King's Annual Impact Report 2023

ANNUAL IMPACT report 2023

INTRODUCTION FROM

From Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Shitij

Kapur

As Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London, I am thrilled to be introducing our Impact Report for 2023. It has been a remarkable year, full of inspiring work.

At King’s, we have a proud history of inspiring bright minds to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. This started with our founding ethos of making the world a better place and is continued by our community every day as they use research and learning as a force for good. From the discovery of the structure of DNA and developing life-changing therapies, to making education available to underrepresented groups, the work of the King’s community has been truly transformational.

At the heart of this impact has always been our people. From Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s (Theology, 1965; MTh, 1966) vital role in South Africa’s anti-apartheid campaign, and Dame Cicely Saunders (Nursing, 1944; Medicine, 1957), who changed the way people are cared for when they die, to Kofoworola Abeni Pratt (Nursing, 1950), who was the first black nurse in the NHS and a pioneer of nursing in post-independence Nigeria.

This legacy of knowledge with purpose is still at the heart of King’s today and it is what has helped King’s go from strength to strength. The following stories are a remarkable illustration of the real impact that passionate, talented people can make. Including student Abigail Worrell, who used the Policy Idol competition at King’s as a springboard for her career and to support people affected by drink spiking, and PhD student Andro Mathewson, whose research will help governments and policymakers across the globe understand which military technology poses the most serious risk to peace.

Reflecting on all King’s has achieved in the last year, I am inspired by the breadth of our impact. We address the most pressing issues in our local communities, including the development of crucial initiatives to support people living with eating disorders in south-east London. And the pioneering work of PhD student Nhat Phung in developing uses for AI in intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries is a remarkable demonstration of King’s commitment to tackle challenges affecting people across the world. This is enhanced by our promise to walk the talk on climate and sustainability, and the drive of our entire university population to make their mark during our Global Day of Service.

I am incredibly proud of each and every person who has made the work in this report possible. As we look to the future, my promise is that we will continue to attract the best and brightest to King’s and harness their passion

to develop the next generation of changemakers. We will build a diverse community that is reflective of the world around us, and who have the bravery and confidence to challenge the status quo and change the world.

None of this is possible without the support and generosity of people like you. I am so grateful that you have dedicated your time, money, expertise and passion to help us reach our goals. I hope you are as proud as I am as you read about the impact you have made, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make a real difference.

Thank you once again.

Professor Shitij

Vice-Chancellor & President

Kapur

Left: Students enjoying the redeveloped Quad on the Strand Campus

KING’S IN NUMBERS

HISTORY

72 years have passed since Dr Rosalind Franklin’s team at King’s captured the image known as Photo 51, which demonstrated the double-helix structure of DNA

1829 year of foundation

1831 in October, the university opened its doors to students for the first time

100th birthday of the King’s mascot, Reggie the Lion, who was introduced by student Mary Edwards at a special meeting of the King’s College Union Society

RESEARCH & RANKINGS

6th in the UK and 38th in the world in the Times Higher Education University Rankings 2024 6th

in the world for research power (2021 Research Excellence Framework, published) 91 per cent of graduating students achieved a 2:1 grade or higher according to the latest Student Degrees Outcome Statement; 46 per cent of those students attained a 1st Class degree £273 million annual research income

10,877 number of research papers published by King’s as of November 2023

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SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY

33,000 students, hailing from over 190 countries, are now at King’s

130,000+ applications received this year for the 2023–24 academic year

14 schools

48 departments

700+ research centres, networks, labs and units are located within the nine King’s faculties

250,000+ alumni across the world

14 of our alumni have gone on to be named Nobel laureates

1st class university and 12th out of 169 UK universities ranking for King’s by the People & Planet’s University League, the only comprehensive and independent league table of UK universities ranked by environmental and ethical performance

100 per cent of the electricity we purchase comes directly from UK wind energy (since October 2017)

2030 King’s target year by when to reach net zero carbon

8,460 hours of volunteering staff and students have dedicated to sustainability projects this year

2 years ahead of schedule for King’s to be fully divested from all fossil fuels

THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2023

The London Defence Conference, hosted by King’s School of Security Studies, united global security experts and political leaders, such as UK PM Rishi Sunak and Polish President Andrzej Duda.

King’s research was presented in the Eureka exhibition at the 2023 London Design Biennale, including innovations like Purrble, a smart toy aiding emotional regulation for young people grappling with mental health challenges.

Dr Sabrina Bajwah won the King’s Changemaker Award at the 2023 King’s Distinguished Alumni Awards for her work to challenge structural racism in palliative care.

The King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU) celebrates its 150th birthday this year. KCLSU is the oldest student union in the UK and has been supporting students since 1873.

Tushar Jumar, a second-year BSc Politics student, proved that every vote counts as he was elected to Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in Hertfordshire, edging out his nearest competitor by just a single vote after a recount.

King’s and Qatar Charity, a prominent Middle East and North Africa (MENA) humanitarian and development international non-governmental organization (INGO), joined forces to enhance healthcare in high-risk regions. A £1.1 million donation will launch the initial project in Somaliland.

Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Professor Gonda van Steen came together at a King’s event to discuss periods of forced child adoption in Greece and Australia, and its impact.

Nursing at King’s ranked second in the world for the fifth year in a row, according to global higher education analysts QS in their latest World University Rankings by Subject.

Over the past two years, the Sanctuary Programme, led by King’s, has welcomed 38 students and Fellows from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus affected by the war in Ukraine.

The student-led GKT Gazette marked its 150th anniversary edition. Since 1872, it has been a historical chronicle of life at the King’s medical, dental and nursing schools, alongside Guy’s, King’s College, and St Thomas’ hospitals.

This year King’s welcomed 10 scholars to the Global Visiting Fellows programme – an initiative aimed at enhancing global collaboration, mutual learning, and supporting scholars from low- and middleincome countries.

Theo Dan, a second-year Philosophy, Politics & Economics undergraduate, was included in national coach Steve Borthwick’s 33-man squad that competed in France for the Rugby World Cup 2023.

SERVICE

Interview with Professor ’Funmi Olonisakin

The idea of service has been central to King’s charitable mission since the university was founded in 1829. As King’s has grown and evolved over the last two centuries, so has our understanding of service to society. Today, service at King’s encapsulates the personal and the collective drive for change; it runs from providing King’s students with the opportunity to give back to equipping young Africans with the skills they need to thrive. None of these efforts would be possible without the people behind them – the changemakers who are the lifeblood of King’s.

We sat down with one of these individuals –Professor ’Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement & Service) – to discuss what service means for her and her work, how that meaning has changed during her time as both a student and a staff member at King’s, and how King’s is able to live up to our mission of service to society.

As somebody who came to King’s originally as a student, what did the King’s mission of Service to Society mean to you and what did you think your contribution to service would be?

Professor Olonisakin: I actually came to King’s in the late 1980s thinking that I would do my studies and go back to West Africa to try and change society, and Nigeria in particular. I left a country behind at the time of military intervention and then a transition from that. First, we had military rule, then a nondemocratic, civilian regime, which didn’t last too long. So, fundamental freedoms always meant something to me because of the authoritarian environment that I grew up in. So, my expectation was that I was going to come back to Nigeria – to contribute to that society, to make it freer, and so on.

As a student, I found King’s was a contradiction, so service was not always an easy thing to comprehend. It was a contradiction

because of systems that actually locked you out in a way that you didn’t always feel that you belonged. But King’s is where I met some of the finest people, who transformed my life in so many different ways. They spent time with me; they changed the fee structure for me; they found me support. So that transformational experience meant that King’s was also an institution in which I grew to really discover myself.

I remember meeting my friend and colleague Professor Alao, who is also Nigerian, and saying to him that the next African that comes to this programme would not suffer the way that I have suffered in that contradictory environment. So, for me service was about how when I met someone, I wanted that person to be better off afterwards. The idea of transforming the lives of people one by one, one at a time, meant something for me at King’s.

I think it was during my PhD and my postdoctoral work that it sank in – the idea of service to society was always there, and I understood it had evolved to become a mission. We could serve society because we might deploy all of our assets – as I like to call them – whether that asset is in terms of knowledge production, whether it is in people and the talent and the knowledge that they bring with them, or it is actually in the drivers, the people who drive all of that process to make it work.

We need to use every asset that we have and deploy them effectively to make a difference in society. That wider approach to service was what struck me as a postdoctoral researcher.

And during your career at King’s, what do you think your greatest acts of service have been? What stands out for you?

Professor Olonisakin: It would be three-layered – the interpersonal, the programmatic and the institutional.

Building meaningful interpersonal relationships that are transformative and long-lasting, that are built on intellectual and translational things, matters to me. So making time, helping people, giving them a leg up because it was done for me. Paying it forward. And so over time, the net result of it, which was not the intention, is this network that I have. I’m thinking of my global network of PhD students and master’s students.

So perhaps I stumbled upon a commitment to Service by having my life changed by others, transformed in different ways, and reaching a level of consciousness that I wanted to make a difference. Making that community better in any way I can, and then making it a programme.

The African Leadership Centre (ALC) started as a programmatic manifestation of that

intention to change people’s lives, to bring them together, to be able to change their societies.

So the ALC was a way to translate service into impact, taking that idea of lifting people up and paying it forward, and then maximising its potential?

Professor Olonisakin: That was the idea of the ALC. The Centre was created to develop people’s intellectual and academic capacity. These are people who already have a sense of the change they want to make in the world but didn’t have the ability to do it. The ALC helps Fellows to build that change intellectually, and gives them access to a network of people and places they didn’t have access to before. A space where that network can come together to enact change.

