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UCL Grand Challenges

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Impact

UCL Grand Challenges are driving innovative global solutions making a tangible difference to society's most challenging issues. Explore some of the programmes highlights.

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A strategy for global impact

The UCL Grand Challenges programme is a key part of UCL’s strategic vision, backed by significant investment in interdisciplinary research. Grand Challenges are building a framework that drives innovation, supports new ideas, and ensures that UCL remains a leader in addressing global issues. With £25 million in funding dedicated to these efforts, the commitment to tackling the world’s most urgent challenges is clear, and the strategy is showing results.

Transforming society 

By facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations, Grand Challenges is creating meaningful change on today's most pressing societal issues. Our approach to combining expertise across fields such as health, climate, technology, and social equity ensures that we develop innovative, evidence-based solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable.

  • Societal impact - by empowering our researchers and partners to think beyond traditional academic boundaries. 
  • Partnerships and collaborations - by bringing together world-class experts, industry leaders, policymakers and community groups.
  • Policy changes - by engaging with governments, NGOs and global organisations with evidence-based solutions.
  • Community successes - through direct community involvements, workshops and local partnerships.
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Impact reports

Our impact brochures detail the work Grand Challenges have supported throughout UCL, bringing disciplines together to solve the Grand Challenges facing the world.

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The Global Disability Hub

Building on the 2012 Paralympic legacy of sustainability and accessibility, Dr Maria Kett (UCL International Disability Research Centre) created a partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation to explore the lasting legacy of the 2012 games. 

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Understanding and addressing structural inequalities

UCL Grand Challenges partnered with the Resolution Foundation and UCL Public Policy to take an in-depth look at the role of structural inequalities in UK society, and how policy interventions can attempt to address inequalities in health, housing, education and employment.

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Community engagement improvements in former mining towns

UCL Grand Challenges partnered with the Durham Miners' Association to explore social and economic changes in former mining communities in the North of England to inform future policies for social improvement. 

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Research expertise partnerships providing life saving neonatal care

NeoTree is a partnership project kickstarted by UCL's Grand Challenges, aimed at improving the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in low-resource healthcare settings through digital innovations. The project focuses on developing and refining predictive models to ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment, ultimately reducing neonatal mortality rates. 

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Cultures of Decolonisation

A UCL Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding Working Group research initiative was developed to assess decolonisation in research structures, norms, and practices at UCL.

Grand Impacts Exhibition

Organised in collaboration with UCL Museums and Cultural Programmes, the exhibition featured a thematic exploration of work supported by Grand Challenges and highlights the range of impacts generated.