Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing: A new hub for tackling complex health challenges
The University of Portsmouth has officially launched the Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing (CiH-Well), a dedicated research hub designed to confront health challenges that span from childhood through old age. CiH-Well aims to reduce health inequalities by ensuring fair access to good health, regardless of background or where people live, while developing practical solutions for chronic illnesses, mental health disorders, and preventable diseases. By fusing cutting-edge research with real-world applications, CiH-Well seeks to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities locally, nationally, and globally.
A multidisciplinary approach to integrated health and wellbeing
The centre brings together expertise from a wide range of disciplines — psychology, sports and exercise science, social care, healthcare, and digital technologies — to address the multifaceted nature of health and wellbeing. This cross-disciplinary collaboration reflects the University’s strategy to connect science, care, and technology in ways that directly benefit people’s lives.
Strong track record and ambitious funding horizon
CiH-Well builds on a solid foundation of research success. Its community of researchers has generated more than £5.4 million in research funding over the past five years from UK research councils, Innovate UK, the European Union, charitable foundations, and industry partners. This track record underpins current and future projects aimed at reducing health disparities and accelerating the translation of research into practical health solutions.
Education, early-career researchers, and PPIE engagement
A key mission of CiH-Well is cultivating the next generation of health researchers. The centre will provide crucial support for early-career researchers and foster new collaborations through extensive Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) networks. By embedding the voices of patients and communities in research design and implementation, CiH-Well ensures that its work remains grounded in real-world needs and outcomes.
Location, partnerships, and global relevance
CiH-Well is situated within the Faculty of Science and Health at the University of Portsmouth and is positioned as an international hub for innovative health and wellbeing research. The Faculty’s recent initiatives include launching the UK’s first branch medical degree in partnership with King’s College London to address GP shortages in Portsmouth and surrounding areas. It has also reinvented its Institute of Life Sciences and Healthcare to strengthen collaborations with NHS trusts and regional partners across the South East, reinforcing CiH-Well’s role in connecting academia with frontline health services.
Leadership quotes and the launch day
Executive Dean for the faculty, Professor Richard Thelwell, emphasized the centre’s mission: “CiH-Well exemplifies the University’s commitment to world-class, multidisciplinary research that makes a real difference to people’s lives. With millions of pounds in research funding already secured, this centre positions Portsmouth at the forefront of integrated health and wellbeing research.”
At the launch, the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s NIHR Wessex Experimental Medicine Network, which supports the event, highlighted the value of collaboration. Professor Mike Grocott of the NIHR Southampton BRC noted: “Today the launch of the new CiH-Well centre has been a great event with a real buzz as new connections are made, and existing strengths highlighted. The WEMN group has been thrilled to support the launch day, and we are looking forward to strengthening our existing collaborations and forming new collaborative teams. This will achieve greater outcomes than when working alone to address the unmet health challenges, particularly health inequalities, within the Wessex region.”
Looking ahead: a regional and global impact
With CiH-Well, Portsmouth positions itself at the forefront of integrated health and wellbeing research, linking local NHS partners, industry, and communities to tackle health issues across the lifespan. The centre’s work will inform policy, guide clinical practice, and inspire new approaches to prevention, treatment, and wellbeing in Portsmouth and beyond, underscoring the university’s commitment to research that benefits people from every walk of life.
