Develop your skills for inclusive research

Is research making existing inequalities worse? How can we make bench to bedside research – which takes discoveries from the lab to the clinic – more inclusive? How should it tackle the unjust and avoidable differences in people’s health?

To help address these questions, Vocal has developed an Inclusive Research online learning course. Co-created with members of the Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Research Advisory Group (BRAG), public health specialists and biomedical scientists, the course defines inclusive research as:

Research that takes deliberate action to meet the health research needs of different people, to address barriers to inclusion and to promote environments where everyone feels included, respected and valued.

This free resource is for researchers, research staff, community partners, patient contributors and anyone interested in knowing more about the topic. By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand how inclusive research contributes to health equity

• Identify ways that inclusive research principles can be integrated into 'bench to bedside' health research

• Identify barriers to inclusive research

• Reflect on your own context and practice

The course is interactive with quizzes, reflective exercise links to further reading and an opportunity to share your own pledge. It also includes videos and poetry from BRAG members. Once you’ve completed the course you can receive a badge and a certificate. The training can be used as part of personal development plans and has been rated 4.6 out of 5 by participants.

The layout and level of detail is easy to digest but is also very comprehensive. The provision of links and resources are also very helpful. Inspiring on so many levels!

Course participant

Try the course for yourself and let us know what you think, select the Inclusive Research option from the list here Lifelong Learning - University of Manchester