Research Inclusion Strategy

Committees and funding panels are central to decision-making, setting priorities of the SPCR and allocating resources. Ensuring diversity within these groups means that decisions are informed by a wide range of perspectives and experiences, ultimately leading to more equitable and relevant outcomes. Furthermore, research institutions, including the SPCR, often face challenges in attracting individuals from underrepresented groups to leadership roles. Building on Theme 1 of the NIHR Research Inclusion strategy (2022-2027), which encourages targets for diversity of professional members on selection committees and panels and training in all aspects of research inclusion, the SPCR will ensure that its governance structures reflect the diversity of its members and the society it serves, enabling fairer and more inclusive decision-making.

Objective: To ensure diversity in the composition of SPCR committees and panels.

Short term planned actions (1-2 years within the current school funding period)

• Develop a recruitment policy for SPCR funding panels and committees which specifies representation across age, gender, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic backgrounds, but doesn’t overburden certain individuals.
• Include (non-voting) unconscious bias observers on all funding panels and committees
• Set up reverse mentoring opportunities for members of under-represented groups to share experiences with senior SPCR board and committee members.
• Better data monitoring: Collect and regularly review diversity data on all SPCR funding panels and committees (where possible in line with data minimisation and protection requirements).
• Inclusive PPI: Review our processes for public involvement in committees and funding panels to understand opportunities for further inclusive practice.

Medium term proposed actions (2-4 years as part of future iterations of the school)

• Mandate inclusion training (e.g. unconscious bias, cultural competency training, inclusive research, inclusive chairing) for all SPCR board, funding panel and committee members.
• Provide leadership training for Early and Mid-career Researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, enabling them to taken on leadership positions and fully contribute to SPCR committees.
• Ensure diversity in the composition of SPCR committees by supporting member departments to recruit more equitably (e.g. consider equity and fairness as well as merit in their staff recruitment).
• Better data monitoring: Publish yearly diversity data about SPCR funding panels and committees on our website (where possible in line with data minimisation and protection requirements).
• Inclusive PPI: Develop and provide induction and training to support new public members to be involved in funding panels and committees.

Long term proposed actions (5-7 years as part of future iterations of the school)

• Better data monitoring: Measure diversity of workforce and affiliated public contributors (i.e. those involved in department governance) in all member departments.

Equitable access to funding is essential for the career progression of researchers from underrepresented populations and backgrounds, who may face structural barriers such as discrimination, bias, or limited institutional support. By awarding funding inclusively, the SPCR can help remove these barriers and foster the next generation of diverse research leaders. This approach will prioritise under-represented researchers and research projects that address the needs of underserved populations.

Objective: To ensure that SPCR funding opportunities are accessible and awarded inclusively, with a focus on reflecting societal diversity.

Short term planned actions (1-2 years within the current school funding period)

• Better data monitoring: Undertake bench marking exercise, collecting data regarding the characteristics of applicants and reviewing all funding awards over the past 5 years to enable us to record improvement going forwards.

Medium term proposed actions (2-4 years as part of future iterations of the school)

• Offer targeted funding calls for those from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Commission research to identify ‘hotspot’ areas of disease burden and primary care provision across the community and map these based on population characteristics. Offer targeted funding for research in these areas of high disease burden or low provision.
• Inclusive PPI: Work with patients, the public and community groups to develop responsive funding calls that reflect the needs of underserved communities.

Primary care serves diverse populations, and research in this field must reflect this to benefit all parts of society. Research must be inclusive in both its design and implementation; a well-designed study will encourage and facilitate participation from all affected populations, ensuring that findings are applicable across different demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural groups. Inclusive research participation is a key element of Theme 2 of the NIHR Research Inclusion strategy (2022-2027), and the SPCR is well placed to deliver this action though the community-based research it supports.

Objective: To support research projects with robust plans for inclusion and diversity in design, recruitment, and dissemination.

Short term planned actions (1-2 years within the current school funding period)

• Communicate expectations for inclusive research in all proposals submitted to the SPCR.
• Deliver training on inclusive research practices (generic and bespoke for prospective award holders – after award but before the project starts).
• Inclusive PPI: Deliver training on how to facilitate inclusive PPI throughout the research process.
• Inclusive PPI: Develop and launch an enablement fund for SPCR members to support public involvement, engagement and dissemination activities which particularly aim to enhance inclusion.

Medium term proposed actions (2-4 years as part of future iterations of the school)

• Encourage award holders to use the NIHR Equality Impact Assessment to set inclusion related milestones and report on progress.
• Ensure funding for research inclusion is used for just this.
• Mandate inclusion related progression criteria to be specified in all SPCR funded feasibility trials.
• Better data monitoring: Mandate all primary data collection studies to collect detailed participant information (related to protected characteristics) and report these data to the SPCR in annual progress reports (where possible in line with data minimisation and protection requirements).
• Inclusive PPI: Develop metrics to assess the impact and quality of inclusive PPI and integrate these into progress monitoring and final reports.

In addition to the cross-cutting public involvement and engagement actions outlined within the themes above, further short-term (1-2 years within the current school funding period) actions include:  

• Review current data available and develop a process for collecting, monitoring, and reporting on the diversity of public partners involved and engaged across SPCR awards, Member Departments, and the Directorate to increase understanding of who is involved and engaged across the SPCR.
• Collate and share NIHR infrastructure and voluntary, community and social groups/organisations which members of the SPCR Community have existing relationships to promote opportunities for collaboration.