SIX new research programmes are to start at Oxford University after winning a share of £6.4m funding.

The Oxford Martin School invited applications for projects to be funded and, after 330 applications, six teams were given approval to start in October.

They will focus on viral infections, resource stewardship, quantum technology, vaccines, human rights for future generations and complexity, risk and resilience.

More than 70 academics across 17 university departments will be involved in the projects.

Oxford Martin School director Prof Ian Goldin said: “We need fresh approaches that break out of academic silos if we are to address mounting global problems. The Oxford Martin School drives collaboration among academics from a wide range of disciplines to address some of the most pressing challenges of this century.

“By bringing in these new teams of physicists, mathematicians, social scientists, philosophers, biologists, zoologists, medics and others I am confident that we can build on the extraordinary existing research being undertaken by the Oxford Martin School.”