Research

Our research collaborations with government, businesses and leading institutions across India are providing answers to the global challenges of our age.

From addressing the challenges of urbanisation and developing cold chains, improving the detection of cancer in women and identifying the source of air pollution, our research collaborations are breaking new ground.

Transforming global access to safe and affordable surgery

A team of surgeons in medical gowns, caps and gloves performing surgery in theatre

Studies show that globally, more die after surgery than from HIV, TB and malaria combined. Our leading surgeons have been awarded £7 million by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to establish a joint unit focused on driving surgical research in India and other low- and middle-income countries. By undertaking collaborative research and engaging the local and global surgical community, our researchers are solving the critical need for safe, affordable surgical care worldwide.


Exploring the impact of India's urban transformation

The Indian city of Shimla at dusk

University of Birmingham researcher Dr Sophie Hadfield-Hill has been awarded major funding from the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Urban Transformations programme to to investigate India’s smart urban age. This collaborative project, ‘Learning from small cities’, studies the dynamic transformation of three Indian cities and will help experts to understand and predict the challenges of India's rapid move towards an urban future.

Global experts call for new approach to tackle air pollution


Celebrating an important year for the Sikh community

The India flag and Union flag merging into one

As the first UK university to establish a Sikh Studies programme, we’re strengthening our longstanding engagement with the local and global Sikh community to mark a significant year for the Sikh faith, which celebrates the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Led by our Sikh Studies expert Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal OBE, we’re building partnerships with faith-based organisations to widen the impact of our research and to raise public understanding of the Sikh faith.


Reaching Sustainable Development Goals by increasing rural access to clean water

A small child operating a water pump in an Indian village

Our leading Professor of Water Technology, Professor Philip Davies, is collaborating with key partners in India to deliver an innovative project addressing critical water shortages in many rural parts of the country. 'India H2O' is developing new technologies to make it possible to reuse water that is too contaminated to drink untreated and is maximising the impact of research to benefit rural communities across India.


Leading the way in demonstrating how clean cold can meet global goals

A plantation worker removing cacao fruit from a tree

Our energy experts have launched a major research initiative, Clean Cold and the Global Goals, which investigates how clean cooling could help to achieve almost all of the United Nations’ Global Goals. Our researchers argue that the introducing clean cold to India’s food supply chain will develop infrastructure and double farmers’ incomes while reducing their impact on the environment. We’re strengthening UK-India industry partnerships by supporting the Indian state government’s drive to advance the use of clean cold technology and help meet rising demand for cooling sustainably.

Clean cold and global goals


Making a global impact in air pollution research

Crowds of people around the India Gate monument in New Delhi which is shrouded in smog

With air pollution levels up to 30 times greater than in the UK at times, India’s capital city Delhi has been rated as one of the most polluted cities in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO). Leading researchers from the University of Birmingham are collaborating with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to understand the causes, sources and effects of poor air quality in India and across the globe and tackle the associated health risks.

Global experts call for new approach to tackle air pollution 


Investigating the causes of the most common women’s cancers

Professor Sudha Sundar presenting at the Punjab-Birmingham Women's Cancer Genomics Workshop

Cancer expert Professor Sudha Sundar is leading research into the factors causing the three most common cancers in women – breast, cervical and ovarian – in the Punjab region. Our researchers at the University of Birmingham are collaborating with centres of excellence in India to investigate how ethnic diversity has an impact on the prevalence of these cancers and to and to improve early detection.

Heterogeneity of germline variants in high risk breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes in India


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