A case study submitted to the Research Excellence Framework 2014 demonstrating the impact of the University's research.
Through the visualisation of cellular events in live tissue, researchers Dr Claire Peppiatt-Wildman and Dr Scott Wildman of Medway School of Pharmacy have developed new models for investigating kidney and bladder function in states of health and disease. Their findings represent a significant step forward, helping clinicians and physiologists to understand responses to drug-toxicity, and the onset and progression of disease.
The imaging of live bladder tissue, adapted for bedside application, has already altered clinical practice within the NHS. And the technology could help to develop new drugs to treat kidney disease. The research team has established collaborative links with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and biotechnology company Biogen Idec.
The Research Excellence Framework 2014 showed that Kent ranks 17th in the UK for research intensity, has world-leading research in all subjects and that 97% of our research is deemed to be of international quality.
Contributing to the University’s REF success were the number of our world class publications, the number of research active staff and the demonstrable impact our research has made to the sciences and to economic, social and cultural understanding.