A new health research collaboration to tackle healthcare challenges will be hosted in Bradford.

The Yorkshire and Humber region will receive £9 million over five years through government-funded investment in health research to equip the NHS for the future.

The funding will tackle the biggest challenges the health and care system faces over the next five years including urgent care, healthy childhood, frailty in older people and reduced life expectancy for people with mental health conditions.

Health Minister Nicola Blackwood has announced today fifteen partnerships or Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) – including one hosted in Bradford – with multi-million pound funding for research that could transform the lives of millions of people living with a range of conditions, including dementia, mental ill health and obesity.

Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR), which is part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is hosting the Yorkshire and Humber ARC.

Director of Yorkshire and Humber ARC, Professor John Wright, of BIHR said: “We are delighted that the Yorkshire and Humber region has been awarded this important programme of applied research. Medical research can often seem remote from everyday life.

“Our ARC will support people-powered research that aims to improve health and well-being for our communities. Our themes of healthy childhood, mental health, older people and urgent care are the priorities that have been identified by our NHS partners and the public and will ensure our patients benefit from cutting-edge innovation.”

Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber ARC Strategy Board, Lord Willis, said: “We are a silicon dale of health research in Yorkshire with some of the leading centres of excellence across Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds and York. The new ARC will ensure our NHS and social services are able to improve effectiveness and impact to benefit our patients and their families.”

Health Minister, Nicola Blackwood said: “As the population grows and demand on the NHS increases, it is paramount we develop the next generation of technologies and improve the way we work to ensure the NHS continues to offer world-leading care.

“The UK has a proud history of cutting edge health research and by supporting the great minds in health and social care, this funding has the potential to unlock solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing healthcare and revolutionise the way patients access treatments in the future.”