Defining and Tackling the Barriers to Healthcare Equity in Women of South Asian Ethnicity with Chronic Lung Diseases

Proposed start date: 1 October 2023

Women from ethnic minorities are under-represented in studies from research-active environments. Women of South Asian ethnicity are at increased risk of the lung disease chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) that limits quality and length of life. Identifying factors driving disease in individuals can help resolve or stabilise the disease, but the causes in this group are unknown.  Local demographics mean that Leicester clinicians manage many such patients, and Respiratory researchers here are superbly-placed to investigate using multiple state-of-the-art approaches within the Centre for Fibrosis Research. However, appropriate engagement with patients/controls is critical for research ethics and excellence. We hypothesise that multiple intersecting factors limit research engagement. These include socio-economic/linguistic/gender issues, and mismatches between cultural perspectives informing patient and research paradigms (e.g. biopsychosocial models of disease, breathing, mechanistic/clinical research). The student will therefore interrogate these domains from a patient-centred perspective. They will establish appropriate fora to hear patient and community voices and experience, then explore the perceptions that may inform study design and patient engagement. After optimizing patient-related outcome measures (PROMs) and importance thresholds to cultural context, they will develop intervention strategies, aimed at improving research engagement to understand the underlying causes and best treatments for CHP in this population   

Entry requirements:

Applicants are required to hold/or expect to obtain a UK Bachelor Degree 2:1 or better in a relevant subject. 

The University of Leicester English language requirements apply where applicable.

This programme is open to:

• allied health professionals
• nurses
• midwives
• junior doctors
• general practitioners

Fellows recruited to the programme must be practicing healthcare professionals and be registered with a national professional regulatory body (e.g. the General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council) in the UK/Republic of Ireland.

Medical graduates must be registered on a UK/Republic of Ireland specialist training programme or must be a registered GP.

All fellows must have completed their undergraduate degree and be registered with the relevant professional body.

Application advice:

Application help:  https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/healthcare-inequalities/application-help.

To apply, please go to: https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/leicestershire-healthcare-inequalities-improvement-dtp

With your application, please include:

• Full up to date CV
• Personal statement of 700 words (for detailed instructions on what we will be looking for in your personal statement and your CV, please review the guidance here: https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/healthcare-inequalities/application-help).
• Degree Certificates and Transcripts of study already completed and if possible transcript to date of study currently being undertaken
• Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable
• In the reference section please enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available.

In the funding section please specify that you wish to be considered for Wellcome Trust LHII DTP

In the proposal section please provide the name of at least one or at most two of the projects you are interested in (please indicate title and name of supervisor). The first project you list will be taken to be your preferred choice.

Upload the Widening Participation form (found on the above link) to the proposal section

Project / Funding Enquiries to: [Email Address Removed]

Application enquiries to [Email Address Removed]