HDRC Conference 2026

Wednesday 24 June, Southampton Solent University

Join us for a day of collaboration and knowledge sharing at the NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) annual conference 2026

'Thinking differently about research and changing the research culture'

Hosted jointly by NIHR HDRCs Southampton, Portsmouth and Surrey, in partnership with the Research Support Service and Specialist Centre for Public Health, University of Southampton and Partners.

The conference will offer guests the opportunity to network, collaborate and attend various workshops.

Any questions about the event, please email: nihr-rss-comms@soton.ac.uk

Conference agenda

Wednesday 24 June 2026, Southampton Solent University

9am - Arrival, registration and networking

9:30am - Welcome: Dr Debbie Chase, Director of Public Health, Southampton City Council and Professor James Knowles, Vice Chancellor, Solent University

9:40am - Keynote speaker - Professor Nisreen Alwan, Professor of Public Health, University of Southampton

9:55am - Short talks and panel Q&A

10:40am - Refreshment break and networking

11:10am - Keynote speaker - Professor Marian Knight, NIHR Senior Investigator, Director of Grants for Applied Research

11:25am - Short talks and panel Q&A

12:10pm - Lunch and networking

1:20pm - Workshop 1
Find out more about each workshop here.

1. A practical guide to ethics and governance in local authority settings
2. Knowledge mobilisation: what is it and why does it matter?
3. Strengthening engagement in research across local authorities

2:30pm - Refreshment break and networking

2:50pm - Workshop 2
Find out more about each workshop here.

1. Demystifying funding applications: lessons learned and knowledge exchange
2. Bringing research to life: participatory methods for meaningful public involvement
3. Working with heart: using appreciative inquiry to strengthen the culture of research and evaluation

4:00pm - Closing remarks - Adam Briggs, Professor of Public Health, Director of the NIHR Public Health Research Programme and Deputy Director of Public Health, Oxfordshire County Council

4:30pm - Event close

Every HDRC has the opportunity to showcase a poster of something they are proud of. Please refer to conference poster FAQ's for more information.

Please direct any conference questions to nihr-rss-comms@soton.ac.uk or alternatively you can find out more on the FAQ's page.

Read more about workshop themes and topics

Day before activities

Side meeting: HDRC housing research - Tuesday 23 June

Members of the HDRC housing research sub-group are interested in running an in-person meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday 23 June, following recent online meetings that have garnered lots of interest. The aim of the group is to learn about other HDRC's housing-related research work, discuss potential joint research and explore strategies for overcoming shared challenges. Potential topics could include local authority responses to Awaab's Law, temporary accommodation, private rented sector, housing affordability, planning etc.

To gauge interest in and help shape the content and format of the session, please can one person from each HDRC respond to this short form: Side meeting: HDRC housing research. Further details about the session will follow but it will be timed to fit before the evening event in Southampton on 23rd June.

Evening social event - Tuesday 23 June

A evening social event will take place for those traveling to Southampton the evening before the conference.

In the evening of the 23rd of June (6-8pm), before we get down to our exciting work, we invite you to join us at one of Southampton’s most historic buildings, and now premier arts and heritage venue, God House Tower, for a pre-conference ‘social’, including a performance by Southampton Ukulele Jam, with food and drinks available to purchase.

Conference FAQ's

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