New fellows announced to bridge research and frontline care

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) has announced the second group of Knowledge Mobilisation Fellows. Based in Sussex, these Fellows are leaders dedicated to applying health and care research in real-world settings.

Supported by the Sussex Health and Care Research Partnership (SHCRP) and their host organisations, each Fellow will lead a practical project aimed at bridging the gap between research and frontline practice – ultimately improving services and outcomes for people across the region.

Delivered in collaboration with Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, the programme equips Fellows with the tools and support needed to turn evidence-based findings into everyday solutions.

The new Fellows are:

Katherine Pitt, GP and Assistant Professor at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, will improve palliative care for people with advanced liver disease in Brighton and Hove.

“Liver disease and related deaths are rising, especially in deprived areas. As a GP working in homeless and inclusion health, I want to improve community palliative care for this vulnerable group. This Fellowship gives me the time and skills to help colleagues better serve these patients. I’ll co-produce teaching resources with people with lived experience and collaborate with specialists to identify and support those in need.”

Rita Arujo, Head of Community, NHS Sussex, will lead a system-wide approach to asthma care for children and young people.

“Asthma is the most common long-term condition in childhood, and its impact is greatest in deprived areas. This programme goes beyond healthcare – bringing together education, housing, air quality, and more – to tackle the wider factors affecting health. By combining evidence, lived experience and best practice, we aim to co-produce practical solutions that reduce inequalities and improve outcomes.”

Suneeta Kochhar, Clinical Director for NHS Sussex, will explore how Integrated Community Teams (ICTs) can help prevent heart disease.

” ICTs bring together multi-disciplinary professionals from different organisations across health and care services at a neighbourhood level. These are early in evolution so this project will consider how to address risk factors that contribute to the development of heart disease, to improve the health of our local population.”

Dr Julie MacInnes from the ARC KSS said, “These three Knowledge Mobilisation Fellows, will help to make health and care systems in Sussex more inclusive, responsive and grounded in what matter most to the people they serve. We already have three fellows working in the Kent and Medway region and plans are currently underway to recruit some more in Surrey. “

Virginia Govoni, Head of the SHCRP said, “We are very proud to be able to support these projects, which address important Sussex priorities.

We will work closely with the fellows and their host organisations to maximise their impact on local communities and broader, connecting with research and commissioning partners to bring tangible and sustainable changes.”

Lucie Hooper, Research and Innovation Lead at Health Innovation KSS, said: “Our region faces complex and evolving health and social care challenges, including workforce and service delivery pressures, particularly in coastal and rural areas. The Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship programme is a pioneering initiative aimed at bridging the gap between research and frontline practice. Congratulations to the fellows joining the programme in Sussex; we are excited to collaborate closely with you moving forward.”

For more information about the Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship Programme, please visit the ARC KSS website.