Research themes

Our work is structured around three key themes: Infection and Immunity, Damage and Repair and Experimental Medicine. These themes bring together our strengths, fostering collaboration and strategic focus across disciplines.

Our themes explore how inflammation begins and its roles in development, health, and disease. We study both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) inflammation to understand their effects on the body. Using experimental medicine, we aim to translate our findings to benefit patients across a wide range of conditions, with impact on a global scale.

This approach enhances the visibility and impact of our research while supporting career development and innovation. It also strengthens partnerships by aligning our goals with those of our academic, clinical, and industry collaborators. The IRR Chemistry Hub supports all three themes by developing nanosensors and other tools to track and manage inflammation and infection.

Together, our themes drive meaningful progress from discovery to real-world application.

Microscope image of immune cells (green) with their nuclei labelled (magenta) clustered at a wound made to a Drosophila embryo

The Infection and Immunity research theme brings together researchers to study how inflammation begins, progresses, and resolves, and its role in development, health, and disease.

Immunofluorescence image of a diabetic foot ulcer

The Damage and Repair research theme investigates how tissues respond to inflammatory injury and the long-term effects of chronic inflammation.

Microscopic image of thin threaded and stained blue fungal hyphae

The Experimental Medicine research theme unites experts from fields like chemistry, physics, engineering and social science, to translate scientific discoveries into real-world health solutions.