UEA’s grant and funding success – May 2026

By: Communications

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Improving care for patients with smell and taste disorders

UEA project leads: Prof Carl Philpott, Prof Felix Naughton, Dr Kathryn Richardson

Partners: University of Southampton, SmellTaste

Researchers at the Faculty of Health have been awarded an NIHR Programme Development Grant (£285,000) to conduct research that will lead to the development a complex psychological and nutritional intervention for patients who suffer with loss of smell and taste.

The work will include analysis of primary care (CPRD) data, focus group work with both patients and stakeholders, and creation of a logical model.

In partnership with the UK charity SmellTaste and University of Southampton, it is hoped this preliminary work will enable the team to apply for an NIHR Programme Grant where the complex intervention will be co-produced with patients and tested in a clinical trial. The programme will also plan to involve a national survey of smell and taste, and improve diversity and inclusion nationally.

Educational Neuroscience Policy Research Centre (ENPRC)

UEA project lead: Prof John Spencer

Partner: University College London (UCL) Consultancy

The ENPRC brings together established expertise from neuroscience, psychology, learning sciences, computer science, AI and machine learning, genomics and educational research to understand better how robust evidence from developmental cognitive neurosciences can improve teaching practices, thereby enhancing learning outcomes and student well-being.

With approximately £3 million of funding from the Department for Education, the project is led by UCL Consultancy with the following partner universities: UEA, Birkbeck, Surrey, East London, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Aston.

Empowering Archivists: Creating an online training programme for inclusive cataloguing

UEA project lead: Prof Keith M. Johnston

Partners: British Film Institute, Maynooth University

The Empowering Archivists research team, led by Prof Keith M. Johnston (School of Media, Language & Communication Studies), received £24k from the British Film Institute (BFI) National Lottery Screen Heritage Fund.

This will support the development of an innovative online training course for the UK archive community, demonstrating new approaches to inclusive cataloguing of audio-visual material.

The total project budget of £34k includes match funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council Impact Accelerator Account. Production on the project will begin in June 2026, with modules available on the Future Learn platform by the end of the year.

This investment from the BFI builds on over £400k of AHRC and Research Ireland investment in the Empowering Archivists team since 2021.

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