We give them translational capacity from being scholars on peace and security through a leadership lens to become policy practitioners or academics, who then transfer that knowledge they’ve gained again, paying it forward. And that builds a community dedicated to peace and security.

And I think what the ALC has done is create something that is not just African. You don’t do this only for Africans. You do it for the rest of the world, and the ripple effect impact. We’re as much a global community as we are a community of people who work to serve Africa.

So in terms of the global, institutional service that King’s is carrying out, what would that be?

Professor Olonisakin: The institutional part of it is not just the fact that we have academic programmes. It is in the fact that, thankfully, there is now a network at college level – you can see it in the conversations the Vice Presidents are having, the liaising with the philanthropy team, the collaborating with academics who are interested, and the working in partnership outside of King’s. And then you might meet someone like Afe Babalola, who you sit down with and they’ll say: ‘What if we had a way to just translate the ALC in a way so that every young African is able to have access to education and training opportunities that allows them to transform the world around them, university education or not.’

Afe Babalola also shares the same kind of interest in that accessibility to transformation, and I think it gives us a huge moment of opportunity to take that service and make it impact.

Principal’s Global Leadership Award

The Principal’s Global Leadership Award is a unique course at King’s that encourages students to engage with some of the most pressing problems of the 21st century and interrogate what it means to be a global leader. The course brings leadership into the classroom, and students leave the programme with a mission to play a role in the world around them, using their unique skills and motivations to effect change as leaders within the community.

What’s the role that students play in service, and how can they take that with them as alumni beyond King’s?

Aare Afe Babalola, Nigerian lawyer and philanthropist, has given £10 million to King’s to empower young people in Africa, through the establishment of the Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education. This new Centre will enable young Africans to access education and opportunities which they would otherwise not be able to have, and empower Africa’s talented young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world. This vision is inspired by Aare Afe Babalola’s own experiences of growing up without easy access to high-quality education and benefitting from the transformative power of remote learning. This allowed him to study from his home in Nigeria and to graduate with degrees in Economics and Law from the University of London.

Professor Olonisakin: I absolutely have to say that there are two tensions that we need to resolve as an institution. Any institution like ours has to think about the formal pathways – the formal technical mechanisms that we provide for students to excel. And, of course, students want to excel by getting a really good degree and then by getting a job that is absolutely legitimate, and that’s what we do as universities.

But there’s a tension between that and being able to prepare the decent human being, who is going to thrive and transform their own lives because they see the world in so many different ways. And they locate themselves in that world and they’re able to change the lives of others because their own lives would have changed. And you know, it’s not just the thriving, but also the transformation. Many universities struggle with this, but what we did at King’s a few years back was to bring a whole raft of opportunities.

For example, eight years ago the Principal’s Global Leadership Award was created and we’ve seen the impact it has on the lives of the students that go through the programme. And I think, ‘What a thing we created!’ And what I hope, and what Vice-Chancellor & President Kapur has talked about, is how can we ensure that such programmes that are so transformative

Afe Babalola and his gift

for the student and the world around them, how can we ensure that, 40-50 per cent of our intake every year would have an opportunity for such a programme? We’re definitely working on it.

And, finally, how would you sum up the concept of service?

Professor Olonisakin: Service, the noun, and service, the verb, interrelate. Service the verb reflects how we can take action at our own personal levels. Service the noun is so big it allows us to bring all of the strategic know-how that we have and employ it to enact change, combining all of the institutional capacities within King’s and in other places to them. For example, multiply the impact of the first three ALC Fellows. With their impact and service, three people potentially become 10,000, which in turn potentially becomes 1,000,000, because we have the collective resources. That for me is about something that is much more than ourselves. Something bigger than us can happen, and that’s the way to make change.

‘With their impact and service, three people potentially become 10,000, which in turn potentially becomes 1,000,000, because we have the collective resources. That for me is about something that is much more than ourselves. Something bigger than us can happen, and that’s the way to make change.’ Professor Olonisakin

STRAND THEN ...

Black and white photograph showing the construction of the King’s College London Strand building from the Strand, 1966–72.

Strand Aldwych redevelopment, 2023

PHOTOS © MICKEY L.F. LEE

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Stories

At King’s, we’re dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change in society and realising our vision of making the world a better place. Through our commitment to exceptional education, impactful research and genuine service to society, we are creating positive change in our communities, both in London and on the world stage. In these pages, you’ll read just a few examples of the impact our academics, students, alumni, donors, partners and clinicians have had.

A POLICYMAKER’S SPRINGBOARD

While education can be life-changing, obtaining a degree is not the only means we provide for our students to reach their full potential. Being able to access a variety of opportunities and experiences, as well as develop diverse networks, is important to ensure that they have the range of skills and resources needed to succeed. One such opportunity at King’s is the Policy Idol competition.

For the last nine years, Policy Idol –the annual policy-pitching competition run by the Policy Institute in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King’s – has been an effective way of generating exciting new ideas and debate, drawing on the passions of thousands of young people and providing a platform for them to champion causes they hold close. Policy Idol is a forum within which participants can explore changemaking on a policymaking level. The initiative encourages innovative thinking, addressing the challenges of today and the future.

Every year, each competitor delivers a threeminute elevator pitch on their policy idea to a panel of high-profile judges from the worlds of academia, media and industry in a series of heats where their ideas are tested and assessed. The pitches with the most potential are selected to go through to the final.

Each finalist then receives bespoke training in policy communications and a mentor from the Policy Institute to give them guidance on strengthening their idea. There are four cash awards on offer at the competition: Overall Winner, Best Delivery, Best Analysis and Audience’s Choice.

Hosted since its inception by BBC Home Editor Mark Easton and chaired by Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute, the grand final is held in front of a live audience and is the focal point of the competition. Armed with the training they have received, the finalists pitch an enhanced version of their policy idea and are quizzed by a panel of judges. Judges in recent years have included former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, civil servant and social policymaker Baroness Louise Casey, former MP Lord Jo Johnson of Marylebone, journalist and former BBC presenter Sir Trevor Phillips, journalist Polly Toynbee and former MP Lord David Willetts.

We recently caught up with one of the members of the 2022 winning team, Abigail Worrell, and asked her about Policy Idol and its impact on her.

Since Policy Idol began, 500 students and 80+ judges have taken part

Abigail, what was the policy you pitched at Policy Idol, and why was it an important cause for you?

Abigail: My team pitched a three-pronged policy to address drink spiking. The policy itself was to require venue staff to take additional spiking awareness training, to have a camera or additional employee watching the bar for incidences of spiking and to have free drinktesting kits available. It was important to us because half of the team had previously been spiked and a local student pub that many King’s students go to had a recent occurrence where there were 15 reported spiking incidences in one night.

Why was it important to you to take part in Policy Idol in the first place?

Abigail: It was important to take part in Policy Idol because it was an avenue I hadn’t explored before. In my studies, I’d interacted with policy but never from the creation side: only dealing in the post-implementation effect. My team and I had discussed the personal issue of spiking so many times and seeing this opportunity to potentially do something about it made it an easy decision to enter.

Opposite page: Policy Idol pitch night 2023

A policymaker’s springboard

What did you learn while going through the competition?

Abigail: I learned so much during my time as a finalist in the competition. The bespoke training was so helpful and the guidance we received showed just how much thought goes into a seemingly simple policy. For me, learning how to take an idea and transform it into an actionable policy was invaluable.

Additionally, the judges, especially Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock, gave us great feedback. Their feedback highlighted how successful it can be to work as a cohesive team on a common goal, especially when working on something we all care so much about.

Since finishing your master’s degree you’ve joined the King’s Policy Institute as a member of staff. Can you tell us a bit about your role?

Abigail: I am currently a research and project assistant at the Policy Institute and I’m working on two projects at the moment. My primary project is a policy report for the Kerslake Commission on Armed Forces Housing and my secondary project is working on policy engagement with the World Values Survey.

And do you think taking part in Policy Idol inspired you to work at the Policy Institute?

Abigail: Taking part in Policy Idol absolutely inspired me to work at the Policy Institute. Through active learning and engagement with policymaking during the competition, I found that I really enjoyed the research and dedicated planning that goes into policy. This really helped me look at potential jobs and see what sort of impact I would want to make in my future career. At King’s, I studied Conflict, Security & Development and Policy Idol opened the door into policy impact and research, so I jumped at the chance to work in my field and with the Policy Institute.

Abigail and the Policy Institute are now working to connect with the King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU) to enact the policies laid out in her team’s pitch. This winning policy has the potential to protect people and raise awareness.

‘Policy Idol shows that our students don’t wait until they leave King’s to make an impact. Every year our student policymakers combine fresh thinking with a passion to further their ideas for tackling some of society’s biggest challenges.’ Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute

According to a YouGov survey,

47% of Britons aged between 18 and 24 say they have had a drink spiked or know someone who has.

According to a 2022 House of Commons Committee report on spiking,

81 % of drink spiking

victims were students, and 81 % of those surveyed believed that ‘more or improved security measures in or around the premises’ would make the most difference in preventing future incidents.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our Policy Institute, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

SHAPING POLICY ON END-OF-LIFE CARE

Humanity has made incredible progress in medical research and innovation. This progress has had an enormous impact on health, with the average human lifespan doubling over the past 150 years. Despite the significant advances we’ve made in medical knowledge, diagnosis and treatment, death remains inevitable. Palliative care is a philosophy of care for people who are approaching end of life that aims to improve the quality of a person’s life rather than trying to extend it. Palliative care addresses the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

‘You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.’

