Professor Cathy Creswell, who leads our mental health across the life course research theme, has been awarded a transformational £27 million gift from The Paul Foundation to establish the Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research at the University of Oxford.
The new centre will focus on achieving better mental health outcomes for children, young people and families – work that builds directly on research supported by the NIHR ARC OxTV over recent years.
Building on ARC foundations
Professor Creswell's appointment as director of this major new centre recognises the significant impact of research that ARC OxTV has helped to nurture and support. Several projects within our mental health theme have contributed to the evidence base that made this substantial investment possible.
Most notably, the Online Support and Intervention for Child Anxiety (OSI) platform – also a key case study of the impact of ARCs work – exemplifies the kind of research-to-practice translation the new centre will accelerate. OSI, an evidence-based online platform supporting parent-led interventions for child anxiety, has been licensed to Koa Health and is now recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for NHS use.
The platform reduces therapist time by 40% without compromising outcomes, improving access to mental health support for families whilst demonstrating cost-effectiveness – precisely the kind of real-world impact that Applied Research Collaborations aim to achieve.a
Addressing urgent need
With NHS data showing one in five children and young people now has a likely mental health condition – up from one in nine in 2017 – the new centre's mission to promote good mental health and prevent emerging conditions is more urgent than ever.
The Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research will serve as a hub to investigate how to harness children and young people's strengths and interests whilst targeting the key mechanisms that underpin mental health. Researchers will work closely with children, families, policymakers, and health and education practitioners to ensure approaches translate into positive changes in policy and practice.
Collaborative approach
Professor Creswell said: "We are incredibly grateful for this gift from The Paul Foundation, in support of our commitment to have a positive impact on the lives of children and young people. The new Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research will accelerate and strengthen research-driven change in child and adolescent mental health, including the development and delivery of effective new therapies and approaches for children and their families, schools and communities."
The centre will be based in Oxford's new Life and Mind Building, with The Paul Foundation funding an experimental classroom space to enhance the research environment.
Supporting excellence
Professor Richard Hobbs, Director of NIHR ARC OxTV, said: "We're delighted to see Professor Creswell's outstanding work recognised through this transformational investment. This achievement perfectly demonstrates how ARC's support for applied research can catalyse much broader change. Cathy's research exemplifies our mission – taking rigorous evidence and working with partners to ensure it makes a real difference to people's lives. We're proud that our mental health theme has contributed to building the evidence base that made this major centre possible"
ARC impact continues
This major investment demonstrates how ARC OxTV's support for applied research can catalyse broader transformation in health and care systems. Our mental health theme continues to advance projects that bridge the gap between research and practice, working with partners across the Thames Valley region to implement evidence-based approaches that make a real difference to people's lives.
The establishment of the Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research ensures this vital work will continue to grow and develop, ultimately benefiting children, young people and families both locally and globally.