity helped shape Britain after empire

A new book by Matthew Hilton, Professor of Social History at Queen Mary University of London, explores how charity became a central response to global poverty in Britain after the end of empire.

Study sheds new light on early brain development in Down Syndrome

Researchers uncover defects in membrane of brain cells that diminish their action and connectivity during development in Down Syndrome.

Sea turtles are nesting earlier – but producing fewer eggs, less often: new research

Climate change is reshaping life on Earth at an unprecedented pace. Across the globe, species are shifting their ranges, altering migration routes and breeding earlier in the year in response to rising temperatures. But while some of these changes appear adaptive, scientists are increasingly finding that hidden costs may undermine long-term survival.

Queen Mary research results in changes to NHS guidelines

Thousands of people with advanced bladder cancer across the UK can now receive three rather than six chemotherapy cycles following research by Queen Mary University of London which has led to a change to NHS treatment guidelines. For people with the condition, this means fewer toxic side effects and a better quality of life during treatment.

Freshwater ecosystems could play a critical role in climate resilience

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened environments on the planet, yet their role in shaping climate impacts remains poorly understood.

Sanity check warns EVs and heat pumps deliver “no proven carbon savings” ahead of 2030 clean power target 

New analysis warns that UK electric vehicles and heat pumps are delivering no proven carbon savings — and urges urgent focus on grid capacity, renewables and carbon capture instead. The conclusion: the UK is prioritising the wrong things. 

“This engine is grinding to a halt” - Nature slowing down as climate change gains pace

New research from Queen Mary University of London shows nature’s renewal has “significantly” slowed down with rising temperatures, against expectation

Celebrating the history of medicine and dentistry at Queen Mary

Queen Mary University of London has a proud 240-year history of improving lives and access to higher education, built on four historic institutions the oldest of which – The London Hospital Medical College – was founded in 1785.

Blog: From principles to practice: what students want from diversity education

These reflections are based on recent research by Dr Tana Licsandru, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, published in the British Journal of Management. Working with colleagues, she examined how business schools can help students translate DEI learning from intention into practice.

First of its kind daily HIV treatment shows promising results

The daily pill paves the way for other long-acting treatments for those living with HIV, and addresses the growing concern of resistance to integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (INSTI) treatments, which are the first line of treatments for HIV across the world.  

Blog: Reform has been warned that defecting Tories will damage its brand – and the first evidence is in

Matthew Barnfield, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London, has written for The Conversation on Reform, Tory defections and early signs of brand damage.

Blog: What’s the point of a space station around the Moon?

Berna Akcali Gur, Convenor of Outer Space Law at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London has written for The Conversation on 'What’s the point of a space station around the Moon?'

Queen Mary graduates targeted by top employers   

Queen Mary University of London remains among the top universities targeted by employers, according to High Fliers Research.   

Queen Mary strengthens partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council

The Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London welcomed several members of the Cabinet from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to strengthen the collaboration between the University and Council, following the successful application to provide a dental outreach clinic in Maritime House, Barking. 

Unsupervised strategies for naive animals: New model of adaptive decision making inspired by baby chicks, turtles and insects

Precocial animals, the ones that move autonomously within hours after hatching or birth, have many biases they are born with that help them survive, finds a new Royal Society paper led by Queen Mary University of London. 

Queen Mary Vice-Principal speaks at QS India Summit 2026

Dr Philippa Lloyd, Vice-Principal Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Queen Mary University of London, spoke at the QS India Summit 2026 held in Goa as part of an international senior leadership panel on the role of impactful research in nation building. 

Queen Mary advances strategic partnership with Thailand

Queen Mary University of London has strengthened its international engagement further through a new partnership with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), following a delegation visit to Bangkok in January 2026. 

New approach offers hope for people with rare eye cancer

Researchers at Queen Mary’s Barts Cancer Institute have found a more active approach to monitoring and treating people with a rare eye cancer (known as uveal melanoma) that has spread to the liver could help some patients to live longer. 

England’s Chief Dental Officer reopens Queen Mary’s refurbished Barkantine Dental Outreach Clinic

Queen Mary University of London welcomed the Chief Dental Officer for England, Jason Wong MBE, and members of the General Dental Council to reopen one of its newly refurbished dental outreach clinics in East London.

Mapping proteins in African genomes reveals new paths to fight type 2 diabetes

By combining genomic and plasma proteomic data from a Ugandan cohort, the researchers mapped nearly 400 genetic regions that regulate circulating protein levels – 58 of them previously unknown in African-ancestry individuals.

Experts provide policy roadmap to reduce dementia risk, the leading cause of death in the UK

A national panel of experts has issued the strongest call yet for the Department of Health and Social Care to overhaul how it approaches dementia prevention, pointing to vital evidence that dementia risk can be reduced and providing a framework for the development of new government policy that could improve brain health for millions.

Queen Mary’s leadership in social mobility recognised by leading charity

Today (8 January 2026), Queen Mary University of London and its President and Principal, Professor Colin Bailey CBE, were announced as being included in the 2026 Social Mobility List, compiled by the charity Making the Leap. 

How people moved pigs across the Pacific

Genomic study reveals the routes taken by people as they island hopped across Indonesia