Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) is delighted to have secured a further five years of funding, from April 2026, from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - as part of a national investment totalling £157 million - to continue to host an NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, led by the University of Kent.
In partnership with health and social care providers delivering services in the Southeast, alongside third sector organisations, higher education institutes, members of the public and charities, this new round of funding will support the transformation set out in the NHS 10-year Plan by tackling some of the UK's most pressing health and social care challenges through high-quality applied research.
The ARC in Kent, Surrey and Sussex is one of 10 regional ARCs across England selected to drive forward applied health and care research that responds directly to the most urgent health and care issues within our communities. This renewed funding will support our ARC's mission to continue to deliver high-impact, inclusive research that improves outcomes, reduces health inequalities, and strengthens the resilience of services across the region.
Commenting on the NIHR's announcement, Dr Jane Padmore, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SPFT says:
"In order to provide high quality care for patients, carers and families, it is important to draw on research which demonstrates what is effective. This grant will be hugely important in helping us identify evidence-based interventions to support the local communities we serve. One of the real strengths of the ARC is the breadth and depth of the partnerships that underpin it. This will be instrumental in helping us to provide care and improve outcomes together."
Professor Stephen Peckham, Director and Professor Clara Strauss, Co-Director of the current NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), say
"Thank you to everyone who has supported the work of the ARC and has contributed to our ongoing successes over the last six years.
"This funding reflects the commitment and collaborative spirit demonstrated by our partners across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. It enables us to strengthen our partnerships with local authorities, the NHS, voluntary sector organisations and our academic colleagues, ensuring that the voices of our communities continue to guide our research activities.
“By tapping into the knowledge and perspectives of patients, carers, and those working on the frontline, we will carry on delivering research that is both academically rigorous and rooted in the practical realities of day-to-day life.
“Working closely with all those involved, we are determined to turn research insights into meaningful improvements for health and social care services, making a tangible difference for individuals and communities throughout our region and beyond.”
Professor Sir Nick Black, Chair, ARC KSS Board, says:
"Congratulations to Stephen, Clara and all the team for leading our successful bid for another five years funding. A strong and vibrant research environment will make our region attractive to current and future clinicians and other professional staff in our health and care services. Over the next five years, the ARC will play its part in fostering and strengthening the emerging research environment."
