The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Kent, Surrey and Sussex is today (Wednesday 18 December) launching a Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship Programme aimed at bridging the gap between research and real-world application in health and social care.
Funded by the NIHR, the ARC KSS will work in partnership with Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (Health Innovation KSS) to appoint and support eight, Knowledge Mobilisation fellows, that will support and accelerate the translation of research findings in local health and care systems across the region.
These Fellows will form a bridge between the ARCs and the organisations they work with. They will be supported to enhance their skills, so they can capture and communicate the needs of local decision makers and will work with ARC KSS to identify existing evidence-based treatment and models of care and support these, in practice, working alongside practitioners and patients.
Round one of the Fellowships will be hosted by Kent and Medway NHS Social Care Partnership Trust and NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Kent and Medway ICB, said:
"We are delighted support the launch of the Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship Programme. This initiative represents an exciting opportunity to connect research with everyday practice, driving improvements in care and ensuring that the needs of our patients and communities are at the heart of innovation."
Dr Afifa Qazi, Chief Medical Officer and Consultant Psychiatrist, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and Clinical Lecturer at Kent and Medway Medical School, said:
"We are hugely excited to work with the ARC KSS to host the first round of this Fellowship Programme that will support and accelerate the translation of research findings into practice improvement, across the local health and care systems in the region.
"We remain committed to improving outcomes for our patients and deliver evidence-based holistic interventions through strengthening partnership working across the region. I look forward to seeing the benefits of our joint working in the coming years.”
Key Highlights of the Fellowship:
- Scope: Fellows will lead 18-month projects addressing local health and care priorities, including workforce innovation, sustainable practices, and digital health solutions.
- Support: Up to £44,500 in funding will cover salary backfill and project costs, along with mentorship and training.
- Themes: Projects must align with local strategic needs and priorities and where possible, ARC KSS themes, such as dementia care, public health, and social care.
Two thematic fellowships will specifically address rural/coastal health inequalities and broader healthcare disparities.
Application Details:
Applications for the first phase, targeting Kent & Medway, are due by Friday 31 January 2025, 5pm, with subsequent rounds for Sussex and Surrey closing in April and October 2025.
To view the slides from the webinar that took place on Tuesday 7 January 2025 click here. To view the recording of the webinar click here.
Additional information:
