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, patient groups 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.

Infection and Immunity

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

This theme brings together researchers to study how infection and inflammation begins, progresses and resolves, its role in development, and in health and disease.

Damage and Repair

Immunofluorescence image of a diabetic foot ulcer

This theme investigates how tissues respond to inflammatory injury and the long-term effects of chronic inflammation.

Experimental Medicine

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, with experts in clinical medicine, to translate scientific discoveries into real-world health solutions.

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