About

The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC): Thames Valley carries out research to help people enjoy better health, by finding practical solutions that meet their needs.

We are one of 10 ARCs across England, funded through a £157 million investment over five years by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

We bring together researchers, health and social care staff, patients, charities and other groups to carry out research that makes a positive difference to people’s health. Our focus is applied research – this means we create and evaluate practical solutions to real health and care challenges faced by individuals and communities.

Central to this is listening to what people tell us about their health. We want to give a voice to people who are often overlooked in research. We want to understand the issues they face and adapt our work as we go. This will help us stay focused on the things that matter most. We work with health and social care decision makers to ensure that our findings shape the way services are designed and delivered – making health and care better, faster and more efficient across the Thames Valley and beyond.