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Research to empower and inspire

We are a globally outstanding centre of teaching, learning and research excellence. We are a world top 100 university, with 12 of our subjects ranked in the world top 50 and 19 in the world top 100. We conduct innovative and impactful research to transform lives and make a difference, globally and locally: research to empower and inspire.
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Explore our global research

Discover how our research is changing lives around the world using the button below. We also have a static PDF version available.

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Latest news

'Pacman' style therapy tricks mutant p53 cancer cells into leaving healthy cells alone

First celebrated in 2000, World Cancer Day aims to raise awareness of a disease which claims millions of lives every year. The goal is that more research into innovative treatments will one day save many more lives from this condition. Dr Patricia Muller in our Biosciences department is working to discover whether mutant p53 cells can be manipulated to eat particles posing as cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.
The therapy works like a Pacman gobbling up the other cells.

How educational scholarships can help create long lasting peace

The sixth United Nations International Day of Education will be celebrated on Wednesday 24 January, with a theme of ‘learning for lasting peace’. Our PhD student Anas N. Almassri is exploring how Palestinians receiving scholarships are using these educational opportunities to build everyday peace.
Mr Anas Almassri delivering a talk in Gaza in 2018. Credit: Nada Flaifel, Me To You Initiative

Female CEOs issue less debt than their male counterparts

Female CEOs issue less company debt than male CEOs, because women are often more risk-averse than their male counterparts and therefore less likely to get the company into financial difficulty.
Black woman stands at the head of a conference table and leads a business meeting

Gossiping at work really is bad for your career

New research by Durham University Business School and NEOMA Business School highlights the detrimental effects of negative workplace gossip on career advancement.
Woman in foreground with group of people gossiping in the background of an office

Durham and the University of Tübingen strengthen partnership and launch new research investment

In partnership with the University of Tübingen in Germany, we have renewed our partnership agreement for a further five years and launched a new round of funding to promote joint research collaborations to address global challenges.
University of Tubingen and Durham University staff together in Tubingen, Germany

Durham law school partner of choice for Women Peace and Security expertise

Experts from our Law School have been assigned a unique role, as a leading partner of The Women Peace and Security (WPS) Helpdesk.
An image of a crowd of people in a drawn style

WoMaHN Inaugural Symposium and Key Members Meeting

This week Professor Cassandra Phoenix will join a group of international scholars at the University of Tilberg for the inaugural symposium and Key Member meeting of the Women’s Marginalised Health Network (WoMaHN), where she will present work from the programme of research she is leading within the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences on movement through menopause.
An image of an artwork called Hope II by Gustav Klimt

Durham astrophysicist lands prestigious 2024 Fowler Award for pioneering research

We are delighted to announce Dr Leah Morabito from our ground-breaking Physics Department has been awarded the 2024 Fowler Award by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
A picture of Dr Leah Morabito

Honour for Durham geographer’s climate change research

Durham geographer Professor Harriet Bulkeley has been honoured for her boundary-breaking research into climate change.
A head and shoulders photograph of Professor Harriet Bulkeley

Durham research secures Science and Nature front pages

Inspiring and impactful research from our departments of Biosciences and Physics has featured on the front covers of two of the world’s most prestigious journals in recent weeks: Science and Nature.
Front covers of Science and Nature magazines

Happy employees help make stock prices more accurate

Companies with high levels of employee satisfaction are associated with stock prices that more accurately reflect the value of the company, due to increased positive employee reviews giving more insight to investors on a firms performance, compared to firms with unsatisfied employees unlikely to leave a review.
Shot of an unrecognisable businessman superimposed over a cityscape

Changing African landscape may have influenced early human communication

The shift from dense forests to open plains in Africa may have caused our ancient ancestors to change their vocal calls, research involving our anthropologists has found.
A picture of an orangutan
Aerial view of Durham

Research Impact at Durham

Read about our Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 impact case studies.

Impact Case Studies
Korean drummers playing at the Oriental Museum

Global Culture

Interested in how the cultural activities of Durham's staff and student bodies enrich life worldwide? Head to the Global Culture page to find out.

Find out more