Tackling the lack of diversity in health research

High-quality health research is central to evidence-informed health care. By assessing evidence on treatments, initiatives, and different ways of delivering services and changing practice where appropriate, health outcomes are improved. But what if that evidence routinely ignores or forgets the needs and perspectives of many in our communities?

This is not an abstract question. A survey of Wellcome Trust data found that people of White British ethnicity were 64% more likely than ethnic minority groups to have participated in health research, even when accounting for socioeconomic status, age, and sex.1,2 There has also been underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in COVID-19 research, including randomised trials of potential treatments, and vaccination and vaccine research,3 despite the greater COVID-19 burden experienced by ethnic minorities. In addition, communities such as older people,4 people with disabilities,5 women,6 precarious-status migrants,7 sexual minorities,8 and vulnerable populations (for example, sex workers,9 homeless10) are also under-represented (or their health needs are understudied) in health research.