A GP speaking to a patient in her consulting room

Primary Care Research Centre (PCRC)

The Primary Care Research Centre’s goals are to address modern public health and inequality challenges in Essex and beyond by conducting innovative research and providing solutions for local commissioners and providers.

We focus on patient and carer-centred approaches, especially for harder-to-reach groups.

The PCRC aims to become a centre of excellence developing research, skills innovation, and education as robust strategies for tackling longstanding recruitment and retention of the health and care workforce, as well as supporting the development of integrated, patient-centric services through clinical academic training.

Contact us to find out more about our research or collaborating with us

Our research themes

Photo focussing on the eyes of a bespectacled older person

Eye health research

A paramedic posed for the camera in front of the open back doors of an ambulance, where another paramedic can be seen

Health, recovery and uniformed public services' primary care

Blurred photo of people sitting in a lecture, with one person's hand taking notes on a clipboard in focus

Healthcare education initiatives internationally

Colourful artwork of side-on silhouettes of different people's heads and shoulders, showing a variety of emotions using symbols

Inclusion Health Research in the East of England

Wide exterior shot of ARU's School of Medicine on a sunny day

Medical education

A person's hands using a laptop, one touching the keys and the other holding a stethoscope

On the ground translatable primary care research

View of a the streets near Southend beach/pier on a clear day, with people walking and in cars

Population level needs in Essex

Our affiliations will play a crucial role in fulfilling the centre's goals, particularly in advancing our research and educational initiatives.

Local affiliations

  • Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (MSE ICS)
  • Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System (SNEE ICS)
  • Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust (MSEFT)
  • Community providers including EPUT and Provide
  • Windsor Research Unit – Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Trust
  • Centre for Community Eye Health – MSE ICS
  • The Institute for Excellence in Robotic Surgery (TIERS) – ESNEFT/ARU
  • Healthwatch Essex
  • Chelmsford Sanctus Homelessness Charity

Regional affiliations

  • East of England Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)
  • Eastern Partnership for Innovations in Integrated Care (EPIIC)
  • NHS England Clinical Entrepreneur Programme
  • Biomedical Research Centre – University of Cambridge
  • East of England Cancer Alliance
  • Cambridge and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (CPICB)
  • Cambridgeshire County Council
  • NIHR clinical research network East of England
  • Cambridge Homelessness Impact and Research Network (CHIRN)
  • NIHR ARC (Prevention and Early Detection and Inclusive Involvement in Research for Practice Led Health and Social Care)
  • Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign
  • Access Clinic Cambridge

National affiliations

  • Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC)
  • Dundee Medical School
  • Academy of Primary Care – HYMS
  • The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI)
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Academic Department of Military General Practice
  • The Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health (Pathway)