Dame Cicely Saunders

According to Hospice UK, more than 100,000 people in the UK die every year without getting the palliative care they need. This leaves many people dying in unnecessary pain and discomfort, with a feeling that their wishes have not been met or their religious preferences have been ignored.

It is a common misconception that palliative care is just for people with cancer or those with only a very short time to live. However, research has shown that palliative care is relevant for people living with a range of conditions including dementia, respiratory disease and neurological conditions; and that it works best when provided early, alongside other types of medical care. It is estimated that up to 90 per cent of people in the UK will need palliative care before they die. Population ageing means that the annual number of people with palliative care needs in the UK will increase by more than 147,000, a 25 per cent increase compared to 2023. This means demand for palliative and end-of-life care is set to increase rapidly, as more people live for longer with more complex health conditions.

Professor Katherine Sleeman is the Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care at the Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation at King’s and is one of the academics having an impact at the Institute.

Professor Sleeman’s research includes leading the Marie Curie Better End of Life programme – a three-year research programme, carried out in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of Hull and Cambridge, that aims to understand what it is like to die across

the UK, and use this evidence to influence policy and improve care. Defining the problem, Professor Sleeman says: ‘Everyone affected by dying, death and bereavement deserves the best possible experience. Sadly, many people experience poor care and support in the last stages of life, and inequalities are common.’

Part of the problem is that policymakers may not be aware of relevant evidence. Engaging with policymakers to understand their priorities and needs, and delivering evidence in a way that they can interpret and use, is vital to ensure the expected rapid increase in need for palliative care is met.

The Better End of Life programme has generated evidence on the current state of palliative care across the four nations of the UK and used this to make recommendations to parliament. These recommendations were used to support a historic amendment to the 2022 Health and Care Bill that means all Integrated Care Boards in England will be required to commission palliative care, helping to ensure people approaching end of life receive the support and respect they deserve.

‘We are pleased that our recent analysis of palliative and end-of-life care in integrated care system (ICS) strategies was used to support the amendment to the Health and Care bill that palliative care should be commissioned by ICSs. The NHS was set up to support cradle-to-grave care, and it is shocking that many specialist palliative care services rely on charity donations to operate,’ says Professor Katherine Sleeman.

King’s Cicely Saunders Institute opened in 2010 and was the world’s first purposebuilt institute for palliative care. The Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care is funded through an endowment from the Kirby Laing Foundation and Cicely Saunders International. An area of priority for the Institute is research that reflects the changing global demographics of ageing populations, including the care and health services of older people needing palliative care.

If you’re interested in finding out more about palliative care research, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

Professor Katherine Sleeman

Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care at the Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation at King’s

Dame Cicely Saunders: A palliative care pioneer

Dame Cicely Saunders, a trailblazing figure of the 20th century, revolutionised the perception of endof-life care. As the founder of the modern hospice movement, her profound impact endures in the way many receive care during their final moments.

In 1939, Cicely paused her Oxford studies to pursue nursing at the Nightingale Training School for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital. Her journey led her to become a medical social worker in 1945, whereby she cared for terminally ill patients at Archway Hospital.

It was there that she formed a deep connection with David Tasma, a dying Polish man, sparking discussions about creating a more suitable place for individuals approaching the end of life. This bond laid the foundation for Cicely’s care philosophy. When David passed away in 1948, he left her £500 with the wish, ‘Let me be a window in your home.’

Cicely challenged the notion of insurmountable pain, arguing that alleviating physical suffering also eased mental anguish. In an era when doctors primarily focused on curing diseases and pain relief was often inadequate, she refused to accept the status quo. To gain credibility in the medical field, she enrolled at St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School at the age of 33 and graduated in 1957

Her dedication extended to establishing a new hospice model that melded compassion and medical care. In 1967, her vision materialised with the opening of St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, London – the first modern hospice, pioneering the integration of teaching, clinical research and pain management.

In 2002, in her early 80s, Cicely founded the Cicely Saunders Foundation, now Cicely Saunders International. A primary goal was to establish an institute that amalgamated cuttingedge research, education, information and care. Cicely believed in continuous learning to improve practices, stating, ‘We need to go on learning so that, in 10 years, we are doing things better than we are now.’

The Cicely Saunders Institute, the world’s first institute of palliative care, was established at King’s through the generous support of Cicely Saunders International, who have given over £14 million over the course of the partnership.

FROM BATTLEFIELD INSIGHTS TO PhD IMPACT

Countless industries and decision-making environments require the specialist expertise of those who have researched and explored subjects in great depth. The PhD is the keystone in a researcher’s trajectory: the most important building block in a researcher’s career, but potentially a point of pressure. Without proper financial support, that essential foundation – and the vital impact that a researcher could have had on the world around them – will never be realised.

We sat down with Andro Mathewson, a PhD student in the Department of War Studies at King’s, to talk about his experiences to date, the impact he hopes his research will have, and why completing a PhD is integral to his path to success.

To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Andro: I’m a part-time PhD student at King’s in the War Studies department. I’ve now started my second year. I’ve always had an interest in history – and military history, specifically – but my time as an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), when I also worked as a research assistant for Professor Michael C Horowitz, Director of Perry World House and Richard Perry Professor at UPenn, is what drove me to have a slightly more practical outlook on things: looking forward, as well as back.

Can you tell us a little bit about your research?

Andro: My research lies at the nexus of emerging military capabilities in modern warfare and strategic planning, with a primary focus on the Russo-Ukrainian War and unmanned technologies. For example, in terms of the Russo-Ukrainian War, if you’d asked me two years ago, I would have said that underwater drones would probably not have a massive impact on strategy. Most of them aren’t armed. You use them for mine clearance or for surveillance. Now the Ukrainians are using them to strike Russian bridges and ships from 600 miles away in Russian waters. And this will have a strategic impact. The Russians may move their fleet somewhere else; they may build bigger defensive barriers, for example.

War Studies

The Department of War Studies is one of the only academic departments in the world focused on understanding the complex realm of conflict, security and international politics.

‘Of course, the fact that my PhD will be from the War Studies department at King’s is of great benefit as well, since it has that international recognition.’ Andro Mathewson, War Studies PhD student

You mention impact. What do you hope will be the real-world impact that could come from your research in the future?

Andro: I’m devising a series of tests that can be used to understand how new military technologies may impact strategic thinking. I am hoping these will be used by a number of different stakeholders – decision-makers in government, policymakers, or those focused on creating mutually agreed restraints or controls within arms trading. Users will be able to apply these tests to model and understand the level of impact on current strategy more clearly. And it’s a two-way street. It’s not only about us deciding how we should think. It’s about adversaries: anticipating how they might think and what we can do in response to that.

At King’s, we know one of the major barriers to achieving a PhD and embarking on a research career is funding. Could you talk about how you are currently funding your research?

Andro: My PhD is currently funded outside of King’s by the Scottish International Education Trust. They funded my first year and I have now been awarded funding for my second year.

The Trust was the brainchild of Sir Sean Connery. He donated his entire fee from the movie Diamonds Are Forever to support Scottish individuals with their research, and it’s quite an amazing organisation; it has quite an open

Opposite page: Monument of Independence of Ukraine in Kiev, May 2018

From battlefield insights to PhD impact

remit. They award up to £3,000 a year. Mine is for two years maximum, so I’ll have to think after the two years how to help keep funding my work. I also work full time for the HALO Trust alongside my PhD, which also supports me. I’m keeping my eyes open for other opportunities.

How important is it, do you think, to be supporting people at this level – on this stepping stone to teaching or practical application further down the line?

Andro: I think it’s immensely important. And it’s not just the money or the financial benefit: it’s that connection between that person and the researcher or work. The Trust’s funding of my first year – and hopefully the second year, too –is just a massive amount of pressure alleviated.

You mentioned you’ve been working with the HALO Trust – an organisation that helps countries deal with and recover after conflict. Could you tell us more about the work you’ve been doing and its impact, and how it informs your PhD work?

20 % of students are completing their PhDs part time

King’s is currently home to

4,158 PhD students

Andro: I joined HALO in 2020. Once the Russian war in Ukraine started, and using my previous experience in open-source intelligence, we started to see pretty much every battle in the war posted on social media. I have been collating those and trying to understand what is going on. I’ve been looking at movement of the front lines and civilian accidents due to landmines and explosive munitions. Essentially, I am trying to understand what the impact of it is on civilians.

And there is overlap with my PhD. Of course, there are a lot of data out there that I see and collect. We have everything on the new Russian mines – we’ve collated it, collected it and put it on the map. We have never faced these new Russian mines. This is the first time they’ve been used in the war, so understanding how they’re used tactically, where they’re being used, is changing Ukrainian strategy. Having this data from HALO right now is perfect for my research.

Lastly – and we’re ending on a classic question here – where would you like to see yourself in the future? And what impact do you think King’s will have had on getting you there?

Andro: I know I want to be on the doing side of things – again, looking forward as well as back – so it’s devising that policy and understanding which policy should be made or learning from previous policy mistakes. For that, it’s important to have a PhD. You have to have that research behind you to show that you’ve done extensive work on this, and you’ve been able to present it, it’s been critiqued and it’s been improved. A PhD is a very necessary accessory in order to have that high-level impact in the sector.

