Our Themes

UCL Grand Challenges brings researchers together from across UCL, setting the agenda for future research, while building bridges with external partners. The programme has become part of our university’s institutional fabric.

By investing in cross-disciplinary research, UCL Grand Challenge initiative is having a major impact on solving some of the world's most pressing problems.

New themes

Grand Challenge of Mental Health & Wellbeing

Previous themes

Grand Challenge of Justice and Equality

Justice & Equality examines the barriers that people face to just solutions and equality of opportunity.

Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding

Cultural Understanding looks at the differing, complex and evolving relationships between people, communities and culture.

Grand Challenge of Transformative Technology

Transformative Technology considers how innovation and technology can have far-reaching benefits for society and the planet.

Grand Challenge of Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Cities examines one of the most urgent issues facing the world today: increasing and relentless urbanisation.

Grand Challenge of Global Health

Global Health combines intellectual capital from across all disciplines, to find innovative, workable solutions.

Grand Challenge of Human Wellbeing

Human Wellbeing goes beyond traditional definitions of health and works with a wide range of disciplines

View our funded projects →