Area of investment and support

Health and wellbeing research portfolio

This programme looks at the development of medicine and healthcare practices to help us learn future lessons. It uses the cultural context of healthcare and behaviour to learn about culturally appropriate interventions, and explores diverse approaches to improving quality of life beyond medicine.

• Partners involved: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Medical Research Council (MRC)

The scope and what we're doing

There are six specialist areas:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – the ability of microbes to resist effects used to treat them
• Global public health – health and wellbeing research within international development contexts
• Healthy ageing – the challenges of demographic change and ageing well
• Medical humanities – projects that apply the humanities and arts to the field of medicine
• Mental health – arts and humanities perspectives on mental health, and mental ill health.

Why we're doing it

As the world faces health and wellbeing challenges, the arts and humanities have the capacity to make significant impacts that can transform lives, experiences and healthcare practices.

From how to age well, to better design of clinical environments, and using the arts for health education, the health humanities are a growing area that helps us understand this essential part of our lives.

The research portfolio seeks to provide voice and expression to those who may feel unheard within medicine.

It also aims to bring robust evidence to health-related policy and practice.

Opportunities, support and resources available

AHRC funds health-related research through both standard research grant applications and strategic funding opportunities, working in collaboration with other UKRI research councils to support interdisciplinary projects.

Standard (sometimes known as ‘responsive’) funding opportunities are open to a wide range of research and approaches within AHRC’s remit.

You can apply at any time.

Past projects, outcomes and impact

The health and wellbeing research portfolio:

• looked at the historical development of medicine and healthcare practices to help us learn lessons for future practice
• investigated the cultural context of healthcare and health-related behaviour to learn about culturally appropriate interventions
• explored diverse approaches to improving quality of life that extend beyond medicine.

Who to contact

Health and Environmental Humanities Team

Email: heh@ahrc.ukri.org

Last updated: 17 October 2022