ARC Event 2025 - Six years of outstanding research
- Jamie Stevenson
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 15 minutes ago
NIHR ARC Wessex held it's annual event on Tuesday October 7th in Southampton - drawing more than 250 people to celebrate 6 years of applied research.
ARC shared the real life impact of research on our region, and took a rather innovative approach with seven 'acts' each focussed on it work.
Dr Stephen Lim and Dr Sam Meredith started the event with an exercise class based on the ImPACt study.
Professor Janis Baird introduced the next act presented by Dr Sarah Muir following the APPROVE study which looked at how supermarket marketing could effect the shopping choices of women.
Then came the wonderful gameshow - digital misfortunes - performed by John Stainton and Sally Dace - alongside Dr Sarah Fearn.
The quiz highlighted the work of NeuroDigital research trying to understand how people with neurological conditions navigate health related technology.
The Wessex Academy for Skills in Personalised Carer team (WASP) acted out two scenes showing how patient care can be approved with WASP training and support.
Before the break there was time for the ARC Wessex awards for the people who have excelled at their work. There were awards for: Sally Dace and Rajneesh Kaur for contributions to Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, Cathy Pogson for Academic Career Development, Paul Meredith for Workforce and Health Systems, Cherish Boxall for Ageing and Dementia, Donna Arrondale and Jessica Redway for Healthy Communities, James Gavin for Long-Term Conditons, and the ARC central team for the Director's Award.
During the break there was time for people to see the display stands of ARC research teams.
The next act highlighted the incredible work of the DALLI team (Domestic Abuse and Life Limiting Illness) - actors played out a scenario where a patient could be at risk of harm.
Sharing a video of the DALLI toolkit which has been adopted across the UK, Australia and US.
Next it was the turn of Dr Christina Saville from the school of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton to highlight research on nursing burnout and patient safety.
Two animated videos told the story of an older patient's hospital experience during nursing staff shortages, while another explained the experience of the nurse caring for him.
Dr Kinda Ibrahim introduced the final act of the day with her video diary from Dementia patients - followed by a rousing song written and performed by brothers Bob and Peter - looking at how over prescribing can impact on people's lives.
STOP-DEM study & MODIFY study
To finish Professor Catherine Bowen presented the panel who helped create the bid for the a new ARC planned for 2026 until 2031.
Finally we shared a video to celebrate our 6 years of research - to say thank you to everyone who helped and supported us along the way and into the future
More photos from the day
