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This year marks the first year of the School of Health and Medical Sciences, Research Image of the Year competition.

We would like to use this opportunity to bring together and represent all disciplines across SHMS and showcase the outstanding research impact illustrated through images.

About Research Image of the Year

A winner and commendation for Research Image of the Year will be determined by a public vote based on:

  • overall impact of image
  • relevance of the image to the research
  • effectiveness in engaging viewer with research.

The winner will receive a £100 voucher and will be showcased at this year's School of Health & Medical Science's Research Day.

As well as the winner, a highly commended image has been given as a runner up which will also be highlighted at Research Day 2025.

How to apply

The competition is open to all except the winners from the previous year and we encouraged submission of images from any area of research at the university, this could be anything from molecular, cellular, to fieldwork or clinical work.

The deadline for applications for Research Image of the Year has now passed.

Vote for Research Image of the Year

We have shortlisted 8 images for Research Image of the Year which you can browse below. You can vote for the image you think deserves the award via this short online form.

Please cast your vote by Friday 7 November 2025.

Shortlisted images for Research Image of the Year

  • The image shows Bea, a chimpanzee rescued by Fundacio Mona catching a yawn from a humanoid robot.

    1. Bea, a chimpanzee rescued by Fundacio Mona catching a yawn from a humanoid robot.

    Submitted by Ramiro Joly Macheroni, Beatriz Calvo-Merino and Tina Forster

  • The image shows a Philippine community of stroke survivors, carers and Barangay health workers taking part in a co-design event. They are all making the sign for

    2. A Philippine community of stroke survivors, carers and Barangay health workers taking part in a co-design event. They are making the sign for "TULAY" which stands for Tulong, Ugnayan ng Lingap At gabaY which translates to "help link compassionate care and guidance".

    Submitted by Fiona Jones

  • Double chromatic in situ hybridisation of a 24 hour post-fertilisation developing zebrafish eye, showing the expression of two genes: ahr1b (blue) and cyp1b1 (red)

    3. Double chromatic in situ hybridisation of a 24 hour post-fertilisation developing zebrafish eye, showing the expression of two genes: ahr1b (blue) and cyp1b1 (red).

    Submitted by Jack Nicholls

  • A post-registration healthcare professional learner inserting a voice prosthesis brush into a voice prosthesis within a 3D printed model's trachea. They are following audio-visual instructions that walk them through the procedure via a VR headset.

    4. A post-registration healthcare professional learner inserting a voice prosthesis brush into a voice prosthesis within a 3D printed model's trachea. They are following audio-visual instructions that walk them through the procedure via a VR headset.

    Submitted by Louise Occomore-Kent, Dr Freya Sparks, Nick Gilbody and Keith Pamment

  • An illustration, by Tom Bailey, of people with brain injury, their family members, speech therapists and researchers working collaboratively.

    5. An illustration, by Tom Bailey, of people with brain injury, their family members, speech therapists and researchers working collaboratively.

    Submitted by Nicholas Behn

  • A group of women at a group care workshop demonstrating the connection they have made with each other through the use of interactive and empowering learning techniques.

    6. A group of women at a group care workshop demonstrating the connection they have made with each other through the use of interactive and empowering learning techniques.

    Submitted by Octavia Wiseman (on behalf of the REACH Pregnancy Circle Team)

  • A filming day delivered in partnership with the North Essex Farm Cluster as part of the research action project, Joined Up Landscapes. The focus of the film is restored or newly created ponds on farmland, as shown in the image.

    7. A filming day delivered in partnership with the North Essex Farm Cluster as part of the research action project, Joined Up Landscapes. The focus of the film is restored or newly created ponds on farmland, as shown in the image.

    Submitted by Sophie Perry

  • Two Styrofoam heads facing each other both wearing a cap with embedded electrodes. The caps are used to conduct electroencephalography (EEG) research of human cognition.

    8. Two Styrofoam heads facing each other both wearing a cap with embedded electrodes. The caps are used to conduct electroencephalography (EEG) research of human cognition.

    Submitted by Tina Forster