In this update, we will provide information on:
- Health and Care Research Network
- Transport Safety Research Centre
- Digital Decarbonisation at World Economic Forum
- CoSTAR Report informs DCMS Strategy
- Innovation and Growth roundtable
- Select Committee engagement
- Loughborough University researchers appointed to policy placement schemes.
Launch of Health and Care Research Network
In July 2025, the Government published its NHS 10‑Year Plan, setting out a long‑term vision for a health and care system. The Plan calls for three decisive shifts: from hospital to community‑based care, from analogue to digital systems, and from sickness to prevention.
Against this backdrop, Loughborough University has established a Health and Care Research Network to mobilise its interdisciplinary strengths and respond directly to these national priorities. The Network provides a focal point for collaboration, capacity‑building and partnership, positioning the University as a contributor to the future of UK health and care.
To shape the Network’s direction, a series of internal research workshops and events have been held, bringing together researchers from across the University. These sessions created space to share expertise, explore alignment with the NHS 10‑Year Plan and wider government priorities, and identify opportunities for new, collaborative research programmes.
This process led to the identification of a set of cross‑cutting research themes that reflect both national policy priorities and Loughborough’s distinctive strengths:
- Work, workforce and wellbeing
- Rehabilitation
- Health technologies
- Organisation and implementation
- Global health.
The Policy Unit will be supporting the Health and Care Research Network in its engagement with policymakers.
Transport Safety Research Centre
The Transport Safety Research Centre (TSRC) hosted an event on campus at a pivotal moment for road safety. The event coincided with the Government's publication of its new Road Safety Strategy, which is placing a renewed national focus on long-term, system-wide approaches to road safety. Against this backdrop, the TSRC convened stakeholders to discuss collaboration and set out its ambitious vision: an inclusive, sustainable and human-centred transport system in which safety is designed in from the outset, rather than added as an afterthought.
Hosted at the School of Design and Creative Arts, the event brought together policy officials from the Department for Transport (DfT), Transport for London, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety and local county authorities, as well as other bodies working on road safety including National Highways, Road Safety GB and the British Safety Council. The Centre is responding to the Transport Committee’s Inquiry on the Road Safety Strategy and continues to work with the DfT and other policy bodies to make the UK’s roads safer.
Digital Decarbonisation at World Economic Forum
Loughborough has become a recognised authority in Digital Decarbonisation: understanding how digital transformations, including artificial intelligence and data driven societies are impacting climate change and economic growth.
Led by Professors Tom Jackson and Ian Hodgkinson, the DD team was a contributor to two WEF White Papers, which were both showcased at the World Economic Forum in Davos – placing sustainable AI, and Loughborough’s world leading research in this field, firmly on the international agenda.
The first WEF White Paper – ‘From Paradox to Progress: A Net Positive AI Energy Framework’ - introduces a practical framework for achieving Net Positive AI Energy, a future in which the energy and resource savings enabled by AI across sectors exceed the energy consumed throughout its lifecycle.
The second WEF White Paper – ‘Rethinking AI Sovereignty: Pathways to Competitiveness through Strategic Investments’ - introduces a new approach for AI sovereignty,one that prioritises strategic control and resilience over rigid self-sufficiency.
CoSTAR Report informs DCMS Strategy
A report co-authored by Dr Vicki Williams informed UKRI’s new Creative Industries Strategy. Dr Williams co-authored the report, "Future avenues for createch: insights and recommendations" in her role with the CoSTAR Foresight Lab, where Policy Unit Director Professor Graham Hitchen is Director of Policy.
This report informed the UKRI Creative Industries R&D Strategy which sets out a long-term plan to grow the UK’s creative industries - worth over £124bn a year - by accelerating research, innovation, commercialisation and regional impact.
The report also featured as part of a Ministerial announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in which Minister Ian Murray announced an additional £27million of funding on top of the £500m funding in the Government's Creative Industries Sector Plan. The government has confirmed significant investment funding to benefit creative businesses and regions across the UK, including targeted support through expanded Createch funding.
Innovation and Growth roundtable
In December, the Policy Unit convened a high-level roundtable bringing together senior representatives from across the Midlands’ research, investment and enterprise landscape to explore how the region can strengthen its role in the UK’s innovation economy. The event was delivered in partnership with Midlands Innovation and Loughborough University colleagues from Forging Ahead.
The roundtable, held in Westminster and chaired by Loughborough University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings, formed part of Forging Ahead - a collaboration of 15 Midlands universities working collectively to accelerate commercialisation, increase spinout success and drive regional economic growth. With the Government’s Industrial Strategy placing innovation and regional productivity at the heart of its growth agenda, the discussion provided a timely opportunity to shape the Midlands’ collective contribution. The group will work to influence policy, particularly in the Treasury, related to some key themes affecting the Midlands including unlocking capital, developing talent and commercialisation capability, and creating a more integrated regional innovation system.
Women and Equalities Committee evidence session
On Wednesday 28 January, Professor Nicky Hudson from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities gave oral evidence to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee as part of its Inquiry into egg donation and egg freezing.
The evidence session, the first oral session of the Inquiry, focused on the strengths and challenges of the UK’s regulatory system for fertility and donation, including how it compares internationally. Drawing on her expertise, Professor Hudson addressed questions on compensation, advertising and broader regulatory safeguards.
RAAC expert cited in Select Committee Report
Professor Chris Goodier, a leading expert on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has been cited in the Education Committee's Final Report on their Inquiry that explored the management of RAAC on school estates.
Professor Goodier was invited to give evidence at a one-off evidence session in October last year. In the session, he outlined the complex nature of dealing with the amount of buildings made with RAAC. He made the point that there are more than 20,000 schools in England, with more than 60,000 buildings in total, and that they were all built by different contractors, at different times and in different places.
The Report cited Professor Goodier on his evidence about the lack of knowledge about the concrete and its dangers when RAAC first 'hit the news' when school roofs collapsed in 2023. The Committee also cited Professor Goodier's positive interaction with the Department for Education following this.
The policy advice offered by Professor Goodier builds upon RAAC research carried out by Chris and colleagues at the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering.
Policy Placements
UKRI Policy Fellowships
Three Loughborough University researchers have been appointed to the highly competitive UKRI Policy Fellowship scheme. Having three appointees means that Loughborough University has the second largest cohort in current round. Since the first round of Fellows in 2021, Loughborough is well-placed in comparison with other universities with five Fellows (University of Manchester 5, UCL 6, Cambridge 6).
- Dr Simona Rasciute, Reader in Economics at Loughborough Business School and researcher on health, wellbeing and education, has been appointed to the Department for Education’s (DfE) “Children and Young People Thriving” analytical fellowship. Dr Rasciute’s fellowship is hosted by the DfE's Mental Health and Wellbeing team, within the Schools and Pupil Analysis Division.
- Dr Francisco Azpitarte, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, has been awarded the Fellowship, "Post-School Special Educational Needs Policy Fellowship", with the Department for Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive.
- Dr Arman Mazhikeyev has been awarded the 'Building Growth-Enhancing R&D and Innovation Systems Economics' Fellowship with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Royal Society Pairing Scheme
Dr Josh Wolstenholme will take part in the prestigious The Royal Society Pairing Scheme 2026, a flagship programme that annually matches 30 research scientists with UK parliamentarians and civil servants
Dr Wolstenholme, a Vice-Chancellor Independent Research Fellow in Geography and Environment, whose current research is focused on the role of sediment transport in river systems and the impact that this can have on future flood risk, will be paired with a Senior Policy Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.