6 November 2026
The research hub will develop new healthcare technologies to detect and prevent disease earlier
Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Chris McDonald MP, visited Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital as part of the launch of the NORI partnership Hub
A landmark £9.1 million investment from the UK government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), alongside a further £3.1 million from partners, will establish a major new health technology hub.
It brings together universities, the NHS, and industry, putting the north-east at the forefront of disease detection and prevention.
The UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Partnership Hub, will support the Northern Ophthalmic Research and Innovation (NORI) Institute, using eye imaging and health data to understand how diseases develop over time.
The University of Sunderland will host the Hub, in partnership with Durham University, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) and Sunderland City Council. STSFT runs Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital and community Ophthalmology services. The wider partnership brings together Newcastle and Teesside Universities, local authorities, charities and industry partners, alongside leading national and international research and healthcare organisations.
The north-east combines significant health need with exceptional research, clinical and innovation capability, creating a powerful real-world testbed for new approaches to disease detection and prevention. The Hub will use this environment to develop and evaluate solutions that improve health locally, while creating a blueprint that can be adopted nationally and internationally.
The award gives NORI national EPSRC Hub status and the scale to build research capability, recruit specialist talent, develop new technologies with industry and leverage further UK and international investment.
Professor Matthew Campbell, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing at the University of Sunderland and Co-Director of NORI, said: "The £9.1 million award is the foundation, not the destination.
"This investment creates a new health innovation ecosystem for the north-east bringing together Sunderland’s clinical and research infrastructure, Durham’s complementary scientific expertise and an exceptional network of civic and industry partners.
"We now have the scale to develop technologies, test them in real-world healthcare settings and take them into national and international markets. Our ambition is to use it to attract further investment, businesses, highly skilled jobs and international partnerships to the region.”
Professor Campbell will serve as EPSRC Hub Co-Director alongside Professor Camila Caiado from Durham University and Professor David Steel, Consultant Ophthalmologist from STSFT.
Professor Steel said: "This investment is fantastic news for patients and for the future of healthcare.
"By bringing together NHS clinicians, researchers, educators and industry experts, we can develop new ways to identify disease earlier, often before symptoms appear.
"Our region offers an opportunity to combine the latest research with real-world patient care. Through this partnership, we will be able to assess new technologies in clinical settings and speed up their journey from research into everyday healthcare.
"Ultimately, our goal is to help people live longer, healthier lives through earlier detection, better prevention and more personalised care.
"This funding puts our region at the forefront of that work and strengthens NORI's growing reputation as a leader in health innovation. We're very excited about next steps."
Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Durham University, said: “This project has the potential to make significant improvements to people’s health, both locally and nationally. By working together, we are combining our strengths with those of our partners to achieve more than we could alone.”
Yesterday, the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Chris McDonald MP, visited Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital for a tour of its facilities as part of the launch of the NORI partnership Hub.
The award builds on a five-year, £4.2 million founding investment in NORI by the University of Sunderland and STSFT, demonstrating how sustained regional investment is now leveraging major national funding and international collaboration.
Professor Helen Driscoll, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Sunderland, said: “This significant investment reflects the strength and quality of our research and partnerships, and our commitment to improving lives through purposeful research which brings benefits to individuals and society.
“NORI’s innovative approach will translate world-leading research into technologies that help detect markers of disease and enable prevention, improving outcomes and making a real difference to peoples' lives.”