Our Research

When developing funding applications, we encourage our researchers and partners to access the NIHR Research Support Service (RSS).

Through the RSS researchers can access free, confidential advice on their projects, from methodologies to patient involvement for inclusive research. This support is available for all, from academics through to clinicians.

We work with academic colleagues across the university on projects that tackle challenges in health and social care. This work can range from funded projects with multiple departments, to joint supervision of PhD students carrying out multidisciplinary studies.

In particular we have carried out joint projects with the Department of Sociology and Criminology, the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, the Department of Psychology, the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Language and Linguistics.

Our staff can also become members of university research Centres and Institutes, which offer opportunities for further joint working on relevant projects. We have worked particularly closely with the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), utilising their data expertise for projects related to public health, as well as the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, the Centre for Coastal Communities, and the Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub.

As an issue that impacts everyone, health research requires collaboration with organisations across the policy and research spectrum. Our research has been carried out as part of partnerships with a broad range of groups, from local and national governments to charities and third sector organisations, NHS Foundation Trusts, and funding bodies such as the NIHR.

Some of our recent partnerships include:

• The Greater Essex partnershiphttps://www.essex.gov.uk/news/2023/greater-essex-awarded-ps5m-launch-research-partnership, working with Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Thurrock Council, Anglia Ruskin University, and health service partners, to carry out research into issues around population health within Essex.
• East of England Applied Research Collaboration (East of England ARC), in which our researchers are collaborating with projects within key themes identified by the NIHR, such as Inclusive Involvement for Research, and Mental Health Over the Life Course.
• Eastern Academic Research Consortium (Eastern ARC) brings together the universities of East Anglia, Essex, Kent and Sussex, to promote professional collaborations on a selection of themes. Our School contributes to research on Healthy Ageing, and Mental Health.

We offer a wide range of research and consultancy services to local, national, and international health care organisations, social care bodies and voluntary sector organisations.

Enquiries can be made to evaluate@essex.ac.uk