News

Celebrating our Fuse Award winners 2025

The Fuse Awards returned this year with a vibrant celebration of the people and projects driving forward public health research across the North East and North Cumbria.

Last modified: Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:52:22 BST

Fuse expert awarded OBE for services to maternal, child health and inclusion

Fuse Associate, Professor Judith Rankin, has been named in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list.

Last modified: Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:04:00 BST

Finalists announced for the 2025 Fuse Awards

Fuse is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2025 Fuse Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to public health research, policy and practice across the North East and North Cumbria.

Last modified: Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:58:45 BST

New online training helps councils use planning powers to promote healthy eating

A new e-learning course designed by Fuse to help local authorities use planning powers to support healthier food environments has launched on the online platform FutureLearn.

Last modified: Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:54:41 BST

Nominations open for the Fuse Awards 2025

Your chance to recognise and showcase outstanding work in Collaboration, Communication, Public Involvement & Engagement, and Translational Research in 2024 and 2025. Register for the event and nominate now!

Last modified: Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:48:42 BST

Piecing it together: Understanding school exclusion through creativity

In this episode of the Fuse podcast, host and public partner, Cheryl Blake, speaks with academic Dr Sarah Martin-Denham and parent Hayley Hudson about the impact of school exclusion, especially on children and young people themselves.

Last modified: Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:51:02 BST

Fuse welcomes the University of Cumbria and a new Deputy Director

Fuse is expanding its reach and impact with two major developments: welcoming the University of Cumbria as its sixth university partner and appointing Professor Amelia Lake as Deputy Director.

Last modified: Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:14:19 BST

Marking three years of the HRA Shared Commitment to Public Involvement

This week we’re celebrating the third anniversary of the launch of the NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) Shared Commitment to Public Involvement in health and social care research.

Last modified: Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:15:55 GMT

Celebrating Fuse's innovative and inspirational women

Over twenty women from Fuse have been included in the annual list of innovators published by The Northern Health Science Alliance on International Women's Day.

Last modified: Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:46:23 GMT

Research highlights benefits of school-based mental health interventions

Programs in schools to support students' mental wellbeing show potential to improve mental health, particularly in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress.

Last modified: Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:24:40 GMT

£3m funding to evaluate health and social care improvements

Fuse researchers at Northumbria University have received £3 million of funding to evaluate and support the transformation of services and outcomes across the NHS and care services.

Last modified: Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:23:44 GMT

OBE for academic who evidenced importance of school breakfast and holiday clubs

A Fuse Associate who played a key role in bringing breakfast clubs and holiday activities to millions of children across the country has been rewarded for her work in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.

Last modified: Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:23:16 GMT

Researchers awarded over half a million pounds to tackle health inequalities

Fuse researchers from the University of Sunderland and Teesside University have been awarded more than half a million pounds for a new study which aims to tackle health inequalities in Black communities.

Last modified: Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:49:02 GMT

PhD opportunity at Northumbria University

This study will draw on data and participants from innovative collaborative research partnerships Fuse and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, with unique access provided by supervisor Peter van der Graaf.

Last modified: Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:03:05 GMT

Reforms welcomed preventing new hot food takeaways from targeting children

Announced reforms to the planning system would prevent new hot food takeaways from opening where children learn and play, or where they may affect the health of local communities.

Last modified: Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:46:01 GMT

Health award win supported by Fuse expertise

A research project which aimed to improve access to healthy, affordable food for adults living with severe mental illness in Teesside has won a Bright Ideas in Health Award.

Last modified: Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:34:23 GMT

Fellowships awarded to boost research into health and social care

Two local authority colleagues from the North East have secured prestigious Fellowships from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to develop their research. Their work will be supported by Fuse.

Last modified: Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

Funding to tackle inequalities in maternity care and outcomes

A Fuse expert at Newcastle University is co-leading a consortium to help tackle inequalities in maternity care and outcomes.

Last modified: Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:12:50 GMT

Regional vacancies

Exciting new opportunities in the North East region

Last modified: Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:06:49 GMT

Why is food insecurity such a concern for people with severe mental illness?

In this episode of the Fuse podcast, host and public partner Cheryl Blake speaks with academic Ashley Blacklock and peer researcher Claire Atkins about research to tackle food insecurity and improve access to quality food in the North East.

Last modified: Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:39:24 GMT

NIHR Impact Prizes

Enter the first ever NIHR Impact Prizes and be recognised nationally for the impact of your research.

Last modified: Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:23:47 BST

Study encouraging more Black men to get checked for prostate cancer

Fuse researchers have been working with members of the Black community to develop and run workshops to raise awareness of prostate cancer risks, encourage men to get help early and discover the barriers to seeking help.

Last modified: Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:37:21 BST

Unaffordable food putting mums-to-be at risk

Pregnant women who have limited access to affordable, nutritious, and healthy foods have a higher chance of developing both physical and mental health problems.

Last modified: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 01:57:10 BST

Vast inequalities faced by women in the North of England exposed in report

Women in the North of England live shorter lives, work more hours for less pay, are more likely to be an unpaid carer, and more likely to live in poverty than in other regions of England, says a new report co-authored by Fuse researchers.

Last modified: Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:37:30 BST

NHIP PPIE Training Sessions

These sessions will offer participants the opportunity to learn how to do PPIE and participation activities effectively within research. There is no requirement to have any previous experience within PPIE.

Last modified: Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:06:29 BST

Excluded children at the heart of giant patchwork blanket

On average, 2,999 children were suspended or permanently excluded from school each school day in England in the 2021/22 academic year.

Last modified: Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:54:45 BST

Jenny’s Pasta aims to tackle food insecurity

Ready meal created by people living with severe mental illness aims to tackle food insecurity in Middlesbrough

Last modified: Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:21:50 BST

Cornell hosts international Fuse conference with focus on community engagement

Nearly 100 people involved in public health from around the world made their way to Cornell University for the sixth Fuse International Conference on Knowledge Exchange in Public Health - the first to be held in the United States.

Last modified: Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:50:33 BST

Planning for a healthier future?

A new book by a Fuse expert at Newcastle University looks at how where we live influences our health – for better and for worse.

Last modified: Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:24:41 BST

Understanding the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ youth

To coincide with Pride Month in the UK, this episode of the podcast sees host and public partner Kamil Sterniczuk interview Fuse researcher Liam Spencer about his work on the topic of mental health of LGBTQ+ young people.

Last modified: Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:18:04 BST

Reflecting on 10 years with Fuse: collaborations, risks, joys and friendships

In a special episode of the Fuse podcast, our host and public partner Victoria Bartle speaks with former Fuse Director Ashley Adamson, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Newcastle University.

Last modified: Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:26:35 BST

Do dietary and activity strategies help prevent obesity in children?

The highly cited Cochrane review ‘Interventions for preventing obesity in children’ has undergone a major update by researchers at Fuse from Durham University.

Last modified: Mon, 20 May 2024 11:15:46 BST

Fuse joins pledge to put public involvement at the heart of our work

Fuse and a host of health and social care organisations across the UK have come together in a bid to improve public involvement in research.

Last modified: Mon, 13 May 2024 14:52:53 BST

Mental health, substance use and trauma for people experiencing homelessness

In the fourth episode of the Fuse podcast, public partner Cheryl Blake speaks with Emma Adams, NIHR Mental Health Research Fellow, about meaningfully embedding people’s experiences within health research.

Last modified: Wed, 01 May 2024 11:37:32 BST

Women’s experiences of homelessness and impact on health

In the third episode of the Fuse podcast, public partner Victoria Bartle speaks to doctoral student Joanne McGrath about her research into women’s experiences of homelessness and the very real impact this can have on health.

Last modified: Wed, 01 May 2024 11:34:58 BST

Four decades in Public Health with Professor Eugene Milne MBE

In the latest episode of the Fuse podcast we are delighted to welcome Eugene Milne, Honorary Emeritus Professor of Public Health and retired Director of Public Health for Newcastle upon Tyne, who was recently awarded an MBE.

Last modified: Wed, 01 May 2024 11:32:01 BST

Fuse launches innovative podcast led by public partners

In the first episode, host and Fuse Public Partner Victoria Bartle speaks to doctoral student Cassey Muir about her research on social and emotional resilience in children and young people affected by parental substance use.

Last modified: Wed, 01 May 2024 11:25:13 BST

Centre's co-located services improve healthcare access for homeless in Newcastle

New Fuse research highlights the positive impact that one community Centre has had in co-locating health services in one place to support people experiencing homelessness in Newcastle.

Last modified: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:48:39 BST

UK Public Health Science 2024

Abstract call - now open

Last modified: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:48:14 GMT

Connecting services and communities to support people experiencing homelessness

Fuse researchers working to transform the infrastructure of support available for people experiencing homelessness have been awarded £1.4m from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Last modified: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:02:46 GMT

Physical activity insecurity is stopping youngsters from getting active

New Fuse research suggests that feelings of discomfort and unsafety are preventing some young people from being physically active - and more work is needed to create environments where they feel confident enough to exercise and play sport.

Last modified: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:20:11 GMT

Meet new Fuse Manager Agata Robertson

We are marking International Women's Day by welcoming new Fuse Manager Agata Robertson and saying thank you and farewell to Laura Ritson, who helped to establish Fuse in 2008 and has been integral to the Centre's success.

Last modified: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 12:45:48 GMT

New children’s story book published to help families affected by substance use

Fuse researchers have co-produced a freely available children’s picture book to aid conversations between trusted adults and children who experience parental alcohol or drug use.

Last modified: Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:00:17 GMT

Co-locating mental health services in the community reduces health inequalities

New Fuse research suggests co-locating mental health services in community settings can significantly improve mental health outcomes and reduce inequalities.

Last modified: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:43:55 GMT

Research shines a light on the impact of moving patients during the pandemic

As the public inquiry into the UK’s response to Covid-19 continues, new research led by Fuse Associates shines a light on the impact of moving patients from hospitals to care homes in England during the pandemic.

Last modified: Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:02:13 GMT

Energy drinks ban would be welcomed by campaigners

Restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s would be welcomed by a Fuse academic who has long warned about the dangerous impact the drinks have on children.

Last modified: Sat, 10 Feb 2024 10:31:53 GMT

Society for Social Medicine 2024 - call for abstracts now open

The Society’s next Annual Scientific Meeting is organised by the University of Glasgow, and will take place from Wednesday 4 September until Friday 6 September 2024 at the University of Strathclyde.

Last modified: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:38:28 GMT

Energy drinks associated with increased risk of mental health issues in children

Evidence shows wider range of risks associated with energy drinks in children. Experts ask how much more evidence is needed before government action?

Last modified: Tue, 20 May 2025 10:16:54 BST

Multimillion-pound boost for regional mental health research

A Fuse researcher has led Teesside University in securing a prestigious Mental Health Research Leader Award of nearly £2.5m to build infrastructure, capacity and capability in applied mental health research.

Last modified: Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:21:34 BST