Our research on SDG 3 spans clinical and public health challenges, including mental health, preventative health approaches and the social determinants of wellbeing, reflecting the integrated nature of this Goal.
We have a strong partnership-working approach to our health and well-being research, with a range of partnerships to drive impact at local, national and global level. On this page are some of the examples of collaborative, partnership-driven and impact-focussed research on SDG 3 at ARU.
Groundbreaking research on widespread sensory loss in the UK
It is estimated that sensory loss costs the UK £58 billion annually, through lost productivity, increased care needs, and mental health consequences. Researchers at our Vision and Eye Research Institute are leading the UK's first National Eye Health and Hearing Study (UKNEHS), a pioneering project designed to provide the evidence needed to improve prevention, treatment and planning for sensory health services. Led by Professor Rupert Bourne, a pilot phase has identified widespread and previously undetected sight and hearing loss among adults aged over 50, including significant levels of undiagnosed glaucoma and hearing impairment. The research is helping to establish the first robust national evidence base on sensory health, supporting policymakers and healthcare providers to develop more effective and equitable services and reduce avoidable sight and hearing loss.
World-leading research on music therapy for people with dementia
In 2021, our Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research received the Queen's Anniversary Prize, the highest national honour in UK higher education, for its research helping people living with dementia and their families. The work influenced the Music for Dementia Commission and contributed to NICE guidance recommending music therapy for people with dementia.
More recently, the Institute has completed groundbreaking research on the potential for personalised music therapy that could significantly ease distress and agitation for people living with dementia. Researchers partnered with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Trusts to pilot a new approach to music therapy, called MELODIC, on two dementia wards. The results show that a low-cost, highly scalable solution exists that may improve the experience of patients, relatives and carers on dementia wards.
Pioneering project to tackle cancer amongst the homeless
1 in 160 people in England are homeless, and face significant barriers to accessing healthcare.
In a unique and pioneering two-year project, researchers at ARU have partnered with the East of England Cancer Alliance will work with people to identify their healthcare needs, connect with existing services and stay engaged with ongoing care. The programme will use a unique approach, with Health Navigators taking a proactive and involved approach to assessing people’s health needs, acting as advocates for them in healthcare settings and organising workshops to raise awareness and promote well-being.
Improving health and wellbeing for women veterans
Researchers at ARU are helping to improve understanding of the health needs of women who have served in the Armed Forces. In 2021, the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research published the nationally recognised We Also Served report, bringing together, for the first time, the available evidence on the health and wellbeing of women veterans in the UK. The report highlighted important gaps in knowledge and service provision, raising the profile of women’s experiences within veteran healthcare. It led to the development of the NHS England Serving and Ex-Service Women’s Health Improvement Group. Subsequently, the Centre for Military Women’s Research (CMWR) was launched at ARU in August 2022, led by Dr Lauren Godier-McBard and Professor Matt Fossey.
Improving reproductive health and fertility care
Our researchers are helping to improve evidence- based approaches to fertility treatment and reproductive health.
Through the Women's Health Evidence Synthesis and Methodology Research Unit (EVIE), Dr Bassel Al Wattar is leading major National Institute for Healthand Care Research (NIHR) funded studies addressing important gaps in fertility care. The AFFINITY programme is developing the evidence framework needed to evaluate the effectiveness of IVF add-on treatments that are widely used in fertility clinics but often lack robust evidence of benefit. The NIHR-funded CONCRETE trial, led by Dr Al Wattar, is the first large-scale randomised controlled trial to examine whether clomiphene citrate can improve outcomes for men experiencing infertility. Together, these studies are supporting patients, clinicians and policymakers to make more informed decisions about fertility treatment, improving reproductive healthcare and helping to ensure that clinical practice is guided by high-quality evidence.
Reducing health inequalities across Essex
We're a key partner in the Greater Essex Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), a £5 million National Institute forHealth and Care Research (NIHR)-funded programme that aims to reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, including poverty, housing, education and employment. Working alongside Essex County Council, Southend City Council, Thurrock Council and the University of Essex, ARU researchers will support the development of evidence-based approaches to improve population health and reduce avoidable disparities in health outcomes across the region. By embedding research directly into local decision-making, the programme is helping public bodies design more effective policies and services that improve health and wellbeing for local communities.
Women's Health Evidence, Innovation and Evaluation Unit (EVIE)
Women’s health is an important public health priority, but evidence to support improvements is often patchy or absent. Questions on women’s health remain amongst the least adequately researched questions in medicine. Our newly established Women's Health Evidence, Innovation and Evaluation Unit (EVIE), led by Dr Bassel Wattar, brings together expertise in evidence synthesis, clinical trials, health economics and patient-centred research to address critical gaps in women's healthcare. The unit focuses on conditions that affect women across the life course, including fertility, menstrual health, endometriosis, menopause and chronic gynaecological conditions. Its research is designed to inform clinical practice, healthcare guidelines and policy, helping improve health outcomes for women locally, nationally and internationally. Crucially, the unit works collaboratively, with patient and public involvement at the heart of its activities and with external partners including NHS trusts, women’s health charities and NGOs and clinical guidance groups and professional societies.
MigRefHealth: Co-creating solutions to refugee and migrant health exclusion (2024-2027)
One of ARU's flagship SDG 10 projects is MigRefHealth, a major UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded programme examining how refugees, asylum seekers and migrants access community assets that support health and wellbeing. Running from 2024 to 2027, the project investigates barriers relating to accommodation, food security, transport, healthcare access and wider services across 12 communities in the East of England and London. The £2.43 million initiative is led by ARU in partnership with universities, NHS organisations, local authorities, charities and community groups. By generating evidence on how community assets can reduce health inequalities, the project aims to inform scalable interventions that can be adopted by Integrated Care Systems and other public-sector bodies.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.