CRF champions

Mareena, Research Sister & EDI Champion for Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) CRF

I joined as an EDI champion to utilise  my experience as an international nurse and my unique perspective as someone from an ethnic minority background. I am committed to promoting fairness and inclusion within the department, with the goal of ensuring that every individual is valued and treated equitably. This aligns with our organization’s mission of delivering exceptional care for all.

In particular, I aim to contribute to clinical research delivery by supporting the strategic aims and objectives of the NIHR (2022-2027). One of the NIHR’s key objectives is to increase research participation from underrepresented groups and hard-to-reach populations, particularly those with a high burden of disease. By collaborating with other members of the EDI/PPIE work stream, I am confident we can achieve meaningful progress toward these objectives.

Being a champion involves actively promoting and advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion within an organization. This role includes raising awareness about EDI issues, supporting initiatives that foster a more inclusive environment, and providing guidance and mentorship to colleagues. Champions also work to identify and address any barriers to fairness and help ensure that all voices are heard and respected.

EDI work is ongoing and requires long-term commitment. It's hard to keep things moving when progress is slow or hard to see.

My favourite thing about being a champion is the opportunity to make a difference in creating a more inclusive and supportive environment. I find it rewarding to see positive changes, empower others, and help ensure that everyone feels valued and respected.

Masiratu, Research Sister & EDI Champion for Northern General Hospital (NGH) CRF

I appreciate the importance of diversity in every work area, especially clinical research. This is why I took up the EDI champion role in the CRF through which I am gaining valuable knowledge and helping to promote an inclusive work culture and helping to increase diverse participation in clinical research; working in collaboration with the PPIE team and other stakeholders.

For me, being an EDI champion involves bringing people together, listening to diverse views and beliefs, fostering a respectful workplace culture and helping to create and promote inclusive policies to effect change.

One of the biggest challenges of being an EDI champion is overcoming deep rooted bias/unconscious bias among some work colleagues and patients.

My favourite thing about being an EDI champion is that I am privy to a different range of opinions, ideas and skills far more regularly, and will also be able to share my own experience to promote inclusiveness which may inform policy formulations.

Lindsey, Research Sister & LDA Champion for Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) CRF

I signed up to become a champion as this is remarkably close to home. I have children who have autism and ADHD, and I have to advocate for them daily for others to be inclusive and understanding to their difficulties. I feel because of this ‘lived in’ experience that I have a lot of knowledge to contribute to this role.

The LDA champion role involves having knowledge to be able to give advice and assist with inclusion, autism, and other developmental conditions. It also involves being able to signpost staff members and patients to relevant services and being able to prepare for patients by using available resources.

In my day-to-day role as a research sister, I lead on lots of different studies therefore the champion role is vital to ensure dedicated time to work on such an important topic.

I love being part of something that I feel passionate about and feel privileged to be able to help other individuals.

Sarah, Research Nurse & LDA Champion for Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) CRF

I became a learning disabilities and autism (LDA) champion within the CRF to support this patient group to access clinical research more effectively. 

Throughout my career as a nurse, when I have provided care for patients with learning disabilities and/or autism, I have always ensured their experiences of care are inclusive and tailored to their needs. Additionally, I completed a course in autism to develop my skills, which I utilise both in nursing practice and in interactions with autistic people with or without a learning disability. Furthermore, a member of my immediate family is autistic. This has given me vital insight into the lived experiences of autistic people.

I am a champion because I am eager to contribute towards the achievement of the NIHR strategic aims 2022-2027. One aspect of this is to improve access to research for underrepresented groups. There is evidence that people with learning disabilities and autism are underrepresented in clinical research and have poorer health outcomes than those of the general population. I am passionate about bringing positive change and improved access to clinical research for this patient group.

Together with my fellow CRF LDA champions, we hope to provide individualised research experiences which improve health and care outcomes for all. We will achieve this by raising awareness, providing guidance and supporting colleagues to promote positive change. For example, we are currently supporting the development of a training package specifically for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals researchers which aims to improve access for people with learning disabilities and/or autism in clinical research.

Being a champion in the CRF involves advocating for underrepresented patients, fostering an environment that is inclusive, is accessible and respectful of diversity. We offer guidance and training to staff when required. We want everyone to have the opportunity to take part in research knowing that their individual needs will be met and reasonable adjustments made.

One of the biggest challenges we may encounter is the potential for change resistance. It is important to be an effective change agent in healthcare to improve the quality of our care and health outcomes of our patients.

My favourite thing about being a champion is the opportunity to make a difference to patients’ lives and see that difference come to fruition. I feel privileged to collaborate with the rest of the EDI and PPIE teams to improve access to clinical research trials for this patient group.