THERM-UK: £2.5 million grant to fight heat risks in the UK

Oxford Brookes University is excited to announce its involvement in the THERM-UK project, a £2.5 million research initiative funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the project brings together a wide range of experts and aims to better understand and mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations across the UK.

As climate change increasingly drives unpredictable weather patterns, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, posing significant risks to public health. From direct effects like heat-related illnesses and deaths to indirect consequences such as the spread of disease-carrying insects, climate factors influence our health in numerous ways. 

The THERM-UK project aims to tackling these tough heat challenges by developing innovative ways to:

1. Lower how much heat people are exposed to.
2. Get better at spotting when the weather is damaging people's health.
3. Figure out exactly who is most at risk from climate change to identify support for the people who need it most.

The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts from across the UK, with collective expertise spanning across a wide range of disciplines, from epidemiology and environmental science to health economics and urban planning. Professor Rajat Gupta, a co-investigator from Oxford Brookes University, will bring his expertise in indoor air quality, along with low carbon and sustainable building solutions, including heat pumps and fabric retrofits, to the project.

This ambitious project aligns with the UK’s broader climate goals, particularly its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. By quantifying the health benefits and economic costs of different interventions, THERM-UK will provide critical evidence to inform public health policies and climate adaptation strategies.

Professor Shakoor Hajat, Principal Investigator from LSHTM, commented on the importance of this research: “Extreme heat is one of the most pressing climate-related health risks we face, and its impacts are disproportionately felt by vulnerable groups. The THERM-UK project provides us with a unique opportunity to develop targeted interventions that will protect public health and build resilience to future heatwaves.”

Through this research, THERM-UK will contribute not only to the scientific understanding of climate’s impact on health but also to the development of practical, policy-relevant solutions that can enhance the UK’s resilience to climate change.

Oxford Brookes University is proud to be a part of this transformative project that will play a key role in shaping the future of public health and climate adaptation strategies in the UK.