University of Oxford

On Thursday 1st May, voters in 23 councils across England will elect their councillors and mayors in the first local elections since the general election last July. There will also be a parliamentary by-election in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency. Professor Jane Green Why do the local elections matter?These elections mark the first test since the general election for new Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch, the new Labour government, and Nigel…

The new study, of unprecedented scale, examines not only clinical associations, but also for the first time the biological basis for these comorbidities - through genetics. It identifies osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, coeliac disease, and psoriasis among the comorbid conditions significantly linked to endometriosis.These insights not only enhance our understanding of the relationship between endometriosis and immune conditions but also pave the way for better-targeted treatments, the potential for…

Deep in the Central Andes lies Uturuncu, Bolivia’s “zombie” volcano -so called because despite being technically dead (last erupting 250 thousand years ago), it still shows signs of unrest, including earthquakes and plumes of gases. This unrest manifests itself in a “sombrero” pattern of deformation, with the land in the centre of the volcanic system rising up, and surrounding areas sinking down.I am very pleased to be involved in this…

In an age when political leaders chase opinion polls and CEOs worship at the altar of quarterly earnings, a white-robed elderly man exists as an anomaly on the world stage. Elected not by the masses but by a college of cardinals, he answers neither to voters nor to markets but to a higher authority. The pope is spiritual leader to 1.3 billion Catholics, yet he is also somehow more than…

A learning centre in Oxford, operated by the national charity IntoUniversity in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Christ Church, Oxford, has marked its 10th anniversary of supporting local young people to realise their full potential.   A special event was held at the Oxford South East centre in Blackbird Leys on Thursday, 24 April, bringing together community leaders, school children and families, as well as representatives from the University…

A new study led by the University of Oxford has revealed that a common and usually harmless virus may positively influence how skin cancer patients respond to current treatments.Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that, while typically asymptomatic, is carried for life by around 50–60% of UK adults. In healthy individuals, CMV is kept in a dormant state by the immune system; however, this process profoundly reshapes how the immune…

Large, long-lived marine animals such as sharks and rays are amongst the world’s most threatened groups, primarily due to overfishing in targeted and bycatch fisheries. In small fisheries, households rely on marine resources for their food and income, creating trade-offs between biodiversity and wellbeing outcomes. Incentives therefore can provide a cost-effective and equitable option for balancing the needs of people and biodiversity. However, incentives can also change behaviour in unexpected…

During the Encaenia ceremony on Wednesday 25 June, degrees will be awarded to Dame Jacinda Arden, Lord Melvyn Bragg, Clive Myrie, Professor Serhii Plokhii, Professor Timothy Snyder, Professor Colm Tóibín, Sir Mo Farah, Professor Robert S Langer and Professor Erwin Neher.Ticket registration will open on the 6 May for staff, Congregation, students, Oxford University alumni, retired members of Congregation and academic visitors. We are sorry that tickets to the ceremony…

In today’s polarized online landscape, fact-checking has become a vital tool for countering misinformation. But for fact-checks to make a difference, people have to actually pay attention to them.A widely held assumption is that corrections are more effective when they come from someone who shares your political views. But is shared ideology really what makes people listen?People were significantly more likely to reply to or otherwise engage with a correction…

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a new drug delivery system using ultrasound-activated nanoparticles to break through and destroy bacterial biofilms. This offers a promising solution that could address the global crisis of chronic antibiotic-resistant infections affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Professor Eleanor Stride. In up to 80% of chronic infections, bacteria form biofilms – a slimy substance secreted by the bacteria which forms a protective…

A team of researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered crucial evidence for the origin of water on Earth. Using a rare type of meteorite, known as an enstatite chondrite, which has a composition analogous to that of the early Earth (4.55 billion years ago), they have found a source of hydrogen which would have been critical for the formation of water molecules.Crucially, they demonstrated that the hydrogen present…

Past societies are often presumed to be egalitarian, but our research shows that high wealth inequality could become entrenched where ecological and political conditions permitted. The emergence of high wealth inequality wasn’t an inevitable result of farming... It emerged where land became a scarce resource that could be monopolised.Professor Amy Bogaard, School of ArchaeologyThe study is published as part of a Special Feature of the Proceedings of the National Academy…

The Fellowships are designed to accelerate researchers’ careers and fast track them towards world-leading positions in the future, ensuring the UK maintains its position as a global force in quantum technology. The investment provides an invaluable opportunity to advance their research and innovation, and will provide opportunities to build connections with industry and end-users, reducing the gap between research and commercialisation.Professor Charlotte Deane, EPSRC Executive Chair and a Professor in…

