Eastern Arc ECR Health Conference 2025
Reimagining Health and Wellbeing Across Societies and Systems
University of Essex
Tuesday 8 July 2025
The first Eastern Arc Health Conference for early career researchers (ECRs) will take place at the University of Essex on 8 July 2025.
Co-hosted and led by the University of Essex School of Health and Social Care and the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, the Conference will bring together early career researchers and practitioners across the four Eastern Arc institutions (Universities of East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex) to share their research and imagine the future. This is an opportunity to showcase ideas, network, discuss research, receive feedback, and develop new collaborations across the South East and East of England.
Conference registration
Registration for the conference is now OPEN! Colleagues from the Universities of East Anglia, Essex, Kent and Sussex can now register by clicking on the button below.
The conference is free to attend, and buses will be arranged from the campuses of UEA, Kent and Sussex, to the University of Essex (and back). The transport is free-of-charge and is available on a first-come-first-served basis, as spaces are limited. Please register as soon as possible if you would like to book the pre-arranged transport (you can select this option when registering).
Final deadline for registration: 8th June 2025
-
Health impacts every aspect of our lives from personal fulfilment to societal prosperity. As we navigate a world marked by interconnected challenges, the theme “Reimagining Health and Wellbeing Across Societies and Systems” underscores the urgency to rethink healthcare systems, foster cross-sector collaboration, and address health inequities at various entry points.
This conference invites early career researchers (ECRs) to envision a future where transformative solutions empower individuals and communities to thrive. Together, we aim to redefine wellbeing not just as the absence of illness, but as a holistic state of physical, mental, and social health across diverse populations.
The conference will commence with a set of short plenary presentations from speakers who have experienced a range of different career paths and are at different stages of their careers. There will then be the opportunity for panel discussion between the plenary speakers and Q&A with the attendees.
This will be followed by parallel sessions broadly grouped into the following topics:
- Health inequalities, human rights and social justice
- Digital health and human systems interaction
- Mental health, trauma and wellbeing
- Social policy, care and wellbeing
- Vulnerability and health
- Sustainable health systems and the environment
- Culture, community and resilience
- Non-communicable diseases and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Healthy ageing
Posters will be available to view throughout the day and will be presented during the lunch break and at the networking session at the end of the day.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
-
The full programme is set out below. A formatted version of this is available here: Eastern ARC ECR Health Conference 08July2025 – detailed programme (xlsx).
Time Segment Details and location 9.30-10.00 Registration and refreshments Room – Essex Business School (EBS) Foyer 10.00-10.30 Plenary and panel discussion Reimagining Health and Wellbeing Across Societies and Systems: Navigating diverse career paths
Room – EBS.2.2Session 1: Room EBS.2.34 Session 2: Room EBS.2.66 Session 3: Room EBS.2.45 Session 4: Room EBS.2.68 Session 5: Room EBS.2.41 10.35-11.45 Parallel sessions Non-Communicable Diseases and Neuro-developmental Conditions Health Inequalities, Human Rights, and Social Justice Sustainable Health Systems and the Environment Healthy Ageing Health Inequalities, Human Rights, and Social Justice Smruti Bulsari
A Comparative Analysis of Dementia Strategies of Fifteen European Countries in the Context of Glasgow Declaration and WHO’s Global Action PlanSarita Panday
Social determinants of child marriage and maternal health: participatory study in NepalLiaqat Asima
Forward Head Posture and associated Respiratory Function changes among computer workers.Ana Lucia Sarmiento Perez
Physical and mental health effects of community-based walking football on menopause: a scoping review mapped to COMHansa Bissoondeeal
Colonial Power and Neocolonial Structures behind the Obesity epidemic in Pacific Small IslandsKatherine Buckeridge
