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Lifelong Wellbeing

Research theme

Lifelong Wellbeing is an overarching research theme promoting interdisciplinary research across all faculties and researchers at ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ (˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Wellbeing is about feeling good and functioning well and comprises an individual's experience of their life as well as a comparison of life circumstances with social, cultural norms and values. Lifelong wellness is achieved by a healthy balance of physical, mental, and social health.

Our vision is to facilitate and develop transformative interdisciplinary research on lifelong health and wellbeing across the four faculties by building on our research expertise, and regional, national and international collaborations. Our research programmes will intersect with all 17 UNSDGs but will primarily address SDGs 1-6, 10, 11 and 16.

For this, we need to work strategically, capitalising on our strengths and proactively planning for large grant applications for research funding calls.

The subthemes of research areas under Lifelong Wellbeing will include:

  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Ethnicity, race and health
  • Digital technologies and health
  • Pharmaceutical innovation
  • Healthy active ageing
  • Gender and health
  • Addressing health inequalities
  • Global health challenges
  • Post-Covid recovery

These are an indicative list only to move forward with our planning discussions. These subthemes are flexible and can be fine-tuned based on our strengths, and new themes can be added that fit with our plans and strategy. 

The Lifelong Wellbeing theme aims to develop research capacity and capability by:

  • Developing early- and mid-career researchers by creating a research register to capture interest and seed funding initiatives
  • Encouraging cross faculty collaboration with research institutes and centres through workshops with external consultants, and national and international experts
  • Planning funding applications with national and international partners (in areas such as pharmaceutical innovations, prisons/forced migration, global mental health)

 

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Project: CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS is a national project looking at the impact of Covid-19 and living through lockdown on children under 5 who are living in temporary accommodation due to homelessness. This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project works alongside families and professionals to co-develop recommendations for future support and best practice. Recommendations are grounded in research evidence in order to support families’ recovery after the pandemic and enable professionals to prepare for future pandemics. Dr Nadia Svirydzenka and team from ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ are working with University College London (UCL) in delivering this project.

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Project: Talent25

Talent25 is an Arts Council England funded project in which ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ researchers are working with external experts to explore the benefits to babies and young children living in Leicester of being regularly involved in arts and creative activities.

Learn more about Talent25
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Project: A Germ's Journey

Interdisciplinary research between psychology, microbiology and education has resulted in the co-creation of , a free at the point of access resource-based handwashing education intervention workshop comprising of books, web games, videos, lesson plans and posters. With 200,000 people reached thus far, A Germ’s Journey has led to improvements in handwashing behaviour in children, enhanced knowledge of microorganism transfer in children, and reduced diarrhoea and vomiting associated with poor hygiene, particularly in India.

Learn more about A Germ's Journey
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Wellbeing is about feeling good and functioning well and comprises an individual's experience of their life as well as a comparison of life circumstances with social, cultural norms and values. Lifelong wellness is achieved by a healthy balance of physical, mental, and social health.

Raghu Raghavan, Lifelong Wellbeing Theme Director