Applied Research Collaboration: Wessex

ARC 2019-2026

Welcome to NIHR ARC: Wessex

We are the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) for the Wessex region, which covers Hampshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, and Wiltshire.

Our goal is to provide equal and inclusive routes for people and organisations to become involved in our research, to improve health and social care in our region and beyond.

We are part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and are a collaboration of universities, NHS Trusts, Local Councils, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Organisations, and industry partners.

This is our holding site, which will provide you with the essential information about us, what we are setting out to do, and how you can get involved.

Our full site, which will have news, events, and resources to help you, will be live soon.

Philip Morgan from Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust, Dr Kate Lippiett Knowledge Mobilisation lead at ARC Wessex, and Simon Wickes consultant on Industry.
Philip Morgan from Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust, Dr Kate Lippiett Knowledge Mobilisation lead at ARC Wessex, and Simon Wickes consultant on Industry.

We need you

We work together to tackle real-world health and care challenges and rely on support from three distinct groups to make this happen:

People and the community

  • Individuals
  • Families
  • Community groups
  • Community organisations

Health and care industry

  • Health and care providers
  • Industry groups and organisations
  • System leaders
  • Policy makers

Research communities

  • Researchers
  • Research groups
  • Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Is this you? Getting involved is unique to you and is supported by our Collaboration Hub, who will work with you to make sure your experience is positive and impactful. Together, we can improve health and care research and outcomes in our community.

Get involved →

Our mission

We aim to shape a future where care is more inclusive, community-based, preventative, digitally enabled, and equitable.We want to lead health and care research that makes a real difference for our region, with its unique qualities, and for healthcare nationally.

Lisa Hammond from the Alzheimer’s Society congratulating our dementia researchers on their work at an event in Southampton
Lisa Hammond from the Alzheimer’s Society congratulating our dementia researchers on their work at an event in Southampton.

Our values

At the heart of our mission are our values: working with our communities to make sure research is fair, inclusive and open to all; sharing what we learn to make a difference; and looking to the future, using technology to keep our work grounded in the modern world.

NIHR ARC Wessex Research Assembly meeting
Katherine Cook from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board at a Research Assembly.