Humber Researchers Seek Diverse Participants for Health Trials

Community Engagement Crucial for Advancing Medical Treatments

Researchers in the Humber region are actively reaching out to community groups to boost participation in vital clinical trials, aiming to ensure medical advancements benefit everyone.

Expanding Trial Inclusivity

The Academic Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (Adem) team, based at Hull’s Allam Diabetes Centre, is looking for a wider range of participants to help develop new treatments and cures. They specifically aim to increase involvement from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and people residing in rural areas.

Representing the Local Population

Research team manager **Lisa Baldwin** emphasized the importance of diversity in their studies. “It’s really important that the clinical research we do represents the local population and that the work we do can be translated into clinical care for those that need it,” she stated.

“The only way that we can achieve this is to engage with local community leaders and get the word out there about the work we’re doing.”

—Lisa Baldwin, Research team manager

Currently, only about one in eight patients registered with the research team is from a BAME background, according to the NHS Humber Health Partnership. This is despite a higher likelihood for these groups to develop conditions like type 2 diabetes at a younger age. For instance, in the UK, Black African adults are around three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white adults, as reported by Diabetes UK.

Personal Experience Drives Encouragement

Dr Sajida Ita, a Hull resident diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 18 years ago, shared her experience. She highlighted the challenges of finding effective treatments with manageable side effects.

“They all have their benefits but equally they all have their side-effects.”

—Dr Sajida Ita

Since participating in the Adem team’s clinical research, **Dr Ita** has found a better way to manage her condition. She is now encouraging others to join, believing increased inclusion will amplify the research’s impact.

Broad Scope of Research Opportunities

The research encompasses a range of activities, from online questionnaires to drug trials. The team is also seeking participants for studies on hormone-related issues, including thyroid and adrenal gland conditions.