Oxford University, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Aston University awarded over £17m for infrastructure to improve people’s health

Announced as £16.3m in funding, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, University of Oxford and Aston University was soon uplifted to £17.9m from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to fund infrastructure to improve the health of people living in the Thames Valley region and beyond, through prevention and innovations in health and social care.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT) is the host for the current NIHR ARC OxTV and has been chosen to host the NIHR Thames Valley ARC. Launched in April 2026, the Thames Valley ARC will run for five years and is co-led our Senior Research Fellow and Professor of Psychiatry and honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Oxford, Professor Kam Bhui CBE, and Aston University’s Professor Shivani Sharma, a professor at Aston Business School and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise).

The ARC Thames Valley is one of 11 ARCs that have been funded to deliver impact and implementation in the health and social care sector. The ARC Thames Valley will collaborate with more than 40 other partners, bringing together researchers, health and social care staff, patients, public, and wider groups in to implement research findings. The team will listen to health and social care providers and patients to learn about the most pressing needs, set priorities collaboratively, and find practical solutions for fairer health for all. They have an emphasis on industry partnerships and welcome approaches.

The ARC Thames Valley launches formally at an event on 16 September at the MK Gallery in Milton Keynes. The event will feature live art, inspiring conversations and opportunities to connect across research, healthcare, local government, and the public.

Professor Bhui said:

“I’m delighted to be leading an ambitious and talented team to ensure we improve health and social care and reduce health inequalities. We will do this through the implementation of research knowledge to improve commissioning, policy, and practice across university, community, charity and health and social care partners.”

Professor Sharma said: 

“Research should reflect the reality on the ground. We have the opportunity in our ARC to rethink inclusion, strengthening the link between research and its impact in everyday lives.
“It is a real privilege to be working with such a diverse network to deliver on the ambition of the ARC. I believe that we will achieve lasting impact on health, which is fundamental to helping regions thrive.”