Development of a communication outcome measure for non-verbal children with neurodisabilityAlex Kaley
The reproductive social justice movement: are women with learning disabilities being left behind?Jacinta Babaian
Dementia-Friendly Gardens in Residential Care Facilities: Staff Perspectives.Fawei Deng
Voluntary activation and corticospinal excitability in people with and without patellofemoral painAhang Kareem
The Coastal Gap in Equality for Stroke Care Management (CoastGEM)Megan-ann Thornhill
Understanding type 1 diabetes management at universitySharon Stella Musonza
Drivers of Public Support for Health Taxes? Role of Knowledge on SupportKatrina Taylor
Physical activity and the menstrual cycle; perceived impact of symptoms on participationRobynne Gilchrist
A Person-Centred Approach to Interprofessional Collaboration for Osteoarthritis Management: A Qualitative Exploration of Patients PerspectivesNatalie Evans
Educational Gradients in BMI: A Standardised Multi-Country ApproachSmruti Bulsari
Psychosocial and Behavioural Modifiable Risk Factors for Dementia: An Umbrella ReviewEllie Rossiter
Perspectives of physical activity participation with people with a learning disabilityLinus Peitz
Wellbeing Through Sport: Impact and Mechanisms of a UK Prison Football Programme.Hasara Nuwangi
The mental health of Cypriots in the United Kingdom: A scoping review11.50-13.00 Parallel sessions Non-Communicable Diseases and Neuro- developmental Conditions Health Inequalities, Human Rights, and Social Justice Sustainable Health Systems and the Environment Healthy Ageing Health Inequalities, Human Rights, and Social Justice Seyedeh Mahboobeh Razaviasfali
Parkinson’s Disease Classification Through Walking Patterns: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisMarianna Iliadou
Human Rights and Surrogacy: Reproductive Rights Enabling Biological Colonialism?Dragana Vidovic
A solution shared: Loneliness, social prescribing and cross-sectoral approachKimberly Dargan
The chronic effects of drinking hydrogen rich water in people with parkinsonArti Makwana
Using creative methods to understand needs and priorities for Young Adult CarersLewis Ball
Parkinsons Disease: Activities Of Daily Living Systematic Review ProtocolSalmaan Ansari
Understanding health patterns in UK coastal communities: a systematic reviewPaulo Serodio
Systems Thinking and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review of Applications and EffectivenessKate Day
Endometriosis and Physical Activity Barriers & Facilitators. A COM-B Qualitative Study.Sharon Manship
Exploring the lived experiences of individuals with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)Adiele Dube
Traditional Dance and Games as Cardiovascular Health Interventions: A Review in Low- and Middle-Income CountriesDevyn Glass
From awareness to action: Evaluating the implementation of an Intercultural Awareness training for the workforce supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking ChildrenHannah Hersant
Have COVID-19 lockdowns had long-term effects on physical activity participation and habits?Emily Mckean
Power Dynamics in Hospital Discharge: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Older Adults Living with Frailty at the End of Life.Katie Chadd
Operationalising routinely collected patient data to pursue social justice in healthCristina Mackerron
UK freelance dancers: experiences of injury and precarityRufus Akintimehin
Evaluating the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education and support in improving patient outcomes: a systematic review.Jake Bowd
Moving With Parkinsons Discussion Group: What Did We Learn?Sai Bangera
EDI reflective tool for enhancing inclusivity in healthcare education: A feasibility study13.00-14.15 Lunch / Poster presentations Room – EBS.2.65 Session 1: Room EBS.2.34 Session 2: Room EBS.2.66 Session 3: Room EBS.2.45 Session 4: Room EBS.2.68 Session 5: Room EBS.2.41 14.20-15.30 Parallel sessions Mental Health, Trauma, and Wellbeing Health Inequalities, Human Rights, and Social Justice Sustainable Health Systems and the Environment Social Policy, Care, and Wellbeing Culture, Community, and Resilience Vicky Lister
Public Perceptions and Attitudes Towards VoyeurismOluwafemi J. Adewusi
Access to antibiotics in Nigeria: is there a gender difference?Elizabeth Pearson
Assessing the nurses perspective on Covid-19 in Uganda (March 2020): Pilot SurveyAdrian Prisacariu
An inquiry into the logics supporting the defence of psychiatric hegemonyMichael Fadeyi
The challenges of raising children with disabilities among the Yoruba in Nigeria.Molly Scott
