Lab researchers

Imperial is home to the greatest concentration of high-impact research of any major UK university

Research impact

Explore just some of the ways Imperial research helps make the world a healthier, safer and cleaner place to live.

Bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening

A national screening programme to detect the early stages of colorectal cancer will prevent 3,000 deaths a year.
St Pancras station

Managing mega-projects

Major construction endeavours have benefited from an to project management pioneered by Imperial College Business School.
Mazarin Chest

Conserving history

A unique collaboration has allowed people around the world to view one of the finest pieces of seventeenth century Japanese art.
Pile foundation site

Firm foundations

A new type of pile foundation to support deep water oil and gas platforms and offshore wind turbines is impacting safety and cost of these projects.
A meadow

Goodbye sneezes

The misery of hay fever and pet allergies could soon be a thing of the past thanks to an Imperial biotech spin-out company now valued at nearly £600m
Saiga Antelopes

Saving species

Conservation work at Imperial led to the saiga antelope being classified as critically endangered, helping the population rebound by almost 190%.
Medicial chip held in tweezers

Tailoring treatments

The promise of personalised medicine has become a reality in recent years with the work of an Imperial team's rapid digital diagnostic technologies.
Ipad in use

Market leader

Mobile phone tariffs have plummeted, thanks to regulatory decisions underpinned by Business School market research.
Male having an MRI scan

A clearer picture

People with suspected neurological conditions are getting clearer and earlier diagnoses thanks in part to a new MRI scanning method.

Clean up act

Clean up act

A mathematical model of ocean currents, covering nearly the entire globe, is being used to improve forecasts for shipping, fisheries and more.
Jars of samples

Pandemic planning

Imperial research which models the effects of intervention on the spread of pandemics is helping to minimise their health and economic impact.

Key messages

Researchers looking at screen

First for impact

The REF’s new impact measure ranks Imperial’s research highest of any major university. Moreover, eight of Imperial’s 14 REF-assessed research areas are top or joint-top for “outstanding” or “very considerable” impact.

Read more about Imperial's performance in the 'impact' category. (Login required)

lab

World leading

  • Imperial comes fourth out of major UK universities for 4* or “world-leading” research, behind the London School of Economics, Oxford and Cambridge, and just ahead of UCL
  • 91% of Imperial research is classed as “world-leading” (46% achieved the highest possible 4* score) or “internationally excellent” (44% achieved 3*) – the highest proportion of any major university.

Learn more about the quality of Imperial's research. (Login required)

Engineering

Moving up

Imperial research quality has improved significantly since the Research Assessment Exercise 2008. The proportion of 4* or 3* classified research has moved from 73% to 91%, and 4* graded research has increased from 26% to 46%, while we have maintained the proportion of eligible staff submitted for assessment (93% in RAE 2008; 92% in REF 2014).

Find out more about Imperial's improvements since 2008. (Login required)

Public Health

Top overall for…

Civil Engineering

Top three overall for…

James Stirling

Learn more about REF 2014