Welcome to the Centre for Ethnic Health Research

The Centre for Ethnic Health Research (CEHR) works to address inequalities, associated with ethnicity, in health care access and health outcomes. We do this by supporting individuals and organisations to involve and understand the needs of ethnic minority and underserved communities when planning and undertaking research and healthcare delivery.

The CEHR is hosted by University of Leicester within NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, East Midlands (ARC EM) which is the lead ARC for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) of under-represented groups in research. Located in one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the UK (Leicester), the CEHR is uniquely placed to conduct research on issues affecting the health and health outcomes of these populations, and provides a national network through established links with the Academic Health Sciences Network (AHSN); Clinical Research Networks (CRNs); Integrated Care Systems (ICS’s); National NIHR infrastructures, NHS and Academic institutions, charitable organisations and industry partners.

The CEHR provides opportunities to be at the heart of practical solutions, through focussed work with communities to reduce health inequalities locally and nationally by working with patients, the public, community and voluntary sectors, researchers, and health & social care organisations. We have a number of community engagement officers and research staff who engage with underserved communities and inspire community-led research. We design and deliver resources and alternative methodologies that are informed and led by communities. These methods and our involvement allow us to promote culturally-sensitive resources and raise awareness of community engagement and collaboration across research and healthcare delivery.

Our Vision

We are an organisation that is committed to actively inspiring and developing dynamic and collaborative partnerships between patients, public, community and voluntary sectors, researchers, health and social care organisations and others, to help address ethnic health disparities.

Our Objectives

1. Develop and implement capacity building programmes aimed at supporting and enhancing researchers’ skills, knowledge and confidence to produce high-quality research involving the active participation of ethnic minorities and seldom heard communities in all aspects of the research.
2. To develop and provide centralised and co-ordinated toolkits and resources for organisations and individuals to share and disseminate good practice in conducting research with ethnic minorities and seldom heard communities.
3. Actively influence a culture of practice in which ethnic minority public involvement informs and supports research, service planning, commissioning and delivery of health and adult social care services and healthcare; and where achievements are shared, valued and celebrated.
4. Undertake community engagement strategies that foster the trust and support of ethnic minorities and seldom heard of communities to participate in joint working activities related to research and implementation in the field of health and social care, and to resource their capacity to act on this commitment.

What we do

The Centre for Ethnic Health Research provides opportunities to be at the heart of practical solutions, through focussed work with communities. It has established links with the Academic Health Sciences Network (AHSN); local Clinical Research Networks (CRNs); Local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs); CLAHRC partner institutions including the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Mental Health; the University of Birmingham and University of Warwick: other institutions within the Midlands Health Innovation Network; and charitable organisations including the South Asian Health Foundation.

Cultural Competence is woven throughout all the work of the Centre for Ethnic Health Research and this methodology will explicitly support the outputs in style, culture, language and approach.

The unique Centre for Ethnic Health Research, situated within the LDC for optimal engagement, offers training and existing infrastructure for public engagement and involvement to help improve the quality, quantity and impact of research output in the area of ethnic and migrant health. It is our understanding of this element through our far-reaching engagement, plus the experience of clinicians that places us in a unique position to both engage and develop appropriately.

Our experience has led to the cultural adaptation of a range of health education and awareness materials.