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HomeNewsTwo Oxford academics receive ERC Synergy Grants to tackle major scientific challenges Two Oxford University academics are to co-lead ambitious new research projects backed by European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grants, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Synergy Grants foster collaboration between outstanding researchers, enabling them to combine their expertise, knowledge and resources to push the boundaries of scientific discovery.   Of the 712 proposals submitted this year,…

The University of Oxford has celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of undergraduate Scholars to complete the Oxford Laidlaw Scholars Programme, delivered through the Oxford SDG Impact Lab in partnership with The Laidlaw Foundation.Held at Pembroke College, Oxford the ceremony on November 11 brought together students, University leaders, community collaborators and guests from across the Laidlaw network. Scholars from colleges and departments across the University, including those from the Laidlaw Women…

Overcoming a key challenge in soft roboticsJust as fireflies can begin flashing in unison after watching one another, the robot’s air-powered limbs also fall into rhythm, but in this case through physical contact with the ground rather than visual cues. This emergent behaviour has previously been observed in nature, and this new study represents a major step forward towards programmable, self-intelligent robots.Lead author Dr Mostafa Mousa, Department of Engineering Science,…

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause severe pelvic pain and infertility. It affects an estimated one in ten women and girls worldwide, yet the new research shows that across the 194 WHO member states, nearly half of all countries have no national policies or clinical guidance on diagnosis or care.Global gaps in care and guidanceThe first study, Availability of region-specific endometriosis care guidance: a global scoping review,…

Across the globe, judges are stepping into the fight against climate change. From Seoul to Strasbourg, courts have delivered landmark judgments about their governments’ failures to tackle the crisis. But can judicial climate rulings really make a difference when scientists warn us that clear signs of human-induced climate change reached new heights in 2024?Our new study at Oxford’s Bonavero Institute of Human Rights explores how courts are crafting human rights-based climate remedies…

Professor Alan Stein With its layers of bureaucracy and realpolitik, the annual COP summit – the UN international meeting focusing on climate – can feel frustratingly slow and ineffective.Every now and again, though, a development renews faith in the system. For me, today’s release of the Belém Health Action Plan – and specifically its crucial inclusion of children – is one such moment.A health plan with real potentialThe Belém Health Action Plan is the first global…

This appointment will highlight Oxford’s intent to cement its position as a global leader in AI research and innovation, uniting expertise from across its four academic divisions and the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM). The initiative, jointly funded by the divisions and supported by the John Fell Fund, will enhance coordination, visibility and impact of AI research across the University, while fostering new collaborations and investment opportunities.The new AI@Oxford Research…

Scientists at the University of Oxford, have identified how rare populations of abnormal cells drive the formation and persistence of fistulas - painful, tunnel-like tracts that develop in around 30% of people with Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a long-term disease that affects around 1 in every 650 people, in which parts of the gut become swollen, inflamed, and ulcerated. When ulcers or inflammation in the intestinal wall fail to heal…

A major new initiative involving Oxford experts aims to redefine human-based research models to improve understanding of disease and accelerate the development of new medicines.The joint £15.9 million investment by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust, and Innovate UK will enable the development of advanced, specific, and highly reproducible human in vitro models, with the aim of making them widely available to researchers in academia and industry.In vitro models…

Researchers found that national data frameworks focus too narrowly on whether care leavers are not homeless, not unemployed, and not in trouble - missing key indicators of emotional well-being, identity, and personal growth.When care leavers are only measured by narrow metrics, their stories get reduced to numbers. This work reframes success around relationships, identity and growth - things that really shape a young person’s future.Dr Nikki Luke, Research Fellow at the Rees Centre,…

It found that shame partially explained the relationship between hairpulling and depression, and fully explained the relationship between hairpulling and anxiety. Hairpulling, also known as trichotillomania, is a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB) that typically begins in early adolescence. Hairpulling can happen from anywhere on the body, including the scalp, eyelashes and eyebrows.The new paper, published in JCPP Advances, looked at the severity of hairpulling, and the symptoms of depression and…

The Chancellor will deliver the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025. In a pre-Budget statement from Downing Street, Rachel Reeves talked about a Budget built on “fairness and opportunity” and declined to rule out tax increases. That messaging tracks weeks of reporting on a tougher fiscal outlook and the likelihood of additional revenue-raising measures. Financial coverage has highlighted a prospective downgrade to productivity by the Office for Budget Responsibility, which would punch…