Embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across the NIHR Newcastle BRC is crucial to maintaining our position as a world-leading research institution – and this has been highlighted during the latest meeting of some of the NIHR Newcastle BRC’s key researchers on International Women’s Day (8th March).

Professor Muzlifah Haniffa, the Newcastle BRC’s EDI champion and theme lead for skin disease, oral disease and immunogenomics, and Karen Suetterlin, emerging leader for the BRC’s ageing, sarcopenia multimorbidity theme, shared their perspectives on this key area of BRC work.

Muzlifah talked about the need for equality, diversity and inclusion not only in staff but in patients too - and covered the need to look at the difficulties faced by women working in science.

Karen Suetterlin said:

“I’m passionate about supporting colleagues with different perspectives and about making sure that the work of EDI doesn’t just fall to under-represented groups. It’s everyone’s responsibility.

“Effective EDI will help us to maintain our position as a world leading research institution. And in order to implement an effective EDI policy, we need input from people with varied lived experience."

Professor Avan Aihie Sayer, director of the Newcastle BRC, and theme lead for ageing, sarcopenia and multimorbidity, added:

“At the Newcastle BRC we are fully committed to meaningful approaches to EDI with one of our core objectives being to foster an inclusive and diverse research culture.

“Our continued research excellence in our BRC is enabled by our positive and inclusive environment. Our leadership team is a key part of this and is a visible representation of diversity, as well as through collective and individual commitment to drive change and implement best practice.

“Our plans include new initiatives such as EDI training in all staff inductions, piloting new approaches to recruitment/selection, and supporting tailored mentoring schemes. And a BRC EDI Working Group will be set up for implementation and evaluation.”