The Centre for Research Equity (CfRE) at the University of Oxford has joined forces with Health and Care Research Wales to support a new national plan that will make health and social care research more inclusive.
The three-year Inclusive Research Action Plan will be launched at the Senedd by the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Professor Isabel Oliver. The launch will bring together researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals and members of the public to begin putting the action plan into practice.
The event will also mark the start of a collaboration between the CfRE and Health and Care Research Wales to place equity and diversity at the heart of how research is designed, delivered and used.
Professor Mahendra Patel, Founding Director of CfRE, said:
Inclusive research means better research and fairer systems, leaving us better able to understand the health and care needs of the communities we serve and how to address them effectively. This new plan and partnership reflect the shared ambition in Wales to lead the way in inclusive practices that benefit all
Why inclusivity matters for research
Research shows that health is shaped by many factors, including ethnicity, disability, age and deprivation, long before illness occurs. In Wales, women born in the most disadvantaged areas live on average 17 fewer years in good health compared to those in the most affluent.
When communities are underrepresented in research, inequalities deepen. Guidance and treatments may then be based on evidence that does not reflect everyone’s needs. Inclusive research makes findings more accurate, builds public trust and creates fairer systems.
Professor Aziz Sheikh, Head of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, which hosts CfRE, said:
“Research that doesn’t reflect the full diversity of the populations it serves simply isn’t good enough. This collaboration is exactly the kind of joined-up approach needed to ensure meaningful impact.”
How the plan was shaped
The action plan was informed by contributions from across Wales, including young people.
Praveena Pemmasani, a 23-year-old medical student at Cardiff University and member of a research advisory group for young people, emphasised the importance of representation:
“Being more inclusive means findings are relevant to more people. It also helps build trust within communities. Researchers can collect all the data they want, but if people don’t feel the results apply to them, the impact is limited.”
A national commitment
Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, underlined why inclusion in research is central to reducing inequalities:
“Increasing diversity and inclusion in research is an important part of narrowing the health gaps between communities, and ensuring outcomes encompass and benefit Wales’ whole population.”
Carys Thomas, Head of Policy for the Science, Research and Evidence Division at Welsh Government, added:
“It is vital that everyone in Wales has a voice in research. Working with the CfRE and our research community, we can make Wales a leader in research inclusivity and a healthier, fairer nation.”
What happens next
Over the next three years, CfRE and Health and Care Research Wales will collaborate to ensure equity and diversity are central to research. By embedding inclusivity at every stage, the partnership aims to build trust, improve relevance, and strengthen outcomes for communities across Wales.
Read the full press release here
Read the partnership policy priority areas document
For more information about the action plan and related updates, visit the Health and Care Research Wales website: www.healthandcareresearchwales.org.