Ealing University Professors Take Leading Roles in £22 Million London Health Research Partnership

Two University of West London professors have been appointed to senior roles in a £22 million research partnership aimed at improving health and social care across London.

Professor Rowan Myron and Professor Laura Lennox, associated with UWL's Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, will help bridge the gap between academic research and everyday healthcare practice.

The appointments place Ealing-based expertise within a major five-year programme involving universities, NHS organisations and other healthcare partners.

Turning Research into Better Healthcare

The initiative, known as NIHR Applied Research Collaboration London (ARC London), is supported by £22 million of government funding and hosted by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Its purpose is to help healthcare organisations use research findings to improve services and patient outcomes.

Although medical research regularly identifies better ways to deliver care, putting those findings into practice can be challenging.

ARC London aims to address this by bringing researchers, healthcare professionals and communities together.

Its priorities include neighbourhood healthcare, disease prevention, improving health service efficiency and using data to support better decisions.

The Roles of the Two UWL Professors

Professor Rowan Myron will help lead knowledge mobilisation, ensuring research evidence reaches the professionals and organisations that can use it.

This involves connecting researchers with healthcare teams, communicating findings and supporting collaboration.

Professor Laura Lennox will focus on implementation, helping organisations introduce research-informed improvements into everyday clinical and social care practice.

Together, their work addresses two important challenges: making research accessible and ensuring that useful findings lead to practical changes.

Both areas are particularly relevant to services supporting older people and those with complex health needs.

What Does This Mean for Ealing?

The appointments highlight the University of West London's contribution to healthcare research beyond the borough.

The Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory brings expertise in ageing, memory and related health issues.

While the £22 million is funding a London-wide research programme rather than a new local hospital or treatment facility, Ealing residents could benefit from future improvements adopted by healthcare services.

The programme's longer-term impact will depend on the research undertaken and how successfully its findings are applied.

For UWL, the appointments represent an opportunity to influence how research translates into better care across the capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ARC London?

• ARC London is a five-year research partnership involving universities, NHS organisations and other partners working to improve health and social care.

How much funding has the partnership received?

• The programme is backed by £22 million in government funding through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Which UWL professors are involved?

• Professor Rowan Myron and Professor Laura Lennox, associated with UWL's Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory.

What will the professors do?

• Professor Myron will help make research evidence more accessible, while Professor Lennox will focus on putting research findings into practice.

Will Ealing receive a new healthcare facility?

• The announcement concerns research funding and leadership appointments, not a new local healthcare facility.

Further Information

University of West London:
https://www.uwl.ac.uk/

ARC London partnership announcement — UCL:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/oct/ucl-co-lead-ps22m-partnership-improve-health-and-social-care

Further background — Imperial College London:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/articles/medicine/school-public-health/2026/arc-london-launch/