A major new research collaboration aiming to transform health and social care across the North West Coast is being hosted by University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group).
The Applied Research Collaboration 2 North West Coast (ARC2NWC) will officially launch in April 2026, bringing together over 80 partners from across the region, including NHS providers, local authorities, universities, Health Innovation Networks, Integrated Care Boards, voluntary organisations and members of the public. This collaborative effort will tackle some of the most pressing health challenges facing our communities.
ARC2NWC is part of a wider £157 million investment by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to support applied research that improves patient outcomes and reduces health inequalities.
Dr Jim Gardner, Group Chief Medical Officer at UHL Group, said: “We are immensely proud that University Hospitals of Liverpool Group has been named as the host for the Applied Research Collaborative 2. This prestigious recognition places UHL Group at the very heart of applied research across our region, reinforcing our commitment to driving innovation and improving health outcomes.
"We are excited to work alongside our valued healthcare and academic partners to deliver impactful research that will benefit our communities, enhance patient care and contribute to the health and wellbeing of our population.”
ARC2NWC will focus on five key areas: public health and prevention, workforce and systems resilience, social care, long-term conditions, and women’s health. The work will be supported by two cross-cutting themes, Analogue2Digital and Evidence4Impact, to help bring digital tools and research evidence into everyday care.
Professor Mark Gabbay, Director of ARC2NWC and Professor of General Practice at the University of Liverpool, explained: “Our delivery model will help support the system-shift from hospital to community, treatment to prevention and analogue to digital.
"A collaboration which will be at the forefront of tackling health inequalities in these areas across the North West Coast.”
Other university partners include Edge Hill University, Liverpool John Moores University and The University of Central Lancashire, all of which bring valuable expertise and a shared passion for community focused research.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and CEO of the NIHR, said: “This new funding shows our ongoing commitment to high-quality health and care research. It will help bring new treatments and technologies to patients and support the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan to drive innovation and transformation.”
ARC2NWC is set to drive improvements in health and care across the North West Coast, uniting people, research and ideas for a healthier future.
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