Researchers from Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) are extending their programme designed to strengthen inclusive research directly to Black students and staff at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) this October. During Black History Month, the NUH Mobile Research Unit will be present at NTU’s Clifton Campus, inviting Black students and staff to participate in the national Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource. This programme, run by the NIHR BioResource, aims to address historical underrepresentation in research among these communities.
Kebba Konteh, Senior Clinical Research Officer at NUH, highlighted the significance of the timing. "This year, the theme of Black History Month is about serving communities, so we felt it was a great opportunity to speak directly to Black members of the student community and encourage them to be part of a research programme that makes a real difference," he stated. He emphasised that the IBHO programme is a crucial step towards understanding the health experiences of people from Black communities, noting that research has historically focused too heavily on people of white European descent.
The mobile unit will be parked outside the Rosalind Franklin building from Monday, 12 October until Wednesday, 14 October. Staffed by trained clinical research personnel and equipped with an onboard laboratory, the unit aims to make participation in clinical research more accessible and convenient for diverse communities.
Professor Guru Aithal, Principal Investigator for the IBHO BioResource in Nottingham, expressed satisfaction with the increased access to research but stressed that more work is needed. "Black communities have been significantly underrepresented in genetic studies, and this factor limits scientific understanding of how certain health conditions develop and affect these populations," he explained. He added that the initiative ensures more accurate study data, better disease prevention strategies, and fair access to research and healthcare.
Professor John Hunt, research Theme Lead at Nottingham Trent University and deputy director of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Nottingham, underscored the importance of providing opportunities for underrepresented groups. "Bringing the event to campus is a wonderful chance to learn about the gaps in our knowledge that we are trying to fill without having to take too much time out of students’ and staff members’ days," he said. He encouraged attendees to share their learnings with family and friends to maximise the reach of the IBHO study.
