This week we spoke to the team at the NIHR BioResource Centre Leicester about community engagement events at supermarkets to promote participation in research. In tandem, we also learn about Leicester’s very own NHS Trust Chief Executive, who has made a personal commitment to health research, recently joining the NIHR BioResource.
The NIHR BioResource Centre Leicester – established in 2012 – is hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester. Their main research areas are in common cardiovascular disease research, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, and vascular disease. They recruit participants into our Rare Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID), and General Population cohorts.
On 5th July, the team and members of the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre set up an exhibition stand (pictured below) at ASDA Abbey Park to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS with shoppers.
Speaking on the fantastic opportunity to showcase the NIHR BioResource and get shoppers that day interested in participating in health research, Leicester BRC’s Patient and Public Involvement Manager, Ayodeji Ogunbuyide said:
“Today is a wonderful opportunity for us to talk to members of the community, get them involved in research and celebrate a wonderful milestone for the NHS.
“Volunteers are vital in helping us to shape our research programs and make sure they meet the needs of the communities we are serving.”
This month (October 2023), Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Richard Mitchell, announced his personal commitment to health research in Leicester by giving samples of his DNA, so he can be invited to participate in future studies.
After donating a small sample of blood and completing a Health & Lifestyle Questionnaire, Richard became part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester BRC’s BioResource, joining thousands of others who are already part of the search for better diagnosis and treatment into a range of diseases. Richard can now be matched to research studies and invited to take part.
He said:
“Having your blood taken isn't everyone's favourite thing, but knowing my sample could potentially be used to develop new treatments made it a positive experience for me today.
"Joining the BioResource is a really simple way to take part in research. Everyone who gets involved will play an important role in our efforts to understand the links between genes, the environment, health and disease, and I would encourage anyone to sign up.”
If you are interested in volunteering with the BioResource to be part of future research we support, whether or not you have a health condition, we’d love to hear from you.
All of our volunteers are consented to the NIHR BioResource and will be re-contactable to participate in further research, following standard protocols for being a BioResource volunteer.
You can get in contact with the Leicester team on 0800 090 2233 or email them on cvresearch@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.
You can keep up to date with NIHR BioResource on Twitter and LinkedIn.