If you’re interested in finding out more about supporting our early career researchers, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

THE NEXT FRONTIER IN HEALTHCARE

Populations everywhere are growing, living longer and seeing an increase in chronic diseases and mental health concerns. Healthcare systems the world over have never faced greater demand. Further, worsening health problems stemming from the climate crisis – such as air pollutionrelated illness and deaths, extreme weather events exacerbating malnutrition, and lack of access to water and sanitation fuelling the spread of infectious diseases – make equitable, effective and accessible healthcare for all even more urgent.

The next frontier in healthcare

Innovations in health technology have the potential to tackle the biggest healthcare challenges of our time. As the demand on healthcare systems has grown, recent advances in medical imaging, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and data science have led to enhanced and faster diagnosis, safer and more effective interventions and surgical procedures, and improved patient outcomes.

US News ranked the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences third in the world for radiology and medical imaging, just behind Harvard and Stanford.

New open-source AI tool supports clinicians to interpret lung ultrasounds

Researchers at King’s have developed a realtime AI-enabled lung ultrasound tool that can assist non-expert clinicians in interpreting scans of intensive care unit patients.

In 2021, the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences was ranked 4 th in the world for its excellence in research and education in medical technologies in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings.

Here at King’s, the mission of the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences is to engineer better health, with a broad vision to foster collaborations and facilitate problemsolving research. To achieve this, the School is training the next generation of world-class biomedical engineers and prioritising collaboration between researchers, clinicians and industry to deliver faster translation of research into the clinic. By being embedded within one of the UK’s largest NHS Foundation Trusts – Guy’s and St Thomas’ – we can improve the quality of life for patients not just here in London but around the world.

Despite the well-established evidence on the benefit of lung ultrasound in critically ill patients, the lack of extensive experience prevents clinicians from carrying out lung ultrasounds in daily clinical practice. This is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where there are relatively few specialists and formal lung ultrasound training is uncommon.

Nhat Phung PhD student

A new study, led by PhD student Nhat Phung, is pioneering the use of AI to support imaging in intensive care units in LMICs. The

Professor Sebastien Ourselin was one of

59 new fellows to be elected to the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences in 2023.

study was carried out in Vietnam, where a new tool was developed to assist clinicians in interpreting lung ultrasound features more accurately, more quickly and more confidently.

‘Our real-time AI-assisted lung ultrasound is an open-source tool designed to be easy to use, and, unlike expensive systems, our tool is run through a laptop computer and can be linked to most ultrasound devices,’ said Nhat.

Nhat’s work has shown that, when clinicians used the AI tool in real time to carry out lung ultrasound exams for dengue shock patients, patients’ baseline performance improved significantly from 68 1 per cent to 93 4 per cent. Clinicians were also able to reduce time spent on interpreting from 12 seconds to five seconds and were found to be more confident when doing so.

‘In this study, we not only show that our models outperform most clinical users, but that when users of all levels of expertise use our AI, the performance is better than either the users or the AI alone. This is particularly groundbreaking for a real-time system designed to be used in a resource-limited, low-income intensive care unit,’ said Dr Alberto Gomez, Research Fellow in the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences.

Nhat’s work is a shining example of how our researchers, who are just embarking on their careers, are already having impact.

World-first surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’

A team from Guy’s and St Thomas’ has become the first in the world to operate through a patient’s mouth using the Versius robotic surgery system.

This less invasive approach, known as transoral robotic surgery (TORS), can remove cancerous and benign tumours growing in the mouth and throat and speed up the patient’s recovery time. The technique is well established

but has never been performed with this newer surgical robot.

Jack Faulkner, Head and Neck Robotic Research Fellow at King’s College London, said: ‘The main consideration is we work in a much smaller environment, so all the instruments have to pass through the mouth and be located closer together. It’s more challenging to use robotic systems in that space. The Versius instruments are small, which is helpful, and the arms can be moved to where we want around the bedside. This adds to our arsenal of robots that we can use for head and neck surgery.’

The Versius robot has previously been used to treat urology patients, but as part of a research study by Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London, it has now been used for TORS. The configuration of Versius to be able to operate through the mouth was made possible thanks to a PhD study by Jack, supervised by Asit Arora, Robotic Head and Neck Surgery

Lead at Guy’s and St Thomas’, and Professor Sebastien Ourselin, Head of the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s College London. It was a project that brought together clinical, academic and industry partners. Professor Ourselin said of the success of the Versius robot: ‘I am delighted by this pioneering surgical innovation, backed up by high-quality science and industry partnerships that will create improved outcomes and engineer better health for our patients.’

The Biomedical Engineering BEng/MEng programme scored the highest rating for an undergraduate programme at King’s in the National Student Survey for 2023.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

A DEVASTATING, RISING EPIDEMIC

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in young people. Around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, with over 17,000 children in the UK developing symptoms before they start secondary school. Latest NHS figures, which rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, show that more people than ever are receiving treatment for eating disorders.

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental illnesses that affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. They typically start when people are in their mid-teens to mid-twenties, which is a developmentally sensitive time. As such they have the potential for derailing young people’s life trajectories. Early detection and intervention via rapid, person-centred, specialist, community-based care is essential for full recovery, involving both the young person and their families and supporters.

At King’s, the Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW) is an internationally leading translational research group which has developed and delivered crucial initiatives to help those living with an eating disorder. CREW aims to find out more about the neurobiological, genetic and psychological causes and consequences of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders, and to use that knowledge to develop new and better treatments.

CREW is closely interwoven with clinical services run by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, which takes specialist referrals from local areas and from throughout the UK.

A pioneering new space for care and research

Opening to patients in 2024, the groundbreaking new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People will put children’s mental health centre stage. Designed around the needs of children and driving collaboration and innovation, the Centre will be one of the world’s first fully integrated clinical care and research centres for children’s mental health, and this includes those living with an eating disorder, autism or OCD.

Hearing from an expert

Ulrike Schmidt, Professor of Eating Disorders and Director of CREW, recently answered some questions on her work, eating disorders and how parents and carers can support young people with an eating disorder.

How did you first become interested in helping people living with eating disorders, and why is it important to you to do so?

Professor Schmidt: My interest in working with people with eating disorders arose from a happy accident. Many years ago, as a junior doctor, I was given the opportunity to work on a research project that aimed to improve the treatment of eating disorders. This project gave me the privilege of listening to many different stories of people affected and inspired me to write what was then the first cognitive behavioural self-help book for people with bulimia nervosa.

After that I was hooked. One of the things I particularly love about our speciality is that, as clinicians and researchers, we can make a big difference to people’s lives. My research interests are largely in the area of developing better treatments, both for young people who may be in the very early stages of an eating disorder and also for those who feel very ‘stuck’ with a persistent eating disorder, who may have tried a lot of different treatments.

In your experience, what key things can aid recovery from an eating disorder?

Professor Schmidt: Several things are important here. Firstly, the quicker a person gets help in the form of evidence-based treatment to turn their eating disorder around the better. We know that poor nutrition and stress have a negative effect on brain function and structure, and the longer an eating disorder persists the harder it can be to recover.

Secondly, good collaboration and trust between the treatment team and the young person and their family are essential. Any professionals worth their salt will want to involve others who are close to the patient – for example, family, partners or friends – as valued partners.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it is really important to acknowledge that recovery from an eating disorder is rarely straightforward

Professor Ulrike Schmidt was one of

A devastating, rising epidemic or easy. Learning from setbacks is an important part of recovery.

59 new fellows to be elected to the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences in 2023.

Could you explain the healthcare inequalities that exist within the current care system for those who live with eating disorders?

Professor Schmidt: We know that young people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, males and those with eating disorders at higher weight find it much harder to get access to timely care. Also, in many areas self-referrals are limited to those under the age of 18. This is problematic, as young adults typically find it very hard to navigate NHS systems, especially at a time when they may have just left home for the first time.

Research funding inequalities are also a major issue. Reports from the UK, continental Europe, the US and Australia have all highlighted chronic research underfunding for eating disorders. A report by the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders found that, between 2015 and 2019, only about 1 per cent of UK mental health research funding went towards eating disorders. This is out of keeping with their potentially devastating impact on young people’s lives.

The Pears Maudsley Centre has been made possible thanks to the support of Pears Foundation, Maudsley Charity, The Rayne Foundation, The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Kuok Group, Wolfson Foundation, The Dorset Foundation, Elizabeth and Daniel Peltz OBE, Dove Self-Esteem Project, Prudence Trust, Stephen Riady Foundation and Research England.

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, hospital admissions for children and young people with an eating disorder rose by 90 per cent between 2015 –16 and 2020 –21.

King’s produces the largest number of highly cited scientific publications in mental health of any university in the world.

What do you think is the greatest impact you and your team have had in society over the past year?

Professor Schmidt: In March 2023, we completed a national roll-out of our early intervention service model First Episode and Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders (FREED) to all NHS Trusts in England, supported by the Academic Health Science Networks. This means that all emerging adults in England presenting with a recent-onset first episode of illness get timely treatment and care that is tailored to their development and illness stage. We started FREED nearly 10 years ago with a small pilot project and it has grown from there. We have recently been shortlisted for a Health Service Journal award for this work.

How will the new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People facilitate an even greater impact on your patients and their families?

Professor Schmidt: The new research facilities at the Pears Maudsley Centre, which are youth and family friendly and contain state-of-theart neuro-technologies, are a really exciting development. Having this at the heart of the Denmark Hill Campus should increase research capacity and, importantly, facilitate crossdisciplinary collaboration.

