Challenge
Black, Mixed Black heritage and Black dual-heritage communities are under-represented in health research, despite experiencing higher rates of conditions such as sickle cell disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This limits the quality, fairness and reliability of research evidence.
What We Did
Sheffield Walk-In Centre partnered with NIHR BioResource Sheffield, a national health research programme that recruits volunteers to provide samples for ethically approved medical research, including studies exploring how genetics, health and lifestyle influence disease and treatment response.
Weekly, on-site recruitment takes place every Friday at Sheffield Walk-In Centre, where NIHR BioResource Clinical Trials Assistants and a Research Nurse approach eligible patients to explain the programme and invite voluntary participation, with no impact on care. Participants are asked to provide either a saliva or blood sample, complete a health questionnaire, and can choose whether they would like to be contacted about relevant future research studies.
QR-coded postcards and flyers allow patients to register interest in their own time, without pressure or obligation.
Impact / Result
The Walk-In Centre has already proven to be a productive recruitment setting, with several participants recruited so far and growing interest from patients asking about health research opportunities. These contributions will support more representative research datasets, improve understanding of conditions affecting these communities, and help shape fairer diagnostics, treatments and health policies.
Conclusion
This partnership shows how simple, community-based recruitment into national research programmes, embedded within everyday healthcare settings, can break down barriers for life changing research. Early results are promising, and with continued promotion, Sheffield Walk-In Centre is well placed to support more inclusive and representative health research across the UK.
