Our 2024 research and innovation round up

13 December 2024 | By: Newcastle University | 6 min read

Collage of images including a shot of a glacier, a slug, a forest and the Helix site in Newcastle

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate some highlights from 2024.

This year has been marked by great progress in research and innovation - from work that deepens our understanding of the world, to medical advancements that are transforming and saving lives.

Read on to see how we’re changing lives, protecting our planet’s future, and collaborating to tackle global challenges.

Helping people live healthier, happier, longer lives
Ensuring that there is enough for everyone, forever
Enriching the future through arts and culture
Helping to build sustainable communities fit for the future
Unlocking the power of data to discover solutions and drive innovation
Research for the future

Helping people live healthier, happier, longer lives

2024 was a year of groundbreaking accomplishments in Ageing and Health. From innovative ideas to tackle vitamin D deficiency and uncovering links between Parkinson's and delirium, to studying the impact of long Covid and highlighting lifestyle changes that could help prevent cancer, our work is making a real difference. Swipe through the images and click to read the full stories:

A tablescape of fried, boiled and scrambled eggs.

Cracking techniques for maximising vitamin D in eggs

How do you like your eggs in the morning: scrambled, or fried? The difference can mean more than just personal taste. Over 90% of UK adults consume less than the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, but can we combat vitamin D deficiency simply by changing the way we store and cook our eggs?

Patient in hospital holding hands with a visitor

Finding the link between Parkinson's disease and delirium

Older people with Parkinson’s are at increased risk of delirium and worse outcomes compared to those without. Find out how researchers from our Faculty of Medical Sciences have been working to identify the correlation between Parkinson's disease and delirium.

Sign post pointing North, South, East and West

Which region in England is worst affected by long Covid?

We found that a fifth of patients in areas of Northern England have suffered from long Covid. These findings follow patterns highlighting the devastating impact of Covid-19 across northern regions in comparison to southern areas.

An apple a day - cancer risk factors and lifestyle choices

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but a diet rich in wholegrains, vegetables, fruit, and beans could dramatically reduce all cancers. We led a new study that suggests approximately two out of five cases might be preventable if people adhere to adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Ensuring there is enough for everyone, forever

As the global population grows and our climate changes, society faces some of the biggest challenges it has ever known. From citizen science projects on slug diversity and engineering breakthroughs in reversible glue, to alarming glacial melt findings and cutting-edge solutions for sewage pollution, each story highlights a unique aspect of our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Assessing slug diversity and how the public can help to identify species

We’ve been asking volunteers to monitor slug activity in their gardens to help improve national advice on managing these molluscs in this unique, citizen scientist study.

When sticky becomes unsticky - the invention of reversible glue

A team from our School of Engineering have pioneered a water-based reversible glue that promises to change how we recycle. With scalability, a long shelf life, and stability in humid environments, this cost-effective adhesive has significant implications for plastics recycling.

Partnership in sprint to slow the flow of sewage pollution

Our engineers and scientists have been working with industry partners to stem the flow of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. At this year's Northumbrian Water Group Innovation Festival, we led the sprint workshop - 'Zero Impact Storm: Is it possible?' - exploring how harvesting and reusing rainwater could reduce spills from storm overflows.

Closer to nature's tipping point: rapidly accelerating glacier melt in Alaska

Alaska’s Juneau Icefield is melting faster than at any time in the past 250 years. Could we be approaching an irreversible tipping point? New research led by Professor Bethan Davies reveals alarming new data on accelerated glacial melt and its global implications.

Enriching the future through arts and culture

For our Culture and Creative Arts stories, 2024 was the year of angels and phoenixes: of memory and rebirth. Discover how Professor Anne Whitehead led a project documenting a memorial site at the base of the Angel of the North, while artist Professor Uta Kögelsberger’s work brought attention to both the natural and human-assisted recovery of forests in the aftermath of devastation.

Sounding the Angel: recording the memorial at the Angel of the North

This unique project, led by Professor Anne Whitehead in collaboration with sound artist David de la Haye, documents a profound dialogue between the people who leave memorials at the Angel, the sounds of the memorial site, and the resonances of the Angel of the North itself.

Forest Complex: art and the regeneration of forests

Forest Complex, from celebrated artist Uta Kögelsberger, brings together research, photography, video, and sound to tell the stories of damaged forests and garner hope for the future.

