Inclusion Working Group
Building a professional community of R&D inclusion leaders across the UK
The UKRD Working Group on Inclusion in Research has been established to enable the UKRD community to have a disruptive and positive impact on inclusion in research.
The group was developed in recognition of the under-representation of ethnically minoritised groups within clinical research and the impact this has on perpetuating inequalities.
“This year’s UKRD Inclusion Symposium was a popular event, providing a packed agenda of speakers exploring the challenges of engaging colleagues and communities in equality…”
Read reflections on the UKRD Inclusion Symposium
Our objectives include:
To develop practical measures that UKRD will pursue to improve inclusion in 2 main areas:
- The UKRD leadership community
- The wider research workforce in the UK
To promote dialogue about the topic of inclusion in research in our own and partner organisations.
Identify actions, such as best practice sharing, that UKRD and constituent organisations can implement quickly as well as longer term proposals to be embedded in the working of UKRD.
Engage with the NIHR and other bodies to progress the inclusion agenda, making recommendations when appropriate
Group Members
The Inclusion Working Group is a partnership between UKRD and the Research & Development Forum.
Holly Lovell
Lynis Lewis
Julian Walker
Sarah Williams
Arti Makwana
Monalisa Bora-White
Yusuf Kabir
Tracy Gazeley
Anbhu Balasubramanian
Rahul Bhattacharya
Iftikhar Khan
Constance Shiridzinomwa
Abimbola Wilson
Working on new initiatives
We are currently developing a reverse mentoring programme which will be rolled out in 2026. This will provide opportunities for bidirectional learning between UKRD leaders and more earlier career colleagues within R&D. We are also undertaking a mapping exercise of existing initiatives to support diverse R&D workforces, in order to create a repository of best practice.
Tickets are now available for our next Inclusion Symposium, set for 12 June in Birmingham.
Join a Working Group
UKRD brings together leaders in healthcare research and development across the UK.
If you’re interested in learning more about any of our working groups or would like to get involved or contribute – we’d love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.