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Astbury Conversation 2026 Designing Biology 20-21 April

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How Leeds champions the future of farming at the National Pig Centre

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Faculty celebrates success at REF

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STAFF DIRECTORY
WORLD-LEADING EVENTS
SUSTAINABLE FARMING
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

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Professor Andrew Macdonald smiles at the camera

Understanding the complexity of life on earth can enable us to overcome major societal challenges, such as infectious and non-infectious diseases, climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity. It can also create jobs, support the economy and transform health care.

Prof. Andrew MacDonald | Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation

At least 88%

'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'

Submitted research in our two main UoAs – REF 2021.

A 317

hectare University smart farm

that brings together four farmsteads.

£10.5m

invested into translating research

through the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator.

Our research

We deliver research excellence that bridges biological scales from molecules, tissues, populations and landscapes using various technical approaches. By pushing boundaries of fundamental knowledge, we make bold and exciting discoveries which make real-world impact.

Our diverse community covers a range of research areas, from agriculture, sustainable ecosystems and adaptation, organismal health, biomedical technology, cardiovascular and exercises sciences, neuroscience and behaviour, cancer and cell signalling, infectious diseases, and protein structure, stability, and dynamics.

Research Impact

Our research delivers significant benefits to society and the economy. Read through case studies from some of our leading academics that showcase how we have already delivered a high level of impact across the globe as well as exploring our early future impact news stories.

Biomedicine and Health

New biomedicine and health web banner

Find out how we are tackling challenges within Biomedicine and Health by reading our impact case studies and some of our other research news.

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Next area of research excellence

Ecology and Conservation

Ecology and Conservation

Ecology and conservation is a grand challenge within the faculty of biological sciences

Find out how we are tackling challenges within Ecology and Conservation by reading our impact case studies and some of our other research news.

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Next area of research excellence

Sport and Exercise Sciences

Sport and Exercise Sciences

Sport and exercise science is a grand challenge within the Faculty of Biological Sciences

Find out how we are tackling challenges within Sport and Exercise Science by reading our impact case studies and some of our other research news.

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Next area of research excellence

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is one of our grand challenges

Find out how we are tackling challenges within Sustainable Agriculture by reading our impact case studies and some of our other research news.

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Next area of research excellence

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Become an Independent Research Fellow

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Find a PhD

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Collaborate on research projects

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Research technicians and operations

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Current job vacancies

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Business partnerships

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How we deliver research excellence

Dr gesa reiss speaks to a man and woman during the napic networking session

Interdisciplinary networks

Interdisciplinary networks

We innovate by collaborating with researchers across biology, chemistry, environment, medicine, and engineering.

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Mass spectrometry labs in the Faculty of Biological Sciences

World-class facilities

World-class facilities

Our world-class facilities, unrivalled scientific environment and access to clinical infrastructure enable us to ‘see’ and examine cellular processes to better understand how the body and plants works, drive innovative solutions for disease at pace and scale and test pioneering solutions in real-world environments.

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Our positive research culture

Our positive research culture

At the University of Leeds, we recognise and value everyone involved in research

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Celina Worraker - Drug Discovery and Development at Leeds

Training the next generation of scientists

Training the next generation of scientists

Research-led teaching to support the future leaders of biological sciences. Discover our summer studentships on the link below.

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Research led teaching

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Latest research news

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The flight of insects... and why weather radar may hold the clues

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Report calls for largest transformation of UK food since Second World War

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The outside of the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator facility

A brand new facility for bold research discoveries

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Astbury Conversation 2026 Designing Biology

Astbury Conversation 2026

The Astbury Conversation returns in 2026 with a bold new theme: Designing Biology.

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