Co-Leads: Kirsty Roberts, University of Bristol kirsty.roberts@bristol.ac.uk, Katie Biggs, University of Sheffield, c.e.biggs@sheffield.ac.uk, Azar Alexander-Sefre, University of Aberdeen, a.alexander-sefre.22@abdn.ac.uk
To join the Inclusivity group, please fill in the TCWG Expression of Interest form and return to enquiries@methodologyhubs.mrc.ac.uk
Aims and Objectives
The MRC-NIHR TMRP Inclusivity Trials Working Group is a sub-group of the MRC-NIHR TMRP Trial Conduct Working Group. The aim of the group is to focus on making trials more inclusive the design and conduct.
The group meets approximately every three months to discuss research inclusion in trials, the current guidance and evidence and share projects and good practice. The group has led to methodological collaborations, such as ACCESS.
1. Network to share insights methodological work in inclusion in trials research
2. Share good practice
3. Encourage, facilitate collaborative working
4. Discussing challenges of conducting methodological work
5. Promoting the methodological work of the group at external meetings/ conferences
Membership
We welcome members who are interested in inclusivity in trials in health and social care, including academics, clinicians, patient and public contributors.
We have open membership, with three co-leads. We meet approximately every 3 months, and people tend to attend when they can, but all members are sent the minutes and can send updates to the group.
The group sometimes facilitates collaboration for further work which would be managed separately to the TMRP inclusivity working group.
Further Information and Resources
ACCESS project - https://sheffield.ac.uk/ctru/completed-trials/access
Strategies for trialists to promote equal participation in clinical trials for under-served populations - https://step-up-clinical-trials.co.uk/
INVITE study - https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR206906
The INCLUDE Socioeconomic Disadvantage Framework - https://www.trialforge.org/trial-diversity/socioeconomic-disadvantage-framework/
Outputs
The following came from ACCESS which developed from some discussions in the TMRP and most collaborators were identified via the group.
Biggs K, Hullock K, Dix C, Lane JA, Green H, Treweek S, Shiely F, Shepherd V, Willis A, Isaacs T & Cooper C (2024) Time to STEP UP: methods and findings from the development of guidance to help researchers design inclusive clinical trials. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 24(1), 227.
Biggs K, Dix C, Shiely F, Treweek S, Shepherd V, Lane A, Green H, Isaacs T, Willis A & Cooper C (2024) Effective interventions to increase representation of under-served groups in randomised trials in UK and Ireland: a scoping literature review. NIHR Open Research, 4(12).