To find out more about FREED, you can go to the website using this QR code: freedfromed.co.uk

If you’re interested in finding out more about our Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

WALKING THE TALK ON CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY

The climate crisis calls for a fundamental shift in our societies and economies. At King’s, we are rapidly scaling our response to the climate crisis through a clear and target-driven strategic plan. At the heart of this is embedding sustainability into our teaching, mobilising cross-faculty expertise to intensify sustainability research, and advancing climate action across our operations and decision-making. At the core of this work is our recently published King’s Climate & Sustainability Action Plan, developed by the university’s Climate & Sustainability team in consultation with students, staff, alumni and members of King’s Climate Action Network.

Walking the talk on climate and sustainability

The action plan outlines 13 key impact areas to guide the university’s approach to sustainability and climate change, with key deliverables including:

• at least a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, across energy use, business travel, supply chain, commuting and waste

• ensuring sustainability and climate education is embedded into all King’s degree programmes by 2026

• a four-fold increase in climate and sustainability research activity by 2029.

King’s has a long history when it comes to taking action on climate and sustainability. In 2006, we developed our first Carbon Management Plan and, in 2010, we committed to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent between 2005–6 and 2020. In 2021, we fully divested from investments in fossil fuels almost two years ahead of target and we have successfully reduced emissions under the university’s direct control by more than half in the last 15 years. We also played a key role by partnering with Westminster City Council in pedestrianising Strand Aldwych, which transformed one of the capital’s most congested and polluted streets that runs through King’s

Strand Campus to provide a new ‘creativethinking quarter’ for students and the wider public. Early data show that there is a substantial reduction in noise and particulate pollution levels on the Strand as a result.

We’ve created a world-leading centre of excellence in the sciences and technologies, underpinning solutions for decarbonising our economy and society and addressing key environmental issues. With a mission to foster an interdisciplinary environment and provide a focal point for King’s science and engineering research in net zero, the Net Zero Centre promotes a whole-systems approach to these challenges, drawing upon the faculties and disciplines across King’s to work towards delivering solutions.

Based in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, the Centre works across the boundaries of disciplines at King’s from geography and business to law and social science to deliver solutions for sustainable development. The Centre fosters the next generation of King’s changemakers by educating scientists and engineers on the holistic context of these challenges and developing technologically aware social scientists, lawyers and policymakers.

8,460 hours of volunteering on sustainability projects

433 students, staff and alumni in the King’s Climate Action Network

40% of King’s funds invested in projects with socially responsible benefits

997 students, staff and alumni enrolled on the KEATS Sustainability & Climate module

£200,000 awarded in the first round of King’s Climate & Sustainability Seed Fund

100+ modules on climate and sustainability topics

If you’re interested in finding out more about our commitment to the climate and sustainability, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

Hearing from an expert

We spoke to Frans Berkhout, Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability) and Professor of Environment, Society & Climate at King’s, to hear how the university is responding to the climate emergency and how the King’s mission speaks to this work.

Could you describe your role as Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability) and what that entails? How does it fit within the King’s vision for climate and sustainability?

Professor Berkhout: This role has been created to lead a whole-of-King’s transformation project – King’s Climate & Sustainability – with the ambition of embedding climate and sustainability into everything we do. We will be working on what we teach and on student outcomes, on research and impact, on the longer-term process of getting the whole organisation to net zero and sustainability of our operations.

We believe that our communities should be informed and empowered to act on sustainability challenges, that King’s should make the world a more sustainable place and that we should ‘walk the talk’ on climate and sustainability. There is a huge opportunity for King’s to take a leadership position by working in a connected and integrated way. What we do on climate and sustainability will

increasingly define who we are as a university and what we believe we can achieve.

What do you think is the greatest impact you and your team have had over the past year?

Professor Berkhout: Universities have both direct and indirect impacts on society: we educate, produce knowledge and influence society with new ideas and perspectives. Over the past year, we have made a radical commitment to making change and begun the work of convening major events, including hosting US Climate Envoy John Kerry and the launch of a major review of UK government net zero policy by Chris Skidmore, Chair of the Net Zero Review. Over the coming year, we expect the pace and depth of our impact to accelerate.

How does your work fit the King’s mission of service to society?

Professor Berkhout: King’s mission to make the world a better place must now engage with the climate and nature emergencies. We know that transitions to sustainability will be complex, difficult and contested, and that they will have huge impacts on the shape of economies and societies everywhere. Our specific commitment is to make contributions to ensure that sustainability transitions are just and fair: that these revolutionary technological, economic and cultural changes also enable more equal and peaceful societies.

TRANSFORMING THE STRAND

Almost 200 years after King’s first established a home on the Strand, the pedestrianisation of Strand Aldwych has proved transformative for the university and surrounding area: radically improving the campus experience for staff and students, and extending the impact of and ability to engage with King’s research and education.

The redevelopment of Strand Aldwych, led by Westminster City Council in partnership with King’s, the Northbank BID, Somerset House, The Courtauld Gallery and others, has transformed one of London’s most congested and polluted streets into a distinctive destination, improving safety and forming the capital’s largest new public space in a decade.

Centuries ago, there was an array of lavish palaces on the Strand, not unlike Somerset House in scope and intricacy, backing on to the Thames and home to aristocracy and affluence. Today, the new space is welcoming and accessible, offering new porosity to university facilities and allowing anyone to rest, reflect and connect with King’s life-changing ideas and learning. Plans are underway for a collaborative programme that will bring innovative research directly out into the public realm, creating a dialogue with key communities and amplifying the university’s role in tackling key societal challenges of our time.

Benefitting from the long-established cultural and learning stature of the area, the new creative-thinking quarter will foster collective innovation and experimentation by King’s and other partners, leading to a co-created

Seeking Connection

An exhibition in the Bush House Arcade between November 2023 and February 2024, Seeking Connection: Living Well with Technology, invited the viewer to explore the different ways we are learning to live well with technology and navigate opportunities for meaningful connections with ourselves, our communities and our planet. From the smallest cell to the vastness of the planet and beyond, these projects were united by their interrogation of new and emerging technologies and are examples of transformational research taking place across King’s. Presented by King’s Culture and King’s Digital Futures Institute, this exhibition shared seven collaborative artworks that reflect and responded to key areas of research from faculties and centres across the Strand Campus.

FreeStation pollution monitors

Professor Mark Mulligan from the Department of Geography is using a system of FreeStation air, noise and pollution monitors to gather reliable local environmental data about the area. In the area, we currently have 17 monitors within one hectare, which is likely the densest network anywhere in the world. This fieldwork in the city speaks to Professor Mulligan’s pursuit of science in the service of society as he tracks King’s hyperlocal environment in real time as part of a global project that improves access to data.

programme of educational and creative activities throughout the year, stewarded by King’s Culture, the university’s specialist knowledge exchange institute for cultural collaborations.

Building on King’s impact ambitions in climate and sustainability, health, social justice and equitable technology, the new space will inspire students, staff, communities and a range of industry partners to collaborate and bring interdisciplinary creative approaches to systemic challenges, prototype solutions and present ideas to exchange with the public.

As the city recovers after COVID-19, opportunities for students and staff to meet in person are ever more important to develop a sense of belonging and connection. The new masterplanning process presents further opportunities to open up King’s to its communities, create lively ground-floor spaces, and offer students and staff an outstanding campus experience.

Transforming the Strand

The Quiet Enchanting

This spectacular activation of the new Strand Aldwych space, which ran until February 2024, connected audiences with the strategic climate research programme at King’s. Following a residency at King’s working across climate-linked areas of research, the renowned creative studio Superflux created a installation of a series of visuals and digital screens that speak to the climate crisis, accompanied by a research and events programme to further engage audiences.

Visible Skin

Rediscovering the Renaissance through Black Portraiture was a large-scale outdoor exhibition that was part of the launch of the development of the new Strand space in 2021. It was produced by King’s Culture in collaboration with an Arts & Humanities research programme. Running for six months, photographs from Peter Brathwaite’s Rediscovering Black Portraiture series were shown in windows across King’s Strand Campus buildings, as well as in the Bush House Arcade and St Mary le Strand Church. A digital platform enabled audiences to delve into the history of the works and themes around representation and diversity that underpinned the project.

(Top) ‘Visible Skin’; (Bottom)

‘The Quiet Enchanting’ –a mythic re-imagining of Strand Aldwych, London

SUPERFLUX

JO MIESZKOWSKI

THE HUNT FOR CHINKS IN CANCER’S ARMOUR

Recent developments in the world of cancer research have offered the opportunity to change what it means to receive a diagnosis of cancer and improve the curability, life expectancy and quality of life for people living with the disease. Right now, more than 80 specialist teams across the King’s community are working to make this opportunity a reality. The key lies in our distinctive cross-disciplinary strengths – from basic biology through to clinical delivery – and our rich collaborative approach.

Our Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) is the academic arm of one of the leading cancer centres in Europe. The CCC works alongside King’s Health Partners and its NHS partners to support cutting-edge research and provide world-class clinical services for its cancer patients. Our research spans discovery, through translational research, into the clinic –with leading strengths in cancer immunology, advanced therapies, early-phase trials and cancer imaging. Over the past 10 years, sustained focus and investment totalling £170 million have underpinned King’s growth into a world-class centre in cancer care.

