Our research

As a Faculty of experts in a broad range of health and life science disciplines, we aspire to positively impact the health and wellbeing of our city, our country and our planet. We work in collaboration with our partners to ensure our research has significant, tangible outcomes for society. The University reinforced its place as a world-leading research institution in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Clinical Medicine

Ranked 11th in the UK for Research Power, with 100% of our impact rated outstanding or very considerable.

Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care

97% of our research is world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*), making us joint 3rd in the UK. 100% of our impact and environment is world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Placed joint 1st in the UK for our world-leading (4*) environment and ranked in the top 10 in the UK for Research Power.

Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science

Liverpool has the top Veterinary School return for 4* overall research. Our research is ranked joint 1st in the UK for world leading research environment and 3rd for world leading research.

Our challenges

Ageing and chronic disease

The world’s population aged 60 years will double in the next four decades, and this will also mean increased incidence of chronic age-related diseases placing huge burden on global healthcare resources. We're working to improve the quality of life in the elderly and exploring ways to offset negative effects of ageing.
Cancer

Affecting 1 in 2 people of all ages, cancer cuts through society, causing suffering on a global scale. Using our team science approach we are investigating cancer biology alongside early detection and therapies in cancers regionally high incidence.
Cardiovascular disease

Liverpool City Region has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the UK and contributes directly to poorer life expectancy in the most deprived areas of the area. We're targeting the challenges and inequalities of poor cardiovascular health, disease epidemiology and prevention to allow people to live longer healthier lives.
Children's health

We have a unique child-centred approach to research with children and young people and their local communities, bringing together citizens, researchers and clinicians across the Liverpool City Region. Through initiatives such as the C-GULL programme, we have adopted a true 'life course' approach to enhance the wellbeing of our children at all stages of their lives.
Health inequality

The health of children and adults of all ages in Liverpool is generally worse than the England average, with life expectancy for both men and women lower than the national average. Our world-leading research addresses these health inequalities, improves health outcomes and quality of life.
Infection and antimicrobial resistance

Tackling the global problem of infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires a truly multidisciplinary approach and multilateral action. There's never been a more important time to focus our research into infectious diseases and supporting our local, national and global communities.
'One Health' and food security

We're focused on the relationships between human health, animal health and the environment and methods of improving control of infectious diseases in food-producing animals, better food safety systems and sustainable food production.
Safer drugs and smart delivery of new therapeutics

We provide pre-clinical and early phase clinical support as new therapies and innovative healthcare treatment are developed, ensuring safety, quality and efficacy while putting the patient outcomes first

Centres of Excellence

Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics

This Centre aims to broaden understanding of long-acting medicines, create new interventions and accelerate the research and development of new therapies.

Civic Health Innovation Labs

An interdisciplinary research centre tackling global health challenges with civic data and technology, while driving positive change for the people of the Liverpool City Region..

Liverpool Head and Neck Centre

This Centre combines internationally recognised clinical and research strengths to deliver improvements in the quality and safety of patient care.

Microbiome Innovation Centre

The Microbiome Innovation Centre (MIC) combines state of the art facilities with diverse expertise from across numerous disciplines including ecological, biological, clinical and veterinary science.

Our institutes

We deliver research through our four institutes, which bring together the vast skills base we need to tackle our challenges.

Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences

Addressing the issues that are most important to local health challenges, delivering results from bench to bedside, positively changing patient care in our communities.
Institute of Population Health

Improving the health and wellbeing of the population and reducing inequalities by exploring how systems, practices and policies work together.
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences

Tackling major challenges of the 21st century, including emerging infectious diseases, food security, antimicrobial resistance and the impacts of environmental change.
Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology

Responding to important societal problems, from improving crops to creating new diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions across many diseases.

Case studies

One Health approaches to antimicrobial resistance

The University of Liverpool is taking a 'One Health' approach, encompassing human, animal and environmental impact.

Policy in practice: research that reduces health and social inequalities

Research at the University of Liverpool aims to address the health divide.

Vaccines: The race to save more lives

The University of Liverpool's vaccine research and the fight against devastating infectious diseases.

Facilities

Liverpool Shared Research Facilities (LIV-SRF)

Liverpool Shared Research Facilities offer flexible access to world-class equipment and expertise through its Shared Research Facilities.

Collaborate with us

Our interdisciplinary world-leading research, unique model for collaboration and cutting edge facilities enable our academic community to work with you to help address societal challenges and deliver novel solutions for your organisation.

Find out how you can collaborate with us and access our facilities.

Accreditations and partnerships

Our local and global partnerships provide vital support to our research activity.