Pembroke College, Oxford

In an important discovery for the next generation of malaria vaccines, Pembroke Lecturer Dr Barney Williams and other Oxford researchers have identified how antibodies can be over 90% effective at preventing malaria parasites from growing.

Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in low-income countries. In 2024 it killed more than 600,000 people, mainly young African children. While two vaccines are already recommended by the World Health Organisation, they target the earlier liver-stage of infection. This new research, published in Immunity, will support the development of new vaccines as a second line of defence and to stop the parasite once it reaches red blood cells, where the illness occurs.

Dr Barney Williams explained: "Most vaccine research has focused on identifying individual antibodies that can strongly neutralise a pathogen. What we found here is different: the strongest protection comes from antibodies working together in a coordinated way."

Read more at the link in the comments.

Professor Seena Fazel has been reappointed by the Deputy Prime Minister to the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC).

Established in 2009, the IAPDC aims to prevent deaths in detention by providing expert advice and challenge to Ministers, departments, and agencies.

"Preventing deaths in custody requires careful scrutiny, rigorous use of high-quality evidence, robust analysis, and a clear understanding of risk and prevention," shared Professor Fazel. "I look forward to contributing to the Panel’s work through independent, evidence-based advice informed by the latest research and data.”

Professor Fazel is a Senior Associate at Pembroke and Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. He is also Director of the Centre for Su***de Research at the University and is an honorary consultant forensic psychiatrist for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. His research looks at suicidal behaviour in prisoners, the mental health of prisoners, and risk assessment in criminal justice and mental health.

WildCRU have won a Vice Chancellor's Award!!

Led by Pembroke SRF Professor Amy Dickman, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit aims to transform wildlife conservation through world-class research, training and implementation. With members from more than forty countries working across multiple continents, the group delivers positive local impact for people and wildlife.

At the Vice Chancellor's Awards they received the 'Making a Difference Globally Award', a recognition of WildCRU's outstanding contribution to conservation and community engagement outside the UK. The group were praised for the way they share Oxford expertise globally to build local capacity, support equitable livelihoods, strengthen policy, and improve coexistence between people and wildlife.

"Our work involves so many diverse people, including researchers, support staff, field teams, students, donors and others, and it was wonderful to have that collective commitment recognised at the highest level in the University,” shared Professor Amy Dickman.

Read more at the link in the comments.

Pembrokians sure know how to have a good time…🍹

Some lovely snaps from our annual Garden Parties the other week!

Thank you to Grace Greaves for the great photos of the student Garden Party 📸

We are delighted to share our first edition of Pembroke’s annual Impact Report, showcasing the impact of philanthropy on College life.

Featuring stories from students, Fellows, and donors, this publication highlights the remarkable generosity of our community, for which we are hugely grateful.

You can read the Impact Report at the link in the comments.

In anticipation of the 2026 World Cup, we thought we’d share a football story of our own…⚽️

In 1984, a few years after women were first admitted to Pembroke, some of our alumni joined forces to start the college’s very first women’s football team. A year later, they registered women’s football as a University sport.

"We set up the team in 1984, mainly as I played hockey and we had no socials afterwards, whereas the men had three football teams and went back to each other's college bars after the games," shared Pembroke alumna Fiona Armstrong-Hall. "I loved the idea, so set up women's football."

"The FA had banned women's football in 1921, and that ban wasn't lifted until 1971. We were playing only 14 years after this, albeit in the men's third team stripes!"

Now, more than 40 years later, OUAFC have three women’s teams and a women’s Development Squad!

Thank you to Fiona Armstrong-Hall (1983) for sharing this story with us and for the fab photos!!

“An offer from Oxford changed my life…now I am determined to extend that opportunity.”

In 2025, our JCR Access and Outreach Rep Lennon Airey co-founded a free mentorship organisation for students in the North East. He shared with us his motivations for starting StateElevate and his hopes for the future.

With the help of volunteer undergraduate mentors, StateElevate has supported over 200 students so far.

When Lennon was in Year 12, he took part in Pembroke’s OxNet programme. “It changed my mindset on Oxford altogether,” he shared. “I am extremely keen to pay back those who believed in my potential during my journey to Oxford through extending the ladder to students in the North East.”

Read more at the link in the comments.

Our Chapel Choir has released a brand new album!

Featuring music that hasn’t been heard in over 400 years, the new album, 'Yn Devotione', is themed around Pentecost. Staying true to the 16th century when the pieces were written, the album features traditional instruments including the cornetto, the shawm, the dulcian, and the great bass racket! 🎺

This is the first album released by Pembroke’s Chapel Choir in 20 years so it's one not to miss.

Yn Devotione is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Link in bio.

Thank you to Grace Greaves for the wonderful photos.

✨ This week is Volunteers’ Week, a UK-wide celebration recognising the contribution of volunteers.

We wanted to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to our wonderful team of volunteer Alumni Ambassadors: former Pembroke students, based all around the world, who help to build and strengthen our alumni community.

Our Ambassadors organise local events, communicate about College initiatives and activities, and keep Pembrokians connected to one another and to the College.

We are lucky enough to have over 120 Alumni Ambassadors, based across five continents, and spanning eight decades of matriculation years! We’re so thankful for each of our Ambassadors and everything they do for the College.

Find out more about ambassador events taking place near you, or get in touch with your local ambassador. Link in the comments.

Yeahhhh Pembroke 💪

We are so so proud of all of our rowers for putting a huge shift in this Summer VIIIs!!

A big thank you to student Grace Greaves for the lovely photos 📸