The foundation of this growth is our longstanding partnership with NHS cancer services across Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College hospitals, giving us rare access to insights from 6,500 cancer patients (and 20,000 suspected cases) each year. We use this privilege to engage deeply with patients, understand their personal goals and priorities, offer access to robust clinical trials, and draw from the diverse specialist clinical expertise across our health partners. This marriage of research and clinical expertise ensures that patients with cancer today can directly benefit from the ongoing work at King’s labs, such as on breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and solid tumours.

Dr Sheeba Irshad Senior Clinical Lecturer, Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Supercharging the immune system to fight breast cancer

Multidrug resistance is responsible for over 90 per cent of deaths in cancer patients receiving traditional chemotherapeutics or novel targeted drugs.

The CCC itself has been the home of an abundance of ground-breaking research. With an estimated 35,000 people in the UK living with incurable breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, we need to develop smarter, more effective treatments to ensure fewer people hear the devastating news that the disease has returned. Dr Sheeba Irshad’s mission, as a clinician and researcher, is to address this need and offer people with these breast cancers more options. She aims to achieve this by understanding the biology underpinning their resistance to treatment to determine if immunotherapies – treatments that stimulate or suppress the immune system to help it do a better job of fighting cancer – may work for them where other treatments have failed.

Many forms of immunotherapy are available and are highly effective for some patients but not others. We need to understand why this is and find new ways of matching each patient to the

An estimated 35,000 people in the UK are living with incurable breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body

right type of immunotherapy. Our vision for the future is that we will know the best treatment for someone with cancer before we deliver it, maximising their chances of survival, avoiding the impact of multiple failed treatments, and vastly lowering the cost of treatment and care so that it is accessible to more patients worldwide.

Dr Irshad and her team are working to identify new molecular targets in chemotherapyresistant breast cancer cells, with the hope of developing new immunotherapies based on these targets.

She says, ‘Chemotherapy resistance in aggressive early breast cancers is a major reason why cancer regrows after treatment, contributing significantly to people not surviving their disease. To find the right targets for drug developments, it’s important to have a deep understanding of the complex mechanisms that allow some cancer cells to resist treatment, then hide from our immune system to re-emerge later when they’re harder to eradicate.’

To investigate the immune environment that surrounds these chemotherapy-resistant tumours, researchers used a number of new tools to study proteins and genes in breast cancer tissue before and after treatment. Philanthropic investment is crucial to funding the equipment needed for this cutting-edge research. Dr

Irshad agrees: ‘Without philanthropic support, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and my team wouldn’t be doing the science they are.’

The team found increases in the number of ‘innate’ (first responder) cells such as natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells help the body to fight infection and cancer. But analysis found the increased NK cells in patients with chemotherapy-resistant disease lacked cytotoxic activity – the ‘killing instinct’.

This new insight into the behaviour of NK cells could be used to develop specific immunotherapies for these high-risk patients. We hope, by building on these findings, scientists will ultimately be able to develop immunotherapy treatments that may help more people survive breast cancer.

If you’re interested in finding out more about cancer research at King’s, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

Main image: View in microscopic of pathology cross section tissue ductal cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma diagnosis by pathologist in laboratory. H and E stain. Criteria of breast cancer. Medical concept.

SOLVING A STARTLING SKILLS SHORTAGE

It has long been acknowledged that a skills shortage has emerged within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries. A number of UK government inquiries and committees have dedicated their time to evaluating this issue and attempting to find a solution. At the end of 2022, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published findings confirming that the STEM skills shortage will impede development in policy areas that are critical to our future as a society and a planet, such as net zero and energy security. It recommends urgent action.

To combat this skills shortage, we need to encourage people to enrol on STEM-related higher education courses. This encouragement needs to begin long before a potential university student fills in their UCAS application form. It begins in the primary school classroom and continues throughout a young person’s education. And the best way to encourage students to pursue a subject is by inspiring them. We must support our STEM subject teachers to inspire their students.

68 per cent of teachers believe the main barrier to undertaking CPD is the financial cost to their school.

To do so, teachers need to feel championed in their teaching and their careers, empowered to transform their classrooms into a place of excitement and innovation, and encouraged and motivated to remain in the profession. It is widely acknowledged by government and institutions that the most successful way to do this, both for teachers and their students, is through high-quality, subject-specific continuing professional development (CPD). According to STEM Learning – a national body that is the

A government study, published in May 2023, found that:

70 per cent of teachers in the UK believe CPD improves their teaching in the classroom.

largest provider of STEM education and careers support to schools, colleges and other groups working with young people across the UK –teachers engaged in CPD programmes are 155 per cent more likely to remain in the profession.

In 2019, King’s launched an innovative new master’s programme – the MA in STEM Education. For the past four years, the MA in STEM Education has welcomed teachers seeking the knowledge and skills to drive educational change across a wide range of contexts – from pre-school through to further education colleges, and from museums to charity organisations both nationally and internationally.

King’s is proud of what our STEM Education MA students are achieving as they seek to encourage uptake in their subjects up to and including A-level and inspire their students to consider STEM-related careers. Through the programme, they are also continuing their own

Above: Annual STEM Education Programme Celebration 2022-23

Solving a startling skills shortage

professional development, leading professional change and becoming critical thinkers – all skills with which they can imbue their own teaching and pass on to their students. They are nurturing a generation of people whose choices will go far in closing the skills shortage gap that threatens our society.

None of this would have been possible without the support and trust of Wipro. Wipro is a leading technology services and consulting company dedicated to creating a sustainable and resilient future for all – a future that needs STEM-skilled individuals. Back in 2017, Wipro started a conversation with King’s so that, together, we might incrementally transform the STEM education landscape from the ground up, putting trust in educators.

Dr Richard Brock, Senior Lecturer in

Achieving two or more A-levels in STEM subjects adds more than 7.8 per cent to a pupil’s future earnings, according to government research.

Science Education, says of the support: ‘Wipro’s philanthropy has had a profound and transformative impact on our MA programme. Many of the teacher recipients of the scholarship acknowledge that studying would have been impossible without Wipro’s generosity. The impact of the gift goes beyond our students to the hundreds of teachers and students who have benefitted from the innovative approaches to STEM education that students have developed as a result of being able to study on the course.’

The teachers who have embarked on the MA in STEM Education have dedicated themselves not only to fostering inspiration in others but also to becoming changemakers themselves: transforming their own approaches and those of teachers around them to create even more changemakers. The ripple effect of this programme will echo through classrooms, people and society.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our MA in STEM Education or CRESTEM, please contact philanthropyassociates@ kcl.ac.uk

The Institute of Engineering & Technology has identified a shortfall of

173,000 STEM workers that is already costing the UK economy £1.5 billion a year.

Hear from a Wipro scholar

‘[The MA in STEM Education] has had a great influence on many aspects of my career at multiple levels. As a teacher, I have shared research and my own assignments with the multi-academy trust that I work within, with the outlook that STEM education can be shifted and formed to benefit our students. My research opened my eyes to student views and how they felt about the STEM education they received, which has influenced my own teaching practice and planning across my department. On a more personal level, the course provided invaluable opportunities to meet other students from a rich and diverse background, who shared their opinions and own experiences related to STEM education. The course lecturers spread an authentic sense of enthusiasm that has itself sparked a long-lasting interest in STEM education research that I now hope to further pursue.’ Rasha Jomaa (MA STEM Education, 2022), Wipro scholarship holder and Physics teacher

A Centre of Learning

The MA in STEM Education sits with the Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM) at King’s. The Centre brings together a group of researchers who are interested in exploring formal and informal practices of teaching, learning and engagement in diverse contexts of STEM education. It is a manifestation of the dedication King’s has to growing the uptake in STEM subjects and supporting those who want to do so.

GLOBAL DAY OF SERVICE

Service is in our DNA at King’s. Founded in March 1829 to serve society, giving back is an important part of what we do. In March 2023, King’s Global Day of Service returned to bring together alumni, students and staff to volunteer and make a difference in their local and national communities.

Each year in March, the King’s community takes part in a range of volunteering activities across the world as part of King’s Global Day of Service. In 2023, a total of 1,048 people volunteered for the annual event, contributing over 2,800 hours of their time. While the volunteering drive culminates at the end of March every year, the event extends over the whole month so as many people as possible can join in, making this opportunity to give back as accessible as possible to those in the King’s communities from all over the world.

Activities that took place across the month included staff and students planting over 200 trees at the King’s Sports Ground, while the King’s Alumni Office worked with their ambassadors all over the world, supporting volunteers in 73 countries.

The King’s Global Day of Service is a testament to our volunteering communities going above and beyond to live out the King’s mission of service to society. This mission is one that our students clearly carry with them into their lives after leaving King’s, and one that our King’s staff are keen to embody in their own time. Our volunteers strive to have an impact on those around them.

Staff volunteering

Making toys out of recycled materials for rescue dogs in London

Annicka Ancliff, Faculty Research Support Administrator at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, and Chloe Morgan, Wellness Co-ordinator at King’s Sport & Wellness, organised workshops where students, staff and alumni could get involved and make dog toys out of recycled materials such as worn t-shirts and old lab coats that no longer meet regulations; the toys were then donated to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Chloe said: ‘As my role involves organising social wellness events for students in residences, I thought this was a perfect opportunity for students to come together for this microvolunteering activity.’ She added, ‘Taking part in the Global Day of Service made me feel part of a community at King’s, with several departments coming together for the same goal. It was lovely to host such a wholesome event and gave us an opportunity to introduce attendees to our volunteering platform.’

