BRAG's impact on research

The Black & Asian Research Advisory Group (BRAG) exerts strategic influence towards race equity, inclusion and effective community engagement in health research in Greater Manchester. This group, made up of community leaders in Greater Manchester, was established in 2019 and their impact has been growing ever since. In recognition of their achievements, they won Community Initiative of the Year at the The National BAME Health & Care Awards in 2023.

The National award shows we’re doing something good and unique that the rest of the system might not have been aware of and can learn from

BRAG member

Advising researchers

BRAG meets monthly and advises researchers on a wide range of topics. The importance of engaging with communities at an early stage of research is continually re-inforced by group, as is the importance of taking into account that people from diverse communities experience inequalities in access to health care and this will impact on their views of research.

Recent examples of how researchers are applying their advice are;

• Recruiting new Public Advisors from diverse backgrounds and consulting with three community groups in developing a new resource about genetic testing for cancer patients.

• Embedding community involvement approach across a range of Hearing Health studies to make research participation more accessible to people with South Asian heritage.

• Amending communications material and highlighting the importance of local community engagement in a national research study.

Researchers find the group’s input useful in terms of developing their ideas.

The group provided honest and open opinions and invaluable input.

Researcher

I received some really useful feedback, both positive and negative, about the work that will inform the approach going forward.

Researcher

Strategic influence

BRAG members are involved in the strategic aspect of research, with a BRAG member on both the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Strategic Executive Committee and the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Executive Committee.  The group’s input was important in the development of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Research and Innovation strategy (2024-2029), and as a result, new mechanisms for public oversight were included.

We partnered with BRAG members and their organisations on the #LetsTalkLabs engagement campaign. They were instrumental in developing and delivering this programme, funded by Manchester BRC and Manchester CRF.

A unique approach

BRAG members report that the group provides a unique and inclusive space where they can ask questions, challenge research and research culture and suggest new ideas;

This is a space where we can talk openly and honestly and speak from the heart...It’s opened my eyes to a closed door in the health sector, we're on a learning curve as to what's going on and I think we are adding value into how things work and doing this as a team, moving the needle. We're not afraid to say things and call out things and...we can speak from the heart.

BRAG Member

BRAG’s priority is to support Manchester BRC and Manchester CRF research. If you are a researcher with funding for PPIE activities but are not part of the BRC or CRF, please contact Annie Keane at annie.keane@mft.nhs.uk for more information.