The UCLH BRC and CRF have published an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy to ensure equitable opportunity for all in research, regardless of background.
Ensuring equity in research will be crucial to the future success of research in the UK.
The EDI strategy has been developed to work towards:
- diverse and representative teams of staff who work in research at UCLH
- diverse and representative groups of people who participate in research
- opportunities for anyone – regardless of background – to be part of research
- research teams which understand the importance of inclusion
- the delivery of research which benefits all of UCLH’s communities.
The 3-year strategy is closely aligned with the EDI strategy of the NIHR, as well as our Patient and Public Involvement strategy, which has a focus on making sure all groups have a chance to be involved in research.
The EDI strategy has been developed by UCLH consultant and senior researcher Professor Anton Emmanuel, who is EDI lead for the BRC, in conjunction with a new EDI board within UCLH Research. This board will oversee the EDI strategy and its delivery.
The 5 main pillars of the strategy are: ensuring the right culture is in place within UCLH Research, providing the necessary governance around EDI, ensuring research teams at UCLH are representative of society, ensuring inclusion in clinical trials, and communicating openly about the strategy and our progress.
Some specific actions outline in the strategy include:
- the delivery of equality training for all staff working in research
- having EDI as an item at every executive board meeting within UCLH Research
- publishing data on representation among research teams, boards, committees and among research participants
Prof Emmanuel said: “I’m pleased to have led the development of this strategy and to see it published. Our overall goal is to develop a culture where there is equal opportunity for all in research, regardless of background. This applies to people having the opportunity to work in research, take part in research studies, benefit from research findings – or otherwise be involved in research.
“We know that we are at the early stages of our journey towards equality and inclusion. Our strategy will be iterative so that we are always refining it as we need to, and we will work across our whole research community – patients, staff and leaders – to embed the values of EDI and best practice within UCLH Research. We will communicate transparently about our progress.”