Annicka also enjoyed the event, suggesting that ‘doing something creative really opens up the mind and can improve your mental health. I felt so peaceful and happy after the sessions –it was wonderful’.

1,048 volunteers

£29,730 economic impact

2,856 volunteering hours

73 volunteering hours

LaiHa Diamond, Business Support Manager for King’s Community Business Services, hosted a workshop for students, staff and alumni to learn how to make a survival blanket with single-use plastics such as clear plastic and crisp packets. She collected and cleaned the plastic required in advance of the event, and provided the irons needed to complete the process.

LaiHa said, ‘It’s great to be able to have the opportunity to deliver the crisp packet workshop and to encourage staff across King’s to take part in the Global Day of Service. It’s fantastic to have people come together to create survival blankets for the homeless.’

Alumni volunteering

Over the course of two months in early 2023, and coinciding with the King’s Global Day of Service, King’s alumnus Arthur Wittenberg (MA Public Policy, 2019) volunteered to help the Superior Police School in Brasília create educational modules for its new Conflict Management module, a two-year undergraduate course. Arthur worked closely with a group from the public to create ‘universal modules’: modules that are core competencies for all students at the university. They made a call to all lecturers from UnDF to transform the usual curriculum into a problem-based learning approach. It was an intense five-week routine, with some days involving up to four hours of face-to-face meetings at the Superior Police School’s facilities.

Above: Arthur Wittenberg (MA Public Policy, 2019) with other volunteers from the public

Arthur tells us why he decided to volunteer. ‘I felt I should bring my expertise as a lecturer to improve further education in Brasília. Giving back was not in my DNA. It was something I learned during my time in the UK… I hope our contribution proves itself fruitful in the years to come.’

If you’re interested in finding out more about our Global Day of Service, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

NEW PHILANTHROPIC STUDENT SUPPORT FOR 2023

Every year, our supporters help us to introduce new ways to champion our students. With every new scholarship or bursary, our students’ lives are transformed – they are able to follow their dreams and become part of an ever-growing and inclusive community. It’s a privilege to host so many awards at King’s, and a joy to see the impact they have. We’re pleased to announce the six new awards for the 2023–24 academic year.

A new partnership between King’s and the Raheem Sterling Foundation provides scholarships for Black British students and will support seven students with scholarships over the next three years. The aim of the scholarships is to help close the attainment gap for Black British students, increase social mobility and support equal access to higher education. The first two Raheem Sterling Scholarships were made available for students of Black, African and Caribbean heritage from socio-economically under-represented backgrounds in the Greater London region and were awarded in September 2023

We’re pleased to announce that the Key to King’s Bursary initiative launched this year, and the first recipient enrolled in September 2023. Students who successfully apply for the bursary will be funded for the duration of their course, receiving a bursary of £7,500 each year. The aim of this is to cover the funding gap between the maintenance loan available to students and the cost to live in London each year. The escalating costs of living as a student, especially in this cost-of-living crisis, were a priority issue for the university, and so this bursary was created, unlocking a King’s education and opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Key to King’s will transform lives. Anyone can become a Key to King’s pledger and support our students in achieving their goals.

Another new scholarship initiative has been created at the Qatar Centre for Global Banking & Finance, made possible by the Qatar Central Bank. The Centre will be offering a number of Qatar Central Bank Scholarships for outstanding students domiciled in developing countries undertaking an MSc in Financial Policy & Regulation; recipients will receive a full tuition fee waiver. These life-changing new scholarships will be awarded every academic year while the Centre is active.

The Mukul Madhav Foundation has established two new scholarships at King’s: the Mukul Madhav Foundation Women in STEM PG Scholarship and the Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship in Arts & Humanities. The scholarships were awarded to outstanding students who are residents of India undertaking a one-year fulltime master’s within the Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences and Arts & Humanities

faculties respectively. These prestigious awards were established for exceptional international students who can demonstrate financial hardship, supporting them with both a tuition fee waiver and a stipend.

The Jimoh Odutola Family Scholarship was also established this year and awarded to three students studying STEM subjects. The Jimoh Odutola Family Scholarship has been established by a generous anonymous donor and friend of King’s College London. The value of each scholarship is £10,000 to support students with the cost of studies and living expenses while undergoing their undergraduate degrees.

These transformative awards not only ease the financial concerns of our student recipients, they also affirm to them that they are on the right path. It is a privilege to act as a catalyst in this very special, transformative bond between student and supporter.

‘Words won’t do justice to the life-changing opportunity you have given me. My parents would echo the same as well. The impact has been out of this world from a financial perspective – in terms of not only having a burden off my shoulders, but also having the ability to help my parents. This award also gives me freedom to work on what I am passionate about and interested in. I adore the fact that I have this sense of freedom to try new things and really step out of my comfort zone.’ Piri, Economics BSc, Second Year and Susan Gilchrist Scholar

If you’re interested in finding out more about supporting our students, please contact philanthropyassociates@kcl.ac.uk

News from across King’s

We’re proud to be home to nine faculties that enable student success, encourage a thriving staff community, implement sustainable research and ensure the knowledge they nurture has purpose.

At King’s, our faculties use their expertise as a force for good, and ensure their work and teaching are as accessible as possible. In these pages, you’ll be able to see just a few of the recent examples of that force for good enacting change and having impact.

FACULTY OF ARTS & HUMANITIES

Shakespeare and race

Globe Professor of Shakespeare Studies Farah Karim-Cooper’s recent work has focused on race and Shakespeare, creating inclusivity in the theatre. It has involved an antiracist Shakespeare webinar series, exhibitions with the National Archives, festivals and establishing an Early Modern Scholars of Colour Network. This project also provides a means to highlight the new Shakespeare Centre London, which builds on two decades of successful collaborations between King’s and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Letters of Refuge

Dr James Corke-Webster, a Reader in Classics, has forged an innovative collaboration with the charity Art Refuge, which supports people with lived experience of displacement and persecution. Dr Corke-Webster undertook two workshops in Folkestone and Calais where extracts from ancient texts by early Christians, speaking of their own experiences, were used as prompts for present-day refugees to reflect on their own experiences. A resultant exhibition was staged, putting the voices of those who have experiences of displacement and persecution front and centre.

Untangling viral misinformation

The Infodemic Project, led by Dr Daniel Allington, Reader in Digital Humanities, has tackled misinformation, investigating misleading narratives that circulated, for example, during the Amazon fires in 2019. It has also explored conspiracy theories, and the theorists who make a living out of spreading them, and how bad content has flourished in social media.

FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, ORAL & CRANIOFACIAL SCIENCES

Using dinosaur teeth to widen access to higher education

A new project, ‘Raising Oral/ STEM Awareness Reaching low participation areas through investigation of dinosaur teeth and evolution (ROAR)’, uses the investigation of dinosaur teeth and evolution to inform and inspire interest in studying STEM and healthcare subjects at university. The collaboration between the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and CranioFacial Sciences and the King’s Social Mobility & Widening Participation team is creating an early-school intervention intended to widen access to higher education. The target population is school children living in specific areas of England that have been identified as having low participation in HEI and STEM subjects, together with high levels of oral health need and lower numbers of oral health professionals.

Dentists could soon have a new AI co-pilot to detect tooth decay

An artificial intelligence (AI) platform is allowing dentists and dental students to read X-rays with higher accuracy, helping them to better detect tooth decay and gum diseases. The platform, developed by King’s College London and the University of Surrey, with partners from Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, and Oral Health Foundation, allows an AI model to recognise abnormalities in anatomical structures. This project aims to provide a one-stop solution to both collect and annotate dental X-rays and assist with disease diagnoses while building on how best to implement this in a clinical setting.

The life-changing art of making facial prosthetics

Caroline Reed, Maxillofacial Prosthetist, recently shared her work with the Financial Times Magazine. At Guy’s Hospital, she makes ears, noses, dental prosthetics, ocular prosthetics and larger orbital devices for when a patient has lost multiple features. As one of only 500 facial prosthetists worldwide, Caroline’s work is at the forefront of maxillofacial prosthetics and has managed the maxillofacial and orthodontic laboratory at Guy’s since 2014. Her work will lead this nuanced discipline into a new technological age – she is the lead for 3D surgical reconstruction planning and 3D orthognathic surgical planning at king’s.

THE DICKSON POON SCHOOL OF LAW

Law and Geography students involved in Ugandan deforestation case

Law and Geography students working through the Human Rights and Environment Clinic, part of King’s Legal Clinic, have contributed original research to a ‘friend of the court’ submission in a climate case before the High Court of Uganda. The case, which has been brought by Ugandan non-governmental organisation Greenwatch, challenges the Ugandan government’s failure to prevent deforestation. The submission comprises a legal analysis outlining the responsibilities of the Ugandan government and a scientific report on the impacts of deforestation, including the role it plays in climate change.

The Dickson Poon School of Law launched its first ever Law Impact Prize

The Law Impact Prizegiving, held on 14 March 2023, was the first faculty event to celebrate projects that shape understanding, build capacity, influence policy, change practice and provide expertise and connectivity. Eight academics from The Dickson Poon School of Law were awarded prizes in recognition of their contribution and the impact of their research. Winners were awarded £1,000 and shortlisted projects received £500 to use for activities that further enhance the impact of their research.

The Dickson Poon School of Law held its first summer research residence, which explored the themes of equality, law and social justice

The three-week residence explored law’s evolving relationship to equality and social justice agendas, with the aim to share ideas, deepen and develop new understandings, and build academic conversations across different intellectual perspectives. Over the course of the three weeks, a vibrant and enthusiastic community was formed involving academics across all stages of their careers, from PhD students and early career academics to professors.

INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOLOGY & NEUROSCIENCE

Largest trial to date shows that psilocybin reduces depression symptoms

A new multicentre clinical trial conducted in collaboration with the Psychoactive Trials Group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and the Maudsley Advanced Treatment Service at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has found that a 25mg dose of psilocybin – a hallucinogenic chemical in certain mushrooms – alongside psychological support had a significant impact in reducing symptoms of depression in participants with treatmentresistant depression.

Evidence of haemorrhages in foetal brain tissue associated with the presence of SARS-CoV-2

New research from the IoPPN has found evidence of small haemorrhages in foetal brain tissue during the peak of COVID-19 cases in the UK. The research found that the haemorrhages are linked to a reduction in blood vessel integrity. The study, led by Dr Katie Long, suggests that COVID-19 might affect the foetal brain during the earliest stages of gestation, highlighting a need for further study into the potential impact on subsequent neurological development.

Adults

living in areas

with high air pollution are more likely to have multiple long-term health conditions

As part of the largest study worldwide to examine if air pollution exposure is linked with the occurrence of multiple long-term health conditions, researchers at the IoPPN have found that adults living in areas with high air pollution are more likely to suffer from poor health. The new study, of more than 364,000 people in England, found that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with an increased likelihood of having multiple long-term physical and mental health conditions.

KING’S BUSINESS SCHOOL

Dr Gabriela Gutierrez-Huerter O wins Financial Times award for real-world impact

Dr Gabriela Gutierrez-Huerter O has worked with the British Standards Institution to develop its new Modern Slavery standard. Launched in January 2023, this is the world’s first national standard designed to help organisations manage the risk of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. Her work received a Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award in 2023

An investigation into the implementation and sustainability of activities and system changes designed to bring us closer to an AIDS-free future

Dr Alec Fraser, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy & Management at King's Business School, with Dr Clare Coultas, of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, conducted a report and workshop assessing the Elton John AIDS Foundation Zero HIV Social Impact Bond programme in south London against its aims of driving up testing levels and encouraging engagement with NHS services. Their work has helped to provide the evidence base for an ‘opt-out’ HIV testing scheme in Accident & Emergency departments in London hospitals.

Layers of Vision

– exploring the experiences and perspectives of blind and partially sighted artists living in a world made for sighted people

Marketing scholar Dr Katharina C Husemann, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at King’s Business School, co-created the Layers of Vision exhibition with blind and partially sighted artists to explore how galleries and museums can better include those with visual impairments. As well as raising visitors’ awareness of the barriers that people who are blind or have sight loss face in everyday life, the exhibition generated further opportunities for the artists involved. Workshops and materials for museums and the retail sector shared the findings of the research, which has also informed the access approach for King’s own cultural activities.

FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES & MEDICINE

Trial shows promise for new antibody cancer treatment

The first ever clinical trial, led by Professor James Spicer, of a new class of immunotherapy for cancer has shown promising results that could benefit patients who do not respond to existing cancer treatments. The study, published in Nature Communications by researchers from King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and funded by Cancer Research UK, tested whether a type of antibody called IgE could be used to treat human cancer.

Results from the Phase I trial show the drug MOv18 IgE shrank the tumour of a patient with ovarian cancer who had not responded to conventional therapy.

Peanut allergies could fall by 77 per cent if babies are weaned early on peanut products

Peanut allergy has seen a three-fold increase in recent decades and it now affects around one in 50 children in the UK. Professor Gideon Lack built on his groundbreaking research into peanut allergies and children this year. His latest study found that introducing peanut products to a baby’s diet at as early as four months can lower allergy risk. His research has changed weaning and food guidelines from healthcare professionals around the world, reversing the commonly held belief that young children should avoid nuts to lessen the risk of allergy.

‘Poo transplant’ trial provides hope for liver disease patients

The PROMISE trial, led by King’s College London and funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) partnership, is a clinical trial of a ‘poo transplant’ that researchers believe could treat advanced liver disease and fight antimicrobial resistance. Research from King’s College London shows that the bad bowel bacteria in patients with cirrhosis can be replaced with healthy bacteria through oral Faecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) capsules from freeze-dried stool from healthy volunteers to reduce the likelihood of getting an infection.

FACULTY OF NATURAL, MATHEMATICAL & ENGINEERING SCIENCES

Converting food waste to protein could help the global hunger crisis

Researchers from the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences and the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine have extensively reviewed sustainable technologies that convert organic waste –which includes food waste from agriculture, kitchens and restaurants, and the food industry – into protein. The authors argue that converting this waste into protein using these technologies could solve malnutrition, reduce the pressure on agriculture and food supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and fight climate change.

King’s becomes part of a £1.85 million project to transform bowel cancer treatment and diagnosis

New technology that could revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer will be developed by physicists from King’s College London, alongside researchers from lead partners the University of Hull and Imperial College London. Funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, the £1 85 million project will deliver new tools to help detect and operate on colorectal cancer – cancer that starts in the colon or rectum – which is the fourth most common cancer and second biggest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.

New drug behaviour promises hope in the fight against antibioticresistant superbugs

Researchers from the Department of Chemistry at King’s have discovered a new method that could prove cheaper and more efficient in dealing with antimicrobial resistance by preventing bacteria from becoming resistant to current antibiotics. This new approach to drug design, published in a paper by Dr Eamonn Reading and Benjamin Russell Lewis, could be the key to destroying superbugs and restoring the effectiveness of antibiotics.

FACULTY OF NURSING, MIDWIFERY & PALLIATIVE CARE

King’s renews partnership with Ngee Ann Academy

King’s College London has renewed its partnership with the Ngee Ann Academy – a leading private education institution based in Singapore – to continue to deliver King’s Nursing BSc (Hons) programme for a further five years. Established in 2018, the partnership was built upon a joint vision to offer qualified nurses in Singapore the opportunity to gain a highly regarded degree in Nursing while continuing to work in the country’s healthcare sector. Now in its fifth year, with more than 600 enrolments, the programme continues to grow and adapt.

New educational film addressing racial inequality in healthcare delivery

Research has shown that UK-wide policies may have disproportionately impacted on people from ethnically diverse groups at the end of life during COVID-19. In addition, healthcare providers have been found to lack understanding of the difference between equal and equitable care –equal access for everyone versus adjusting resources for disadvantaged groups to truly create an even playing field. To address this gap in understanding and to improve the care delivered, Dr Sabrina Bajwah and her team from the Cicely Saunders Institute at King’s have developed an educational film for everyone working in palliative and end-of-life care.

King’s at the forefront of embedding sustainability in nursing and midwifery education

The Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King’s has been awarded Beacon Site Status by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare for embedding sustainability principles in its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Faculty is the first in the UK higher education sector for nursing and midwifery to receive this esteemed accreditation.

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE & PUBLIC POLICY

The ongoing war in Ukraine

Academics and researchers across the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy have continued to share their expertise and insights on the ongoing war in Ukraine, through appearing in more than 26,000 media articles and broadcasts since Russia invaded the country in February 2022. Our Ukraine Explained essay series has been used as a resource for accurate and accessible information. As a result of their experience and media profile, our academics have briefed and informed the decision-making of policymakers, including at the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Cabinet Office and NATO.

Understanding and addressing the challenges of climate change

Work has also continued in our School of Global Affairs around the global challenge presented by the climate crisis, with representatives attending and commenting on developments around the COP27 summit in November 2022. One of our academics, Professor Tamsin Edwards, has taken up a research advisory role in UK Parliament; and Dr Tom Matthews and Dr George Adamson are leading a project on glaciers to better support those living downstream of them and limit the melting taking place due to global warming. Other academics are researching wildfires, heatwaves, pollution, natural hazards in the Global South, wind climate change, sea level rise and nature conservation.

Working with communities to assess the impact of the costof-living crisis in the UK

In our Policy Institute, researchers are carrying out innovative research to understand the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, including testing local and national solutions to mitigate the effects. This includes important work to assess its impact in four London boroughs and working with local residents most affected by the crisis to co-design local and national solutions that would make a positive difference to their lives. Their work has called into question the roles and responsibility that larger actors, including national government, local authorities and industry, have to play.

Thank you

This report has provided just a few examples of the people who are enabling and enacting change in the world around us under the King’s banner. King’s is not an inert or rigid structure removed from the communities we strive to support and lift up; instead, we are a bustling and reactive home to those who embody the King’s mission of service. Our people –academics, students, staff, clinicians, alumni and supporters – are the lifeblood of that mission, and they are accomplishing long-term and effective impact across the world every day.

But none of this would be possible without our supporters. Your continued commitment and support enable our communities to address and impact on some of the most pressing challenges we face in the world today. With your generous support, we will continue to provide that space for the mission of service and attract those world-leading experts dedicated to it. We can continue to assess need and have impact. Together, we are creating a better, fairer tomorrow for all.

King’s will always strive to enable student success, encourage a thriving staff community, implement sustainable research, and ensure the knowledge and expertise we house has purpose and impact. When I consider what King’s has achieved in the past year, I feel an enormous sense of pride in our King’s community. So, it is my honour to thank all our dedicated staff, students and donors for your incredible contributions and your continued support for our shared mission.

Thank you.

Matthew Gorman Director of Development

To find out more, go to kcl.ac.uk/fundraising

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