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World leading innovations

Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Frank Pantridge statue
PORTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR

This device hangs on the wall of public buildings across the world and has saved millions of lives.

Professor Frank Pantridge, dubbed ‘The Father of Emergency Medicine’, who graduated from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences in 1939, invented the first portable defibrillator.

Andy Meharg
ARSENIC IN RICE

We are leading a major health breakthrough to remove carcinogenic arsenic from rice.

Did you know that rice contains high levels of arsenic which can cause a range of health problems? Professor Andy Meharg, Institute for Global Food Security, has developed a simple and cost-effective new technology which removes arsenic from rice, and has the potential to save millions of people from life threatening medical illnesses.

Professor Stuart Elborn
REVOLUTIONISING CYSTIC FIBROSIS TREATMENT

Developing new therapies with a dramatic effect on survival rates and quality of life for those who suffer from it.

Professor Stuart Elborn, developed the world’s first effective treatment for the disease, described by the US FDA as ‘a revolution in how we treat patients in the future’.

Engineering and Physical Sciences
Máire O'Neill
SET TOP BOX TECHNOLOGY

One-time British Female Inventor of the Year, Professor Maire O’Neill is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading cryptography experts, helping enhance global data security.

She invented a high speed silicon security chip that is used in more than 100 million TV set-top boxes.

Person sunbathing
SUNBATHING WRISTBAND

An ingenious wristband that checks for sunburn, has been developed by Dr David Hazafy, from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

The wristband, which uses a kind of ‘smart ink’ that reacts with ultraviolet light from the sun to change colour at a speed that depends on the wearer’s skin type, was rewarded with a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship.

Professor Alan Fitzsimmons
ASSISTING COMET LANDINGS

Philae’s landing on a fast-moving comet 300 million miles away has been hailed as one of humanity’s greatest science achievements.

Professor Alan Fitzsimmons and his colleagues at Queen’s Astrophysics Research Centre, played a major role in the first-ever comet landing, calculating the measurements of the comet to ensure the most likely chance of success, as part of the Rosetta Space Mission.

Petronas office
UNIQUE IONIC LIQUID TECHNOLOGY

Our partnership with the global company PETRONAS is employing green chemistry to remove harmful mercury, helping the oil and gas industry to become safer and more environmentally friendly.

    

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Joanne-Hughes_2H
UNESCO CHAIR STATUS FOR WORK ON SHARED EDUCATION

Queen’s has been honoured by UNESCO by becoming an international example of how shared education can promote reconciliation in divided societies Professor Joanne Hughes, Director of the Centre for Shared Education, has been appointed the first ‘UNESCO Chair on Globalising a Shared Education Model for Improving Relations in Divided Societies’.

Children in wellington boots and coats
CHILDREN IN CARE NSPCC

Northern Ireland and Queen’s University focus on the health and well-being of Looked After Children and Young People. NSPCC NI and Queen’s University held a seminar to promote research showing a whole system approach to better mental health will help protect children in care.

Professor Michael Alcorn
SONIC INNOVATIONS

A team led by Professor Michael Alcorn, from Queen’s Sonic Arts Research Centre, developed revolutionary new surround sound techniques for cinema that were first used in films such as Jurassic Park.

   

Wooden jar of colouring pencils
EARLIER DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM

Professor Karola Dillenburger and researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have called for earlier diagnosis of autism on the back of increasing evidence that earlier interventions have more positive outcomes, arguing that early support can improve quality of life for children on the autistic spectrum and their families.

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