National Priorities Programme

The three-year NIHR National Priority Programme funds the Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) to lead research into seven key areas to help solve the most pressing issues facing health and social care today.

About the programme

In 2021 the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaborations (NIHR ARCs) were awarded £13.125 million to develop key research programmes to improve regional and national health and care outcomes.

The National Priority Programme identifies seven key health and care areas as the most pressing issues facing health and social care today.

Each of these speciality area programmes will be led by an ARC, with a budget of £1.875 million. Projects within the specialty programmes will be led by different ARCs, working collaboratively across the national network and with patients and service users.

Building upon our our world-leading expertise and local and national networks, we are leading the Children’s Health and Maternity programme. In collaboration with other ARCs we aim to find effective ways to implement evidence-based interventions to improve children’s and maternity services across England by supporting 4 implementation projects.

We are also involved in a wide range of National Priority Programme projects. Some projects are co-funded by two programme themes and will appear under both.

View a summary of all current national projects by research programme.

National Priorities Progamme Themes

Projects involving PenARC

Projects involving PenARC

Projects involving PenARC

Projects involving PenARC