University of Lincoln gets £10m to research rural and coastal health

University of Lincoln will lead research into coastal and rural health inequality

The University of Lincoln has been awarded £10.9m to research health in rural and coastal communities.

Shorter life expectancies and higher rates of preventable conditions are issues in these areas, it said.

The funding will be used to develop a "ground-breaking" institute in the city aimed at tackling inequality.

Prof Mark Gussy, from the university, said: "You should have the same outcomes and opportunities regardless of where you live."

The cash will see the existing Lincoln International Institute of Rural Health become the Lincoln Institute of Rural and Coastal Health.

It will be England's first integrated research institute dedicated to combining rural and coastal health and wellbeing research, the university said.

'Disproportionately impacted'

Prof Gussy, global professor in rural health and social care, said it would "tackle urgent place-based inequalities".

He added: "Coastal and rural communities can be disproportionately impacted by economic problems, weather-related disasters and climate change."

Rural and coastal communities make up 85% of the UK and are home to approximately 10 million people, the university said.

With more than 50 miles (80km) of coastline and wetlands, Lincolnshire is one of the largest counties in England facing these issues, the university said.

According to the university, as well as differing health outcomes, people living in rural and coastal areas face other "significant challenges", such as deprivation and the impact of climate change.

This leads to higher rates of preventable conditions, people attending accident and emergency more frequently and shorter life expectancies, it added.

UK Research and Innovation's Expanding Excellence in England granted the funding.