Impact Accelerator Account (IAA) Showcase

The University hosted a harmonised Impact Accelerator Account (IAA) Showcase event in January 2026, bringing together academics, external partners and funders to celebrate the impact of IAA-supported activity across the institution.

Since 2022, the University has received over £5 million in IAA funding, supporting more than 200 impact projects, activities and training initiatives and engaging with over 100 partners. Through the innovation and expertise of academic staff, this funding has delivered measurable impact across areas including technology adoption, economic growth, environmental protection, healthcare, culture and society.

The Showcase provided an opportunity to reflect on these achievements while fostering new connections to support future impact. More than 70 attendees took part, including IAA awardees, project partners, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) representatives, and impact leads. A poster exhibition showcased a selection of IAA-funded projects, demonstrating the breadth of work supported by the programme.

Highlights included pioneering cancer and antibiotic treatments, exploring medieval architecture, reviving Bermuda’s convict stories through graphic novels, and co-creating museum projects in Colombia. Social impact research tackles workplace policies, urban transport, and oral health for marginalised communities, while creative projects celebrate music, heritage, and living traditions. Together, these projects demonstrate the University’s commitment to research that transforms lives, communities, and culture—locally, globally, and across disciplines. Read more about the projects below. 

The event was opened by Professor Anthony Hollander, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact and Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the University of Liverpool.

“We are delighted to welcome our project partners and UKRI representatives to celebrate our collective achievements and share our future ambitions,”

Speakers included representatives from University partners that have collaborated on IAA-funded projects, such as National Museums Liverpool and global energy company Baker Hughes. The programme also featured talks from a number of University of Liverpool IAA awardees, including Dr Abi Merriel, Dr Jill Madine, Dr  Professor Sim Yates, Dr Heba Lakany, Professor Katie Atkinson and Dr James Organ. Dr Nishtha Venkatesan, Senior Commercialisation Manager at UKRI, spoke about the role of IAA funding in supporting innovation, commercialisation and knowledge exchange.

Driving impact and future opportunities

The harmonised IAA brings together five UKRI research council awards – AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, and MRC – forming a £5 million fund to support impact-focused projects, training, and events. The programme aligns with the University’s Liverpool 2031 strategy and strengthens its Knowledge Exchange Framework performance.

To date, it has supported collaboration with over 100 external partners and leveraged more than £25 million in external funding from early-stage projects. IAA funding has also enabled commercialisation, with over 130 researchers trained, five spin-out companies launched, and 17 patents filed or granted. Projects have contributed to policy change and public engagement, while inspiring future collaborations to expand interdisciplinary impact across sectors.

Below is just a snapshot of the breadth of projects across the University showcased at this event:

Name	Department	IAA Project Title
Prof Peter Weightman	Physics	Application of the Liverpool Diagnostic Infrared Wand (LDIR Wand) to Breast Cancer.
Dr Ishwar Singh	Pharmacology & Therapeutics	Novltexs: A new class of antibiotics against MDR Gram-negative bacterial pathogens
Dr Matthew Flynn	Music	Evaluating the Liverpool City Region’s ‘Bring Back Our Night-buses’ 12-month Pilot Project
Dr Glenn Cahilly-Bretzin	History	Centring the Past: The People and Skills in Making Medieval English Vaults
Dr Peter Hommel	Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology	Heritage Education Research and Development: Accelerating Impact in Mongolia (HERD:AIM)
Prof Katie Atkinson	Computer Sciences	Implementing tools for processing legal cases on the European Convention on Human Rights
Dr Rachel Ashman	Marketing (ULMS)	Changing Organisational Flexible Working and Family-Friendly Policy and Practice for Employees in Frontline Roles
Ataa Alsalloum	Architecture	Keeping Traditions Alive: Co-Creating the UK’s Living Heritage Framework – The Liverpool City Region Case
Prof Claire Taylor	Languages, Cultures and Film	Collaborative Working With Museums In Colombia: Co-Creating Content With Communities
Victoria Kearns	Eye & Vision Sciences	Hydrogel-fibre composites for the treatment of conjunctival melanoma
Janine Yazdi-Doughty	School of Dentistry	Oral health needs, experiences and research priorities of sex workers in Liverpool: Exploring the perspectives of sex workers and dental professionals
Dr Abi Merriel	Women’s and Children’s Health	Non-Invasive Monitoring Biosensors for Labour and Early life: Developing the Fetal lactate sensor (NIMBLE-Fetus)
Prof Simeon Yates	Communications and Media	Minimum Digital Living Standards project development
Dr Heba Lakany	School of Engineering	Exoskeleton-Assisted Rehabilitation: Aligning Technology with NHS Systems
Dr Jill Madine	Biochemistry	Taking antibody therapy to the next stage: exploration of feasibility for spin-in/out company development
Dr James Organ	Law	Theatre Informed Policy Making: Co-creating Liverpool’s First Free Legal Advice Policy-in-the-Round.