NIHR Royal Surrey Clinical Research Facility opens national study into black health outcomes | News
NIHR Royal Surrey Clinical Research Facility opens national study into black health outcomes
The NIHR Royal Surrey Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has joined the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource - a national research programme addressing the long‑standing underrepresentation of black communities in UK health research.
The facility has already welcomed its first participant to the study, marking an important milestone for the programme.
A joint venture between Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Surrey, the CRF was established to deliver early phase research. Its participation in the IBHO BioResource is a significant step in tackling a well-documented inequity: UK health research has historically relied heavily on data from people of European ancestry, limiting the relevance and effectiveness of diagnostics and treatments for black communities.
The IBHO BioResource aims to close these gaps by building a dedicated, representative research resource that reflects the diversity of the UK population. Priority health areas include sickle cell disease, mental health, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and the influence of environment and lifestyle on health outcomes.
Sickle cell disorder - which disproportionately affects people of African and Caribbean heritage and has been historically under-researched - is an early focus of the programme.
Elkana, our first study participant, joined because he wanted to make a difference for future generations. He said:
“It is important to me to participate in this study. It will help future management of various illnesses, so that my population can receive care that is developed for them.”
The study is open to people aged 16 and over from black ethnic backgrounds, as well as individuals of any ethnicity with a confirmed diagnosis of sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia. Participants need to provide a small blood or saliva sample and complete a questionnaire. This information will then contribute to national efforts to shape more equitable healthcare for generations to come.
For more information, or to get involved, please contact Clinical Research Facility team.