Black communities asked to join health research

eople from black ethnic backgrounds are being encouraged to take part in a research programme aimed at tackling health inequalities.

The Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource programme at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) will explore how African-Caribbean communities develop and experience different health conditions.

Those taking part would be tested and matched with various research programmes into conditions including sickle cell, diabetes, heart and kidney disease.

David Stockley, NIHR BioResource Southampton Manager at UHS, said the volunteers would be playing a "vital role" in developing future healthcare provision.

UHS said the study was set up as historically, people from African and Caribbean heritage have been under-represented in health studies, meaning knowledge and treatments as a result of research have been predominantly based on white populations.

Mr Stockley said the new initiative aimed to "close the gap".

"The IBHO BioResource will help us better understand and address health conditions and their unique impacts on black people and their loved ones, ensuring everyone benefits from fair and inclusive research," he added.

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Source: BBC News, 20 March 2025