Research inclusion

Our core values align with the UKHSA’s Health Equity for Health Security Strategy that aims to bean open and collaborative organisation in partnership with the public and their communities.

Across each research theme, we aim to understand the groups at highest risk from STIs/BBVs, those who experience the greatest challenges in accessing interventions to prevent, diagnose and treat these infections, and the inequalities that result. In addition to working with communities, we are committed to building and expanding on relationships with third-sector organisations, frontline services and policy makers to address unmet research needs and co-develop solutions. We will work with UKHSA HealthEquity and Inclusion Health Team to shape research to consider equity implications, improve representation, and address priority research gaps.

UCL is also committed to ensuring that the process of recruitment, training, support and career progression are fair and support principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Staff/students funded through the HPRU are integrated into UCL’s School for the Health of the Public which brings together people from across UCL to drive the development of research and education. Through the HPRU Academy, we offer training to HPRU-affiliated health protection professionals around research/laboratory methodology, and infection prevention and control. To emphasise the importance of co-production to our work, and to provide a wide range of community members with the opportunity to become involved in our research, we will support peer-researchers to work with us on 1 – 2 projects per year.

Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE)

The research we do needs to be relevant and helpful for patients and members of the public. Our aim is to engage with patients and the public throughout the research process, from setting our research priorities, through to the design and delivery of our research, and to the dissemination and use of our findings. We continue to set standards for and support HPRU researchers to engage with contributors in a way that is meaningful, is beneficial to research and the community and is a positive experience for all. We have strong established links with a wide range of third-sector organisations (e.g. UK-CAB, National AIDS Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, Hepatitis C Trust) who support the incorporation of PPIE into our research.

If you are interested in getting involved in our research, please see our open opportunities or send us an email. If you are interested in learning more about contributing to research generally, visit the NIHR’s ‘I want to help with research' webpage. It contains information on what involvement in research might look like and also contains links to useful resources and places to find involvement opportunities.