Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

See below for a snapshot of the activity supporting “SDG 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing”

Research and Innovation

The 100,000 Genomes Project  

Queen Mary researchers played a leading role in the national 100,000 Genomes Project, which sequenced the genomes of NHS patients with rare diseases and cancers. By linking genetic data with clinical information, the initiative transformed how conditions are diagnosed and treated, paving the way for personalised medicine within the UK’s public health system. The project has already improved diagnosis rates for rare disorders and provided actionable insights for thousands of families. Its success is helping to embed genomics into everyday healthcare, making precision medicine more equitable and effective. 

Helping London’s children breathe more easily: how Queen Mary research influenced the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone 

Research, ‘Helping London’s Children Breathe More Easily’, led by Queen Mary scientists demonstrated how traffic-related air pollution was damaging children’s lung growth and overall health in London. The evidence directly influenced the creation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), one of the city’s most significant public-health interventions. The work connected air-quality data with clinical outcomes to show tangible health improvements when emissions are reduced. This research has shaped policy, reduced exposure to harmful pollutants, and improved respiratory health for thousands of children

Floodwaters, landfills and toxic contaminants 

Research at Queen Mary University of London, by Professor Kate Spencer, has shown how rising floodwaters increase the risk of toxic contaminants being released from historic coastal landfills (CHLs). The research highlights the vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems and communities to hazardous pollutants being released from CHLs into marine environments. It was revealed that 30% of England's protected coastlines and bathing water catchments are at risk from CHL pollution, posing both environmental and public health risks. More than 1,200 sites face potential tidal flooding, with 10% at risk of erosion by 2050.   

A £2.9 million UKRI/DEFRA grant has been awarded to enhance resilience in coastal communities facing landfill pollution through the ResAnth project. These outcomes ensure that communities will be better prepared for the environmental and public health risks posed by CHLs.  

Ethnic differences in breast cancer development and outcomes 

New research by Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, found that women of African or South Asian genetic ancestry tend to develop breast cancer and die at a younger age than women of European ancestry. The study, which looked at clinical and genetic data from over 7,000 women with breast cancer, also found important genetic differences in these women’s cancers that could impact their diagnosis and treatment. 

Education

Science Training for Aspiring Research Scientists (STARS) 

STARS was founded at the Barts Cancer Institute, part of the  Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, in 2013 and has been funded by the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre since 2024. This programme is a week-long work-experience for A-level students from schools with historically low university attendance, allowing them to experience and learn about cancer research first-hand.  

Earlier this year, the STARS team at BCI was awarded the Outstanding Team Award at the Queen Mary Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry staff awards for their exceptional work organising this programme. 

Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing 

The Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing (ACHA) is dedicated to improving care and support for older people in northeast London through research, education, and training. It is a collaborative project between Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London and Barts Charity. 

Based within Whipps Cross Hospital, with strong local community links, ACHA is closely connected to the Integrated Delivery Framework (IDF), a system-wide approach to transforming health and care services across the whole Whipps Cross catchment area. This means all the research happens where patient care happens. 

Operations

Planetary Health Report Card  

Queen Mary University was awarded an A- for the 2024/25 planetary health report card, and improvement from a B awarded in the previous year. Founded in 2019, the Planetary Health Report Card is a metric-based tool for evaluating and improving planetary health content in health professional schools it covers:  

• Planetary health curriculum  

• Interdisciplinary research  

• Institutional support  

• Community outreach and advocacy  

• Campus sustainability  

 Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund Tissue Bank (PCRFTB) 

The PCRFTB – the world’s first national pancreas tissue bank – is hosted and co-ordinated by the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, funded by Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund (PCRF) and supported by a Human Tissue Authority licence from Barts Health NHS Trust.  

In August, the PCRFTB was awarded the ISO 20387:2018 accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. This recognises a biobank’s commitment to rigorous standards in the collection, storage and use of biological materials. Of the UK’s more than 200 research biobanks, the PCRFTB is the first in England and only the second UK-wide to receive this accreditation

Engagement 

East London Genes and Health Project 

Genes & Health is one of the world’s largest community-based genetics studies, aiming to improve health among people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage by analysing the genes and health of 100,000 local people. Community engagement and public and patient involvement activities ensure communities are involved throughout the research process.  

The project is led by Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with King’s College London, Barts Health NHS Trust, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. It is supported by the Medical Research Council, Health Data Research UK, and major industry partners. The NHS clinical commissioning groups from East London—including Tower Hamlets, Newham, City & Hackney, and Waltham Forest—also play a key role in enabling data linkage and community engagement. 

QMSU Sport community partnerships 

QMSU Sport has created partnerships and driven positive change throughout the borough of Tower Hamlets through impactful work with educational institutions, grassroots organisations, and key local stakeholders. Through a shared vision of increasing sports and physical activity within Tower Hamlets — an area found to be severely underactive, underfunded, and holding one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the UK — QMSU Sport works in conjunction with Queen Mary’s Strategy 2030, QMSU’s Sports Strategy, and the overarching aims of London Sport and Tower Hamlets Council. Together, these partnerships support and facilitate innovative community projects throughout the area. 

For example, in partnership with Globe Primary School, Queen Mary delivered free after-school football clubs for over 100 local girls aged 8–11. Supported by seven Queen Mary student coaches, who gained sports qualifications through the programme, the project enhanced both community wellbeing and student employability.