CPFT wins major investment for research to address regional health and care challenges
People using health and care services across the East of England are set to benefit from national investment in local and regional research to address health and care inequalities and improve outcomes.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £15.3 million funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to host the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East of England and drive high-quality applied research tackling some of the region’s most urgent health and social care issues.
The NIHR has pledged £157 million investment over five years for 10 NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) across the UK, and following a successful bid supported by CPFT, ARC East of England (ARC EoE) has secured further funding to continue delivering responsive and inclusive research. Since they first launched in 2019, ARC EoE has delivered more than 260 research projects to improve health and care for communities, patients and the public, and ensure effective interventions and care models are put into practice across health and care systems.
The NIHR ARC East of England is hosted by CPFT and works in partnership with five regional universities (Anglia Ruskin University and the Universities of Cambridge, East Anglia, Essex and Hertfordshire), Health Innovation East, regional NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Systems, local authorities, patient‑led organisations, communities, charities and industry partners to deliver research that improves outcomes, experiences and access to health and care services.
Steve Grange, Chief Executive Officer of CPFT said: “This landmark investment from the NIHR is a powerful endorsement of the role applied research plays in transforming health and care. At CPFT, we are proud to host one of the ten new ARCs and to contribute to a national effort that will accelerate innovation, tackle inequalities, and bring evidence-based improvements directly into practice. The collaborative nature of the ARCs - spanning NHS trusts, universities, local authorities, and the voluntary sector, ensures that the research we deliver is not only rigorous but also rooted in the realities of frontline care. We look forward to working with our partners to drive meaningful change for patients and communities across the country.”
The next phase of ARC East of England will be led by Professor Stephen Morris from the University of Cambridge, who will take up the role of Director on 1 April 2026. Professor Wendy Wills, from the University of Hertfordshire, will step down from her position as Director and handover to Stephen on 31 March 2026.
Professor Wendy Wills said: “This five-year funding commitment means we can continue to work with patients, service users, universities, companies and partner organisations to not only deliver high-quality research and training in this area but also to work in collaboration, actively involving patients and the public, so that excellent evidence of ‘what works’ spreads to other areas of the country. The East of England has a large geographical footprint, encompassing diverse communities and services across urban, rural and coastal areas. As an ARC, we have worked to understand how best to meet these varied needs through high ‑ quality research that makes a real difference. I have been proud to lead ARC East of England in its endeavours, and I am pleased to hand over the director role to Professor Morris, who will ensure the collaboration continues to benefit our region.”
Professor Stephen Morris, Deputy Director 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.”
People across the region have helped to shape ARC East of England’s programme for the next five years, launching in April 2026. Following a consultation over six months with Integrated Care Boards, patients and the public, service providers and academics, five research themes have been refined to address current and emerging national health and care priority areas for people across the life course.
The NIHR ARC East of England research themes will now focus on: Measurement in Health and Social Care; Mental Health and Wellbeing; Palliative and End-of-Life Care; Prevention and Early Detection in Health and Social Care; and Social Care, Ageing and Dementia.
This renewed funding will also support the continuation of ARC East of England’s successful research capacity development programme, embedding inclusive research practices across all studies, and applying implementation science and knowledge mobilisation to ensure research findings are effectively translated into health and care practice.
This investment supports the NIHR’s continued contribution to the transformation set out in the NHS 10-Year Plan, the Life Sciences Sector Plan, and the Government’s Health and Growth Missions.
For more information, visit the ARC East of England website: https://arc-eoe.nihr.ac.uk/news-blogs/news-latest/nihr-arc-east-england-awarded-ps153-million-drive-research-tackling-real