Welcome!
Research that involves and includes representative populations is necessary to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for all.
In line with our 2022 – 2027 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy we have created this Hub to support and guide research inclusion best practice.
Research inclusion is an evolving and dynamic landscape, and we endeavour to keep these pages relevant to the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Oxford Health (BRC: OH).
In addition to the resource table below, you can also click on these call to action buttons to find out about other BRC: OH related EDI opportunities and initiatives to improve research inclusion.
We encourage researchers working within BRC: Oxford Health to also explore internal training available to them. You will need appropriate log-ins to access this.
If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie Carline, EDI Project Manager.
Below you will find a list of NIHR and affiliated organisation’s resources on embedding inclusivity in research. Researchers are encouraged to search independently for additional resources such as journals, charities, support groups etc, that have not been provided in this Hub.
We welcome suggestions of resources for inclusion on this page.
| Resource | Organisation / Author | Type of Resource | Research Activity | Protected Characteristic / Socioeconomic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collection of diversity monitoring data | AdvanceHE | Guidance | Data Collection | Not Specific |
| Conducting and Supporting LGBT Research | LGBT Foundation | Guidance | All stages/ activities | Sexual Orientation |
| Community Engagement Toolkit | Research Design Service, Reaching out Projects | Toolkit | PPIEP/ Design / Pre-award | |
| Cultural Competency Toolkit | One Gloucestershire Research Engagement Network | Toolkit | PPIEP | Religion; Disability; Age; Socioeconomic Disadvantage |
| EDI in Healthcare Research Toolkit | NIHR Research Support Services | Tool/Framework | Design and Planning | Not Specific |
| EDI in Research Toolkit | C-DICE / University of Birmingham | Toolkit/Training | All stages/ activities | Not specific |
| Embedding diversity in research design | UKRI | Guidance | Design and Planning | Not specific |
| English indices of deprivation 2025 | Gov.UK | Statistics | All stages/ activities | Socioeconomic |
| Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Research Environment | UK Research Integrity Office (UK RIO) | Training | All stages/ activities | Not specific |
| Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Design | University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division | Guidance | Funding | Not specific |
| Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) Toolkit | NIHR ARC East Midlands | Tool/Framework | Design and Planning | Not specific |
| EDI Responsiveness Matrix | University of Oxford | Tool/Framework | Funding | Not specific |
| How to include older people in health and social care research | NIHR/Trial Forge | Guidance | All stages and activities | Age |
| How to use an engaged research approach | Wellcome | Guidance | PPIEP | Not specific |
| HRA and MHRA draft inclusion and diversity guidance | NHS Health Research Authority | Guidance | Design and Planning | Not specific |
| INCLUDE project: Improving inclusion of under-served groups in clinical research | NIHR | Guidance | PPIEP | Not specific |
| INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework | NIHR/Trial Forge | Tool/Framework | All stages and activities | Race/Ethnicity |
| INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework | NIHR/Trial Forge | Tool/Framework | All stages and activities | Disability/Health |
| INCLUDE Socioeconomic Disadvantage Framework | NIHR/Trial Forge | Tool/Framework | All stages and activities | Socioeconomic |
| Inclusive research funding application guidance – FOR PROJECTS | NIHR | Guidance | Funding | Not specific |
| Infrastructure research inclusion funding application guidance – FOR INFRASTRUCTURE | NIHR | Guidance | Funding | Not specific |
| Learning for Involvement | NIHR | Further Resources | PPIEP | Not specific |
| Measuring equality | Office for National Statistics | Guidance | Data Collection | Not specific |
| MESSAGE: Medical Science Sex & Gender Equity | MESSAGE Project | Further Resources | All stages and activities | Sex/Gender |
| Inclusive Research – Open-access course | VOCAL / i3HS | Training | All stages and activities | Not Specific |
| NIHR Learn: Research Inclusion Courses | NIHR | Training | All stages and activities | Not Specific |
| NIHR Three Schools Webinar Series | NIHR Three Schools (Public Health Research, Social Care Research, Primary Care Research) | Training | PPIEP | Webinars addressing many specific groups and characteristics |
| Position Statement on the use of external datasets | NIHR BRC: Oxford Health | Guidance | Data Collection | Not specific |
| Race Equality Framework – Self-Assessment | NIHR | Toolkit | Research Infrastructure | Race/Ethnicity |
| Research inclusion as a condition of funding: Webinar | NIHR | Training | Funding /All stages | Not specific |
| Research Inclusion Homepage | NIHR | Guidance | All stages and activities | Not specific |
| Sex and Gender in Research; Policy Update | BRC: Oxford Health / NIHR | Guidance | All stages and activities | Sex/Gender |
| Standards for ethnicity data | Race Disparity Unit, Gov.UK | Guidance | Data Collection | Race/Ethnicity |
| STANDING Together – data diversity standards | NIHR/NHS/ The Health Foundation | Guidance | Data Collection | Not specific |
| Tool for scoping inclusive research locations | NIHR | Tool/Framework | Improving physical accessibility | Socioeconomic; Disability; Other |
Research Inclusion Drop-Ins
The NIHR BRC: Oxford Health Theme EDI Network are now hosting Research Inclusion Drop-ins – these are an informal space to discuss questions, challenges, or ideas related to inclusive research or research culture. Just turn up, or email EDI Project Manager Lizzie Carline to let us know you are coming and to provide any advance context, this gives us some time to think about how we can help.
| Day | Date | Time | Location |
| Tuesday | 3rd November, 2026 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Tuesday | 1st December, 2026 | 11am – 12pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Thursday | 14th January, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Tuesday | 9th February, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Wednesday | 10th March, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Tuesday | 13th April, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Thursday | 13th May, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Tuesday | 15th June, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
| Wednesday | 7th July, 2027 | 12 – 1pm | Hybrid: Hot Desk Room, Department of Psychiatry or MS Teams |
For the MS Teams link please email Lizzie, specifying which session you would like to join.
