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REF2014 Results – UoA15: General Engineering

King’s is at the forefront of biomedical engineering research with a particular focus on imaging and computational modelling technologies. There is an integrated approach to the research covering image acquisition, reconstruction and computational analysis as well as imaging chemistry. Imaging and other data is then interpreted using novel biophysical and statistical models. This interdisciplinary research has a strong translation focus to improve patient care for a wide range of diseases.  

We are delighted by our excellent  performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), with 99% of our research outputs being rated 4* and 3* in the unit of assessment for general engineering, and 99% of our overall performance achieving these ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ ratings.  

We are ranked first in terms of the overall proportion of our submissions rated at 4* or 3*, and fifth in the UK based on our Grade Point Average.  

The REF assessed the quality of research carried out between 2008 and 2013 in UK higher education institutions. A new element of the REF was the requirement for institutions to demonstrate the impact of their research, where we were equal first overall in terms of the quality of our impact.  

A total of 57 staff from the Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering  were submitted as part of the assessment – almost half of these were early career researchers, a reflection of our pool of young and exciting academic talent.  Of the impact case studies submitted, all were rated as having outstanding impact (80% at 4*) or very considerable impact (20% at 3*) in terms of reach and significance. 

Professor Reza Razavi, Head of the Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering , says:  “The Division’s overriding goal is to deliver scientifically informed solutions to biomedical problems by combining fundamental research in engineering, physics, mathematics, computing, and chemistry with medicine and biology.”

One of the impact case studies submitted showed how our research in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has directly impacted on patients suffering from heart defects. We have developed new imaging techniques, devices and data analysis to perform cardiac catheterisation in children and adults with congenital heart disease. This has led to the commercialisation of hybrid MRI and X-ray cardiac catheterisation laboratories, a new scientific method for studying heart physiology which is now being routinely used in clinical practice as it reduces X-ray radiation exposure and improves the accuracy of body measurements.

A second impact case study highlighted work at the Division’s PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Centre, a centre of excellence with an international reputation for delivering the best patient care, highest quality academic research, and training. The Centre has developed new PET methodology that combines PET with MRI for simultaneous imaging of disease that has now been made into clinical products by major imaging equipment manufacturers and is being used in the Centre alongside innovative research in radiochemistry to provide cutting-edge care to patients with cancer.  

You can read more about our PET research and other examples of our impact on our Research in Action pages.

 

Definitions

The Grade Point Average (GPA) represents an average score (out of four) for the submission to a unit of assessment and is derived by multiplying the percentage of the submission at each of the levels (4*, 3*, 2*, 1*) by the number of the star ranking and dividing by 100.

The Quality Index is similar to the GPA but gives an additional weighting to the proportion of research at the higher star level. The index that the university has used is % 4* x 9, % 3* x 3, divided by 9. Different league tables may use different proportions for this.

The ‘power’ ranking uses the quality index to derive a score relative to the other submissions. The quality index is multiplied by the full-time equivalent (FTE) submitted and is then divided by the FTE of the largest submission.

Read the summary of results for the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine.