The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced the latest round of Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Awards, with a transformative new 5-year programme for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region (KSS) launching in April 2026.
Hosted by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the ARC will be led by Professor Stephen Peckham, ARC KSS Director ( University of Kent), and Professor Clara Strauss, ARC KSS Co-Director ( University of Sussex and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust), to tackle some of the UK’s most pressing health and social care challenges through high-quality applied research.
In a major success for the University of Sussex, four thematic programmes – each worth approximately £1 million over five years – have been awarded to researchers across the university, including several led by BSMS faculty.
These programmes will focus on:
- Primary and Community Healthcare
Led by Professor Carrie Llewellyn and Professor Dunx Shrewsbury (BSMS), this programme will address sustainability, ageing, and equity in primary care.
- Data-Driven Research on Inequalities
Led by Dr Liz Ford (BSMS) and Dr Mel Rees-Roberts (Kent), this programme will harness NHS data to reduce health inequalities and improve population health.
- Mental Health Innovation and Implementation
Led by Professor Kathryn Greenwood (Sussex) and Dr Claire Rosten (Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex), this programme will address mental health across life transitions, comorbidities, and underserved populations.
- Early Years and Parenting
Led by Professor Michelle Lefevre (Sussex) and Dr Jeri Damman (Sussex), this research will improve social care practices for vulnerable families and children.
These awards reflect the strength of collaborative research across the region, involving NHS and social care providers, charities, community organisations, and academic institutions.
Dr Liz Ford commented: “I'm delighted that our Data-Driven Research on Inequalities programme has been funded as part of this transformative ARC award in the region. The Sussex Integrated Dataset, which links data from across all NHS providers and social care services in Sussex, will be central to this work and provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to identify and address health inequalities at a population level. This funding will enable us to translate data insights into real-world improvements in care delivery and health outcomes. I'm excited about the partnerships we'll build across the region in health data research over the next five years.”
Professor Carrie Llewellyn said: “We’re thrilled to be leading the ARC Primary and Community Healthcare theme within KSS. This funding allows us to explore innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in primary care – particularly around sustainability, ageing and equity. Our goal is to ensure that research translates into meaningful improvements for patients and communities across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.”
Professor Richard McManus, Dean of BSMS, said: “This substantial investment from NIHR is a testament to the outstanding applied research being led by our colleagues at BSMS and across the University of Sussex. These programmes will not only address urgent health and care challenges but also build lasting capacity and partnerships that will benefit our communities for years to come.”
The renewed ARC funding will support inclusive, high-impact research aligned with the NHS 10-Year Plan, aiming to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities, and strengthen service resilience across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Read more about the NIHR ARC Awards >