Research impact at Plymouth - University of Plymouth Skip to content Research impact is an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, health, the environment, quality of life, public policy or services. The University of Plymouth takes a solutions-oriented systems-thinking approach to solving complex global challenges, addressing critical issues through the lenses of environment, society, economy and place to create strong, sustainable research impact beyond academia. Aligning globally to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, our work aims to drive sustainability both on land and in the marine environment, improve human health and care, and support communities. Our research also drives innovation on our doorstep,and we contribute to the economic growth and development of the South West region. Plymouth's research and innovation consistently translates into real-world applications, reinforcing our broad leadership in marine and sustainability, and significant contributions to health and creative industry research. Through partnerships and collaborations – spanning academia, industry, and local communities – we co-create impactful, scalable, and relevant solutions to critical challenges, influencing policy on both national and international stages to drive meaningful change for the benefit of society and the environment. Professor Kevin Jones Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Research and Innovation Search research Impact highlights Stemming the tide of microplastics From providing evidence to support legislation that prohibited the use of microbeads in wash-off cosmetics, to publishing research in high-impact journals on washing machines, car tyres and plastic shopping bags, the work of the International Marine Litter Research Unit, led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, has become the epitome of impact-led, socially engaged research. Improving beach safety to save lives Led by Professor Gerd Masselink, the Coastal Marine Applied Research team has been investigating the natural processes that drive the sudden manifestation of rip currents to determine the times and conditions that produce the greatest risk to bathers. This has been taken forward through the development of a rip current forecast, which is received by lifeguard managers around the UK and New Zealand. Offshore and marine renewable energy The development of new green energy sources, such as offshore renewable energy, is seen as fundamental to the UK strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. More than 40 industry partners have worked on 70 projects with the COAST Lab – and this collaborative track record is one of the reasons Professor Deborah Greaves OBE FREng has been leading the £9 million Supergen ORE Hub to provide research leadership to the sector. Improving the lives of people with MS Developing better treatments and improving care for those with multiple sclerosis is of paramount importance – and a major focus for health services and drug companies. Led by Professor Jeremy Hobart, the University has developed patient-reported outcome measures that are being used in clinical trials around the world to better record the impact of drugs. And through the MS Brain Health Initiative, it has developed a positioning statement, international guidelines for MS care and an audit tool that is being piloted in 14 different countries. The global threat posed by hepatitis C virus Hepatitis C is a global health crisis affecting the lives of an estimated 180 million people. A major contributor to liver disease, in the UK alone, around 180,000 people are infected by hepatitis C at any one time. To counter this, Professor Matthew Cramp has established the Hepatology Research Group and built from scratch the South West Liver Unit at Derriford Hospital, from where he both treats patients and conducts clinical trials. Person-centred care for long-term conditions Faced with the challenge of an ageing population, person-centred approaches to care have also been shown to reduce costs, such as through reduced bed days and reduced readmission rates, and improve outcomes for patients, including increasing wellbeing, self-efficacy, and reductions in pain and fatigue. Dr Helen Lloyd’s work has been instrumental in developing models for integrating person-centred and coordinated care for people with multiple long-term conditions. Contemporary approaches to history engagement Professor James Daybell has tapped into modern modes of delivery to bring to life 'new' histories that have captured the imagination of countless people around the world. Working with historian Dr Sam Willis (himself a Visiting Research Fellow at the University) and backed by Dan Snow's History Hit Network, Professor Daybell created Histories of the Unexpected, a phenomenally successful podcast that has been downloaded in more than 150 countries. Decolonising cultural heritage and transforming narratives of remembering Focusing on the relationship between colonial settler communities and indigenous populations in North America, Dr Kathryn Gray’s research bridged two distinct fields: New England Studies and Red Atlantic Studies. These methodological approaches tend to operate in separate spheres and Gray is one of a very small number of scholars working to connect them. Making music with brain signals to improve the quality of life of severely motor-impaired individuals Professor Eduardo Miranda’s Brain-Computer Music Interfacing system has challenged some of the myths and assumptions surrounding severe motor disability and has had a profoundly positive effect upon the mental health and wellbeing of patients, who were able to transcend their physical limitations to create art. Discover more about our environmental, economic and societal impact At a glance... University of Plymouth submitted 49 impact case studies to REF2021 our case studies demonstrated impact on the environment, politics, health, culture, technology, society and the economy reaching far and wide, Plymouth's global impact locations included Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, North and South America. Access all our REF2021 case studies REF2021 University of Plymouth submission highlights Marine Institute Advancing sustainable use of the marine environment through our systems-thinking approach to research, education and innovation. Sustainable Earth Institute Solving complex global sustainability challenges through a holistic, solutions-oriented approach to research, education, innovation and knowledge exchange. Find an expert Thought leadership Public policy Resources for staff (requires login) News Events Latest news Scientists explore whether plastic particles could be linked to significant rises in liver disease 23 April 2026 “Why choose Plymouth? Because we don’t just imagine the future – we build it” 16 April 2026 Project aims to support people with health conditions or disabilities to overcome barriers to employment 15 April 2026 Defence Growth Deal provides £50million boost to Plymouth and South West 9 April 2026 University leads partnership awarded up to £20 million to grow South West's thriving autonomous sectors 2 April 2026 More related news Upcoming academic and research events School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences’ Postgraduate Opportunities Session 7 May 2026 12:30 - 13:30 Global Health Online Information Event 19 May 2026 18:00 - 19:00 School of Biological and Marine Sciences’ Postgraduate Opportunities Session 2 June 2026 13:00 - 14:00 Autobiographical Processing and Psychopathology Conference 2026 23 June 2026 - 24 June 2026 More related events