University Research Institutes
Tacking global challenges through pioneering research
Our six University research institutes are centres of excellence where interdisciplinary teams tackle global challenges through pioneering research.
From digital innovation and advanced technologies to health, energy, and justice, our institutes connect academic insight with societal need - delivering evidence, solutions, and partnerships that shape policy and drive breakthroughs. Explore how Aston’s institutes are transforming ideas into action.
The Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute
The Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute, established in 2024 and named in honour of Sir Peter Rigby, founder of Europe's largest privately owned IT group, SCC, is a multidisciplinary research hub that bridges academic research and industry.
Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics
A global research leader in applying linguistic analysis to legal contexts, improving the delivery of justice through the analysis of language. Their interdisciplinary research addresses issues such as online abuse, hate speech, and authorship attribution, providing insights that inform legal practices and policies.
The Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence
A world-leading, cross-disciplinary research hub pioneering biomimetic membrane science. Integrating biology, physics, chemistry and engineering, it drives innovations in drug delivery, diagnostics, water purification and therapeutics - advancing equitable health and environmental technologies while fostering inclusive growth and translational impact.
The Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies
The Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies advances HealthTech through pioneering laser and biomedical photonics research, developing innovative optical sensors, imaging systems, and diagnostic tools that enable earlier disease detection, minimally invasive treatments, and improved patient monitoring and healthcare outcomes.
Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI)
A leading research hub dedicated to advancing Clean Tech solutions through the sustainable conversion of biomass and waste into valuable energy and bioproducts. With over 40 years of expertise, EBRI combines thermochemical, biological, and catalytic processes to develop innovative technologies that contribute to a low-carbon, circular economy.
The Aston Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment
The Aston Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment is an interdisciplinary research hub conducting studies which impact on the wellbeing of children, young people, and society. Our researchers establish new models and understanding of childhood disease, disorder and developmental processes and use these to inform therapeutic and social interventions (e.g. anxiety management in autism, evidence-based nutrition guidance for children, pre-surgical imaging tools to improve prediction of neurosurgery outcomes).
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