Submitted by James Cantwell on Mon, 02/03/2026 - 09:23
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East of England £15.3 million in funding for the next five years, recognising the strength of its regional partnerships and track record in delivering impactful applied health and care research.
The NIHR ARC East of England is hosted by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, working in partnership with five regional universities (University of Cambridge Primary Care Unit, Anglia Ruskin University, East Anglia, Essex and Hertfordshire) as well as Health Innovation East, NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Systems, local authorities, patient‑led organisations, charities and industry partners.
In April 2026, the NIHR ARC East of England will launch its programme for the next five years with refreshed objectives and new priority areas across its research themes and workstreams. The new ARC will focus on utilising its partnerships to deliver research that tackles major health and care challenges, reduce health inequalities and support the translation of research evidence into practice.
Professor Stephen Morris to Become Director in 2026
The next iteration of ARC East of England will be led by Professor Stephen Morris, RAND Professor of Health Services Research at the University of Cambridge, Primary Care Unit, who will take up the role of Director on 1 April 2026. Discussing the appointment, Prof Morris, said: “It is an honour to lead the NIHR ARC East of England into its next phase. Our work is most powerful when it is rooted in partnership with patients, the public, practitioners and researchers across the region. This new funding allows us to build on strong foundations and ensure that the research we deliver genuinely responds to the priorities of our communities and improves lives across health and social care.”
New themes to prioritise communities and improve lives
Following a six-month consultation with Integrated Care Boards, patients and the public, service providers and academics, the ARC East of England have refined its five research themes to align with both current and emerging national health and care priority areas for people across the life course. The NIHR ARC East of England research themes will focus on:
- Measurement in Health and Social Care – led by Dr Adam Wagner (University of East Anglia) and co-led by Dr Joanna Reid (University of Cambridge)
- Mental Health and Wellbeing – led by Professor Kristy Sanderson (University of East Anglia) and co-led by Dr Emma Kaminskiy (Anglia Ruskin University)
- Palliative and End-of-Life Care – led by Professor Morag Farquhar (University of East Anglia) and co-led by Dr Ben Bowers (University of Cambridge)
- Prevention and Early Detection in Health and Social Care – led by Dr Claire Thompson (University of Hertfordshire) and co-led by Dr Angus Holford (University of Essex)
- Social Care, Ageing and Dementia – led by Professor Kathryn Almack (University of Hertfordshire) and co-led by Dr Tamara Backhouse (University of East Anglia)
Dr Ben Bowers to Co‑Lead Palliative and End‑of‑Life Care Research Theme
Dr Ben Bowers, Assistant Professor of Primary Care, University of Cambridge Primary Care Unit, will co‑lead the Palliative and End‑of‑Life Care theme, which focuses on improving care for people of all ages, their unpaid and family carers and the health and care systems that support them.
This theme will:
- Help address inequalities in access to, and experiences of, Palliative and End‑of‑Life Care
- Strengthen the delivery of community‑based palliative and end‑of‑life services
- Support unpaid and family carers throughout the palliative trajectory
- Advance person‑centred, coordinated and responsive care across settings
Dr Bowers’ leadership in this theme builds on the PCU’s internationally recognised strengths in end‑of‑life care research and its established partnerships across the region and nationally.
Strengthening Inclusive, Impactful Research across the Regions
The ARC East of England will expand its research development programmes for researchers and research‑active health and care professionals, including the continued delivery of its Research and Impact Fellowship programme, which has trained more than 170 health and care staff in research skills and methodologies. The workstream include:
- Implementation and Knowledge Mobilisation for Impact – co-led by Dr Danielle Tucker (University of Essex) and co-led by Dr Sarah Robinson (Health Innovation East)
- Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation – led by Dr Bryony Porter (ARC East of England)
- Research Capacity Development – co-led by Dr Naoko Kishita (University of East Anglia)
- Research Inclusion – led by Dr Elspeth Mathie (University of Hertfordshire)
Join us in Shaping the Future of Health and Care Applied Research
To mark the launch of the next iteration of ARC East of England, the ARC will host a launch event, Looking Forward: Shaping the Future of Health and Care Applied Research, on Tuesday 23 June 2026 at the Maltings in Ely (CB7 4BB). This event will showcase innovative projects and discuss how the ARC will work to deliver impact across health and care sectors.
Register to the launch event here