U-CARE researchers are awarded grants from the Swedish research Council

(Image removed) Professor Erik Olsson and Assistant senior lecturer Joanne Woodford. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt

By the end of October, the Swedish Research Council announced which applications had been awarded grants within Medicine and health 2023, granting almost 1,26 billion SEK. Two U-CARE researchers, Professor Erik Olsson and Assistant senior lecturer Joanne Woodford, were awarded 4,800 000 SEK each for their research projects.

Erik’s project concerns the adaptation and evaluation of an internet-based programme to reduce heart-related stress in people under the age of 55 who have survived a heart attack.

– It feels very good and fun that the Swedish Research Council wants to invest in this type of interdisciplinary research, says Erik. This means that we will increase our understanding of how best to provide psychological support to people with cardiovascular disease and which factors are particularly important, he continues.

Joanne was awarded a project grant for her project to evaluate the self-help programme INVOLVERA, developed for people with dementia and depression who are supported by relatives.

– Given we have carefully developed INVOLVERA with important stakeholders, including people with dementia and their relatives, we are hopeful INVOLVERA can be a useful and effective way of helping people with dementia and their loved ones to reduce depression, improve well-being, and strengthen their self-care ability, says Joanne.

Joanne is delighted that the hard work put in by the research team comprising the public, national and international researchers and PhD students has paid off.

– I was really ecstatic when I heard the news, says Joanne. This grant will help us to move on to the next important phases of our research where we will begin to test out the intervention in real-world healthcare settings. 

Learn more about the research project grants at the Swedish research Council's website.