Major Funding Boost to Advance Health and Social Care Research Across Wales

�㽶��ƵAPP, in collaboration with academic colleagues across Wales, has secured significant Research Development Infrastructure funding announced by Health and Care Research Wales.

This funding will support 17 research centres across Wales, including five new organisations, to advance health and social care research and innovation.

Through this funding, �㽶��ƵAPP researchers will help maintain several flagship centres under the sustainability funding category. These include:

In addition to sustaining these centres, �㽶��ƵAPP researchers have significant roles in leading the development of two new research centres funded under the catalytic awards category. These centres are set to develop capacity in areas of health and social care need and emerging Welsh strength.

Women’s Health Research Centre Wales
This centre will serve as a global hub for research, innovation, and co-production in women’s health. Its mission is to address and eliminate long-standing inequalities in women’s health through four thematic focus areas:

Prevention and Healthy Transitions – Advancing preventative measures and supporting healthy transitions throughout life.
Early and Life-Long Conditions – Improving diagnosis, treatment, and care for conditions that affect women across their lifespans.
Rare and Stigmatised Conditions – Shedding light on overlooked and stigmatised conditions that disproportionately impact women.
Underserved Communities – Addressing disparities and barriers to healthcare access in marginalised populations.

Professor Jane Noyes, �㽶��ƵAPP’s lead for the Women’s Health Research Centre, said:
“The work of the Women’s Health Research Centre aligns with the goals of the recent NHS Wales Women’s Health 10-Year Plan announced by the Welsh Government in December 2024. We want to conduct cutting-edge research that will address known inequalities through multidisciplinary collaboration with academia, healthcare, government, businesses, and the third sector.”

Centre for Vision Services Research
This innovative centre will conduct research to inform and optimise services for individuals living with sight problems. With a multidisciplinary approach, the centre will explore solutions spanning primary and hospital-based care, as well as community-based rehabilitation and support services. The Centre will focus on improving access to and reducing delays in eye care services, transforming sight loss and rehabilitation support, and leveraging data and technology to deliver personalised care solutions.

Diane Seddon, Director of Research at �㽶��ƵAPP’s School of Health Sciences, said:
“This funding is pivotal to supporting high-quality, impactful research with real-world applications. I am delighted to work with the new Centre for Vision Services Research to grow social care research that shapes policy and practice solutions in vision services with scientific rigor.”
The £49 million investment underscores Wales’ commitment to supporting research excellence and addressing key health and social care challenges. �㽶��ƵAPP’s contributions highlight the institution’s dedication to advancing knowledge and delivering meaningful impact for communities across Wales and beyond.

For more information on this announcement, visit