How do trauma, PTSD and dissociation affect the bodily self?Leia Brasnell
Barriers in Cancer Help-Seeking in Sexual and Gender Minorities: An Intersectional ApproachLaura Manno
Accuracy and usability of a tablet-based AI-guided app for spatial neglect rehabilitationEilis Boyle
How young people reimagine disability, identity, and care through creative expressionVaidehi Panwar
Neuroplasticity and Brain Adaptation: Exploring the Impact of Psychological and Environmental FactorsClaire Vella
The feasibility and acceptability of a social groups intervention for vulnerable young people: A thematic analysis of the experiences of intervention providers and young adult end-usersKelvin Oruko
HPV Vaccination hesitancy behaviours among adolescent girls in KenyaVaishnavi Jha
Mental Health and Climate Change: Addressing Eco-Anxiety Through Psychological SupportClaire Thompson
Developing opportunities for Play within Workplace WellbeingLindsey Zelvin
Ongoing Conversations: Digital Blind Dates as a Method of Inquiry and ConnectionAnna Dearman
Do genetic predictors of poor mental health capture biological or environmental factors?Katie Chadd
Who are life-after-stroke services actually serving? A system-level assessment of stroke rehabilitationEthel Carboni Jardim
Living Well with Chronic PainHannah Selby
Therapy on Screen: The ethics and impact of mental health intervention television15.30-17.00 Networking / Poster presentations
& refreshmentsRoom – EBS.2.65 -
We are delighted to welcome three speakers to deliver and discuss our keynote session: ‘Reimagining Health and Wellbeing Across Societies and Systems: Navigating diverse career paths.’
Ben Hughes
Head of Wellbeing and Public Health (Marginalised Groups) at Essex County Council
Ben has extensive experience in public health commissioning and strategy and significant expertise in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services and the role of public health and local authority commissioning of these services. Having worked in the criminal justice system and supported the implementation of early prison drug treatment services in the 1990s, he then worked as the Drug and Alcohol Action Team Co-ordinator and commissioner of drug and alcohol services in 2000s. He has subsequently managed several complex local partnerships through periods of change in the drug and alcohol agenda. He has worked in Europe with EU pre-accession countries supporting the development of local and national policy, strategy, and delivery frameworks in the substance misuse arena.
Meena Kumari
Director, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex
Meena is a leading expert in biomarkers and genetics, and has worked to apply insights from these areas to better understand ageing, cardiovascular disease, and health inequalities using the Whitehall II cohort study of British civil servants and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. She remains an Honorary Professor at UCL. Meena is the topic champion for health and biomarker content and research in Understanding Society (the UK Household Longitudinal Study) and continues to lead research on the social-biological interface and genetic epidemiology as an investigator for the study. Additionally Professor Kumari leads the Centre for Doctoral Training in Biosocial Research (Soc-B) at Essex University (in collaboration with UCL and University of Manchester).
Lucy Wightman
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nurse of Provide Health
Lucy joined Provide in 2024 and prior to that was Director Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities at Essex County Council. Prior to Essex County Council, Lucy worked for several years as Joint Director of Public Health in North and West Northamptonshire. Lucy began her career in nursing and remains a registered nurse, as well as being a Public Health Consultant. She completed an MSc in Public Health and an MSc in Leadership for Health and Social Care. This experience has directed her career which has focused on improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities at both the individual and community level.
-
The Conference will be held at the Essex Business School at the University of Essex (Colchester Campus).
Further details about travelling to the University of Essex can be found here. Further information about the pre-arranged transport (including timings and pick-up points), parking and other public transport options will be circulated in due course.
Please contact us for any questions about the conference at: ECRHealthConference@easternarc.ac.uk