Cambridge make it eight wins in a row in the Women's Boat Race and claim a third successive victory in the Men's Boat Race. Crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge returned to the famous Championship Course on Sunday 13 April 2025 for a sporting event that boasts nearly 200 years of competition.A great afternoon on the river with all crews making their universities proudVice-Chancellor, Professor Irene…

As part of the Technical Area 3 (TA3) of the programme, nine research teams across the UK will focus on developing mathematical and computational methods to provide quantitative safety guarantees for AI systems. This will help ensure that advanced AI can be deployed responsibly in safety-critical sectors and domains such as infrastructure, healthcare, and manufacturing. Two of these projects are led by researchers at the University of Oxford:Towards Large-Scale Validation…

Discussions about maternal health and rights in Mexico tend to focus on health outcomes and access to healthcare. Academics and activists have long campaigned for the government to invest more resources in maternal health. Unfortunately, healthcare provision for women who want to have a child and are struggling to conceive hasn’t received enough attention. Uterus transplantation is a procedure where a woman who doesn’t have a functioning uterus receives one either from a…

Written for the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, the comprehensive Framework is designed to assist international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) in identifying potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, and to help them better understand the underlying cultural and societal norms that push people into situations in which they are exploited.In order to ensure that the Framework is widely adopted as a…

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is dedicated to exploring the future of journalism worldwide through debate, engagement, and research. Their activities include a flagship Journalist Fellowship programme, leadership programmes, and research programmes to provide timely, evidence-based analysis of issues facing journalism and news media around the world. Mitali Mukherjee. Mukherjee has led the Journalist Programmes since September 2022 and represented the Institute in conferences and events around the…

The University of Oxford’s Department of Materials celebrated a new chapter in its microscopy facilities with the arrival of a bespoke £3 million Transmission Electron Microscope. The JEOL GrandARM300F instrument will support cutting-edge research across the University’s Departments and Divisions, besides teaching the next generation of microscopists. The instrument was officially launched during the 100 birthday celebrations of Professor Peter Hirsch, one of the University’s foremost materials scientists. Housed in…

In a Q&A originally published in The Conversation, Dr Linda Yueh, Fellow in Economics at the University of Oxford, explores some of the most pressing questions triggered by Trump’s  ‘liberation day’.   Donald Trump has always talked about how much he likes tariffs. And on April 2 2025, he showed that he meant it. For the president it was ‘liberation day’, but for his fellow world leaders it was a tense…

Artificial intelligence no doubt offers great opportunities for human creativity. The UK is well placed to be at the forefront for relevant AI-development, but AI is also a highly disruptive technology which could pose risks to the livelihoods of human creators if not appropriately regulated.The rise of generative AI in recent years has heightened anxiety amongst creators and the public more widely: people are concerned for the future of human…

Dr Thomas Schlatzer and Dr Christopher Goult inspect the degraded Teflon sealing rings that started the team’s investigations into this new method for recycling PFAS chemicals. Credit: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford. PFAS – which stands for poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances – have been produced in large quantities for over 70 years. They are found in a wide variety of products including textiles, food packaging, non-stick cookware, and medical…

The University of Oxford in partnership with the Coler Lab at Seattle Children’s Research Institute (SCRI) has begun a new clinical trial called TB045, which aims to test tuberculosis (TB) vaccine safety and the host immune response in a first-in-man aerosol mycobacterial challenge infection model with healthy adult volunteers. TB is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and in 2023 was the leading cause of death from an…

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, who can justifiably take the political credit for the passage of the UK’s ground-breaking  Modern Slavery Act 10 years ago today, famously described modern slavery as ‘the greatest human rights issue of our time.’Our experience of modern slavery research for policy teaches us that the patient and systematic resort to properly resourced, independent and expert policy-relevant research, evidence and data, which is the product…

Being an elephant is no easy task. As massive herbivores weighing several tons, they must consume vast amounts of low-calorie vegetation every day. However, their sheer size means that moving around to find food costs significant physical effort. Literally every step matters—especially in the vast, often harsh landscapes they traverse. African Elephant with GPS tracker. Image credit: Jane Wynyard, Save The Elephants. Understanding how elephants move through the landscape is…

The report finds that just ten universities are responsible for 53% of the UK’s spinouts, with Oxford securing the top position. Oxford’s success reflects its world-class research base, deep commercialisation expertise, and a strong network of investors and partners.This year’s report also highlights a significant reduction in the equity stakes taken by universities in spinouts. In 2024, the average university stake dropped to 16% – down from 22% the year…