Trauma and complicity in Preti Taneja's 'Aftermath'

Newcastle University alumnus and host of The World Literature Podcast, Dr. Ivan Stacy, discusses his recent conversation with Preti Taneja, Professor of World Literature and Creative Writing in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics. He explains how 'Aftermath', Taneja’s award-winning work of creative non-fiction, asks us to consider the relationship between trauma and complicity.

Read more Culture and Creative Arts stories

Helping to build sustainable communities fit for the future

In 2024, we focused on building sustainable communities and reimagining urban environments to benefit people and the planet. Discover how we explored innovative materials like fungi-based composites to revolutionise sustainable design, advanced the concept of innovation districts to drive economic and social growth, and strengthened partnerships and engagement to ensure our teaching and research enriches lives in Newcastle upon Tyne and beyond.

BioKnit - Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment 1200 x 800

From fungi to furniture: the future of sustainable design?

Researchers at the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment have created a material that has huge potential to transform the buildings around us. This combination of textiles and mycelium composite offers exciting possibilities. Could we see buildings that are grown in the future, rather than built?

The design, management, and programming of innovation districts

Developing innovation districts has become a popular strategy worldwide to catalyse economic growth and deliver urban regeneration. Prompted by a recent project with the University of Minnesota (USA) and drawing from experience so far with Newcastle’s two innovation districts, we consider the importance of innovation districts and how to get them right.

What does an engaged university look like?

Our engagement team works with colleagues to strengthen relationships between the University and our external partners and communities. Andrea Henderson, Head of Engagement, shares how the team’s work ensures the benefits of our research and teaching are shared within Newcastle upon Tyne and beyond.

Women From Newcastle: Celebrating our forgotten female trailblazers

In this episode of our From Newcastle podcast, Jill Taylor-Roe, Director of Academic Services and University Librarian explores the lives to two incredible women who have shared Newcastle's past, Dr Ethel Williams and Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.

Unlocking the power of data to discover solutions and drive innovation

Data has become a cornerstone of innovation, driving breakthroughs that enhance lives and tackle critical challenges. This year our researchers have led transformative projects across diverse fields. From leveraging AI to diagnose ADHD and to help detect early signs of bowel cancer, to exploring the potential of a UK digital pound and advancing digital twinning technology to combat corrosion, we're demonstrating the power of data-driven solutions to shape the future. Explore the full stories below:

Graphic of digestive system illustrating an X-Ray

AI tool can detect early signs of bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is the second biggest killer cancer after lung cancer and claims around 16,800 lives a year, or 46 each day, in the UK. Bowel cancer is treatable and curable if detected early. A successful trial, led by Professor Colin Rees, used artificial intelligence during colonoscopies to spot abnormalities that could potentially lead to bowel cancer.

Participant interviewed during ADHD diagnosis session

The future of ADHD diagnosis, powered by Newcastle research and AI

We're leading an interdisciplinary team to develop a machine that uses artificial intelligence to provide quick and accurate diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Diagnosing ADHD early could make a big difference to individuals and health and social care systems.

Graphic od data points making up a £ sterling sign

What is the digital pound, and does the UK need it?

The way we use money in the United Kingdom is changing, bringing opportunities and new considerations for public policy. A UK central bank digital currency – a ‘digital pound’ – would be a new form of digital currency, sitting alongside, rather than replacing, cash. Professor Darren Duxbury, Chair in Finance at our Business School, discusses what it is and why it might be needed.

How our Singapore campus is tackling corrosion with digital twinning

Cathodic protection (CP) is critical in preventing the corrosion of vital infrastructure, such as bridges, pipelines and reinforced concrete structures. Now, at our Singapore campus, we’re exploring how digital twinning technology can improve the design – and manage the effectiveness – of CP systems.

Research for the future

We're also examining how research happens: what are the roles of the culture and systems that surround research? From opening up conversations about challenges like failure to creating smarter, more collaborative ways of utilising the expertise of our research facilities, we're helping shape a more connected and impactful research environment.

How do we destigmatise 'failure' in the research environment?

In research, failure is often seen as an off-limits subject, something to be hidden or ignored. Some failures are more difficult to handle than others and, understandably, when things go wrong people may be reluctant to discuss it. Amidst the celebrations of major grant successes and high-impact journal publications, the Failing Forward project is one way we’re working to create a research culture that normalises the discussion of failure and recognises it as an essential part of the learning process.

Rethinking research facilities: harnessing expertise together

Most universities have a suite of high-end facilities to support research activities. But here at Newcastle, our Research Facilities team is taking this provision one step further, building a holistic offer to join up the various facilities to better support academics and commercial partners. Learn how the expertise behind the kit gets the results.