Our research impact

Woman at a climate protest

Uniting research disciplines, the University of Southampton aims to solve pressing global challenges. Our work ranges from enhancing cancer treatments to revolutionising renewable energy and defeating COVID-19. Uncover our multidisciplinary approach to a better future.

Filter highlights by theme

Research highlights

A modern passenger train pulling into a quiet railway station on a sunny day.

Advancing affordable rail electrification

Engineering
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Enabling UK rail infrastructure to become more sustainable.

Research highlights

Curved railway tracks running through a green forest landscape on a sunny day.
14 October 2025

Engineering resilient rail embankments

Engineering
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Future-proofing railway embankments from the impacts of climate change.

Research highlights

Mother walking with child
26 Sep 2025

Understanding and Projecting Childbearing Trends in the UK

AI, big data and analytics
Future societies and communities
Health and wellbeing
Fertility forecasting projections developed by Southampton academics are being used by national statistical offices and government departments. They help shape plans for future demand in schooling, housing, childcare services, and health and welfare provisions.

Research highlights

People wearing masks gather outdoors, some handing out fruit during a community food distribution.
8 Sep 2025

Tackling pension poverty

Future societies and communities
Health and wellbeing
To understand pensions inequality, researchers are talking with midlife and older age people from different communities across Southampton.

Research highlights

Looking along 2 rows of cars, bumper to tail with the rear lights shining. it is dark apart from the car lights.
22 Jul 2025

Highlighting risks from car brake dust emissions

Health and wellbeing
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Brake pad emissions can be more toxic than diesel exhaust.

Research highlights

Body sensor implant
7 Jul 2025

Monitoring chronic respiratory diseases

Health and wellbeing
Groundbreaking sticker could monitor breathing and help save lives

Research highlights

Better guidance for GPs on use of antidepressants
4 Jul 2025

Dealing with chronic pain

Health and wellbeing
Better guidance for GPs on use of antidepressants

Research highlights

Project planning using sticky notes moved across phases on a clipboard
4 Jul 2025

Incorporating AI and digital transformation into project management

AI, big data and analytics
Digital
Future societies and communities
With the significant growth in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, research from Southampton has shown these technologies can influence public and private sector project management.

Research highlights

Professor Sumeet Mahajan and student at a computer
9 Jun 2025

Rapid diagnosis of dementia

Health and wellbeing
A new rapid laser-based test that could diagnose different types of dementia in just minutes has been developed by Southampton researchers.

Research highlights

Director of Karaga Health Directorate, Mohammed Abdulai, speaking at a ‘Durbar’ (community engagement workshop) in Pishigu, Karaga, Northern Region
9 May 2025

Developing community-led climate and health solutions in Ghana

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Future societies and communities
Health and wellbeing
Working with local people to improve their understanding of the climate crisis on their health and wellbeing.

Research highlights

Three women at a ship harbour carrying baskets of fish on their heads.
30 Apr 2025

Promoting sustainable aquaculture

Engineering
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Future societies and communities
Marine and maritime
Researchers at Southampton are working with low-income fishing communities in India to promote sustainable fishing practices and protect biodiversity in the oceans.

Research highlights

Microscopic close up of a cancer cell
17 Mar 2025

Finding cancer treatments using AI

AI, big data and analytics
Health and wellbeing
Southampton researchers are using AI to study how immune cells function in the body, aiming to improve immunotherapy treatments and patient outcomes.

Research highlights

A large crowd of people stretches as far as the eye can see. A low, bright sun highlights a number of individuals who make up the crowd
7 Mar 2025

Mapping tomorrow’s population distribution

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Future societies and communities
AI, big data and analytics
Health and wellbeing
Research group WorldPop, based at Southampton, is developing maps which can be used to predict the impact of climate change on the distribution of Earth’s population by the end of the century. The maps will provide detailed pictures of humanity by 2100, including predicted population sizes, ages and genders.

Research highlights

Young child playing on a phone as an adult watches them over their shoulder looks
7 Mar 2025

Harnessing AI to improve eye health

AI, big data and analytics
Digital
Health and wellbeing
Innovative smartphone games support treatment and testing for children’s eye conditions.