These findings, published in the journal iScience, have important implications for understanding the technical abilities associated with the making of perishable tools – a topic which remains a highly unknown aspect of human technological evolution.Termites are a good source of energy, fat, vitamins, minerals and protein for chimpanzees. To eat the insects, chimpanzees need to use relatively thin probes to fish the termites out of the mounds where they live.…

In 2023, Tuberculosis (TB) caused more deaths worldwide than any other infectious disease. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and although largely unheard of in the developed world by the late 20th century, cases have been rising globally in recent years and it continues to place an enormous social and economic burden on much of the developing world.Although often thought of as a lung disease, TB can infect…

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the developed world. The most widely used method of diagnosing prostate cancer involves a biopsy that passes a needle through the lining of the lower bowel (the rectum) and into the prostate gland, which is performed under local anaesthetic. This is called the transrectal route. Researchers and doctors have been looking for ways to improve the needle biopsy process, largely due to…

This year’s report pushes us to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. It turns out that sharing meals and trusting others are even stronger predictors of wellbeing than expected. In this era of social isolation and political polarisation we need to find ways to bring people around the table again — doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and…

This early data release showcases the amazing images that we will receive from the Euclid telescope. Even in this tiny area (less than 0.5% of the Euclid survey), Euclid has revealed millions of galaxies in exquisite detail.Dr Aprajita Verma (Department of Physics, University of Oxford)The release of the first survey data from the European Space Agency’s pioneering Euclid satellite – made public this week – has led to a flurry…

Oxford EARTH is the University tackling the critical challenges of our time through our world-leading, interdisciplinary research. Sustainable resource use is fundamental to long term prosperity, and this programme brings together expertise from across the sciences, engineering, and social sciences to pioneer innovative solutions. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, policymakers, and communities, Oxford EARTH will help shape a more prosperous and sustainable future.Professor Jim Naismith, Head of Mathematical, Physical,…

The spread of the internet and mobile phones has been one of the most significant technological revolutions of the 21st century.Digital technologies have become integral to many aspects of our lives and have brought wide ranging benefits to many, including greater information, better connectivity, and access to services in more cost-efficient ways.Why is digital gender equality so important? Our work has shown how women who own mobile phones and use the…

Dr Michael J Sulliivan, Credit: John Cairns Dr Sullivan’s team has been using multispectral imaging, along with X-ray fluorescence and fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy, to explore previously hidden parts of manuscripts. Multispectral imaging involves capturing a variety of images in different spectral bands, or wavelengths, from infrared to ultraviolet. By imaging a manuscript with over 40 different illuminations, the research team was able to draw out details beyond the normal visual…

The Oxford Young Sport Leaders Programme began as a pilot with Greyfriars School in the autumn of 2023 and includes sport sessions with University athletes and interactive sport-related workshops led by Oxford academics and departments.The success of the pilot led to an expansion of the Programme in 2024, when The Oxford Academy and Oxford Spires Academy joined Greyfriars School in a joint programme last summer. Twelve boys and girls in…

Researchers from the University of Oxford have followed the lives of 12,000 children in Ethiopia, India (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), Peru, and Vietnam since 2002, informing meaningful policy change to improve the lives of children and young people growing up in poverty. Preliminary findings from the seventh survey round, with the participants now aged 22 and 29, have been released today, and underscore the urgent need for policy action to address the…

The research, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and led by Professor Trisha Greenhalgh and Professor Martin McKee, is the most comprehensive UK-based analysis of peer-reviewed research into PA and AA roles to date. It was written to inform the ongoing government-commissioned Leng Review which is examining the effectiveness and safety of these roles in UK healthcare.PAs and AAs are being rapidly introduced across the NHS as a solution to workforce shortages and funding cuts.…

The UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) delivered its recommendations for the Seventh Carbon Budget last week, setting out a 'balanced pathway' for how we can work towards net zero emissions from 2038 to 2042 (we are currently in the Fourth Carbon Budget period).With the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK was the first country in the world to set legally binding carbon budgets.  The Act mandates the government to set…

According to new research published today by the Rees Centre at the Department of Education, University of Oxford, four times fewer care leavers and others with experience of children’s social care enter higher education by age 22.  The report, 'Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care', also reveals that they are more than twice as likely to drop out, compared with their…

We were excited to find clear evidence that even at small scales—within neighbourhoods rather than whole populations—the movements and life histories of individual birds actively shape the songs they sing.Lead researcher Dr Nilo Merino Recalde, Department of Biology, University of Oxford.The researchers spent three years collecting over twenty thousand hours of sound recordings from a wild population of great tits (Parus major) in Oxfordshire, which has been studied for the…