Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine Research Impact

Pioneering discovery, life-changing impact

What is research impact?

Research impact can be defined as the change caused by innovation and knowledge exchange affecting the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life both within and beyond academia. Its reach can be local, regional, national or international, and its benefits may be felt by specific groups and communities, organisations, companies or governments.

The impact of our work

We are passionate about advancing knowledge and impact in human health and medicine, and world-leading research across the Faculty drives real change, whether that be in developing advanced therapies, pioneering new treatments, improving diagnostic approaches (including through the use of AI) or changing health policy and clinical guidelines.

By working with academics at other universities, industry partners, NHS and other healthcare providers and policy makers, we make a real difference to people’s lives.

We share below recent examples of the impact of our research.

Our Research Impact Lead

The Story of Ensifentrine: Revolutionising the treatment of Respiratory Disease

Ensifentrine is a pioneering new drug, developed from early research at King's College London, that is set to improve the quality of life for millions of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory conditions.

Sold under the brand name Ohtuvayre, it combines bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects in a single molecule rather than two drugs. The purchase of Verona Pharma, the company set to produce ensifentrine, by the US pharmaceutical company Merck for $10 billion, marks how early research undertaken at King's has led to medicine that could transform the lives of people around the world.

Hear from Emeritus Professor Clive Page, a Professor of Pharmacology at King's, about how Ensifentrine was developed and what makes it unique.

Then, Now, Next - 40 Years of HIV

Professors Melanie Abas, Richard Harding and Michael Malim discussed the last 40 years of HIV research and the significance of continuing to research this virus and their hope for the future. The virus that we now know as HIV was not originally discovered under that name. As the AIDS crisis emerged, in 1983 three groups of researchers managed to isolate the virus that caused it and in May 1986 it was officially named as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This marked a turning point that paved the way for antiretroviral treatment. A lot of progress has been made in the last four decades and some of our academics have been at the forefront of patient care and academic research on HIV/AIDS. In our new short film, marking the anniversary, we speak to three of our senior staff who have all had first-hand experience of working in the field.