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<h1>Peer Research Academy</h1>

<h2>Launches to Support Mental Health Researchers with Lived Experience</h2>A pioneering new initiative, the Institute of Mental Health Peer Research Academy, has been commissioned by the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wellcome.org">Wellcome Trust</a>, through their Lived Experience Innovation Fund, to support the development of mental health peer research as an inclusive, influential and health-affirming identity or role. This is a temporary web-page. Our full website will launch in April 2026.The Academy opened on 1st September 2025. It will operate initially until the end of 2027.  From May 2026, it will offer support for mental health, substance use &amp; neurodivergence researchers with lived or living experience, including support packages, training, and networking community-building opportunities, including a biennial conference.It will also investigate how to create healthy, sustainable environments for peer researchers, and offer support for people who employ or plan to employ researchers with lived experience.    The Academy is being run by researchers with lived experience from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nottingham.ac.uk">University of Nottingham</a>. It will be delivered in partnership with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.habituscollective.co.uk">Habitus Collective</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://intentionalpeersupport.org">Intentional Peer Support</a>, and supported by a panel of advisers with experiential knowledge of enabling and inhabiting peer research. The panel includes individual peer researchers and representatives of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://mcpin.org">McPin Foundation</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk">Nottingham Trent University</a>, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nottingham.ac.uk">University of Nottingham</a>, and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://institutemh.org.uk">Institute of Mental Health</a>.  Our full website will launch in April 2026. Before then, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:peer@nottingham.ac.uk">please get in touch</a> if you would like to: <ul><li>receive updates about the support &amp; other activities we’re offering  cost our peer research support package into your funding proposals  </li><li>conduct research about peer research (e.g. through securing PhD funding for collaborative work with the IMH Peer Research Academy).  </li></ul>We would also like to hear from people who:  <ul><li>organise networks of peer researchers;   </li><li>have identified knowledge on barriers and opportunities to peer research success  </li><li>are interested in reviewing their organisation’s processes relevant to peer research. </li></ul>

You can find more information about the Peer Research Academy and why it is needed here 