This week we had the pleasure of supporting and participating in the launch of a new tool to improve inclusion in clinical research the Inclusivity Checklist for Clinical Research at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The event was hosted by the National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Trials Initiative – a partnership between the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester and the James Lind Alliance, with support from the BHF CRC and funded by Heart Research UK.
Why an Inclusivity Checklist?
Despite growing awareness, clinical research remains unrepresentative of the broader population affected by many health conditions. Women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those from lower socio-economic groups continue to be under-recruited into clinical trials. This lack of representation can limit the generalisability of research findings and, ultimately, the effectiveness of treatments in real-world settings.
The Inclusivity Checklist for Clinical Research is designed to address this gap. It consolidates best practises and lessons learnt from across the research community to support the design and delivery of more inclusive trials. The checklist is the result of a rigorous process that included:
- A comprehensive literature review exploring barriers and enablers to inclusive participation.
- A survey with UK Clinical Trials Units on their current inclusivity strategies.
- Community outreach in partnership with the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Dance and Health Programme and AGE UK in and around Leicester.
- A consensus-building workshop involving patients, public representatives, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
The checklist is now in a pilot testing phase, and feedback from the wider research community is welcomed to support its ongoing development.
A Collaborative Approach to Meaningful Inclusion
The launch event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders — including patients, researchers, funders, clinicians, and community advocates — to share knowledge and reflect on how to create more inclusive and accessible research environments. Sessions covered topics such as the importance of representation, effective strategies for improving recruitment, and moving personal accounts from patients who have participated in trials.
As part of the programme, our Chief Operating Officer, Allyson Arnold, gave a presentation: “The Importance of Networks in Cardiovascular Clinical Research: A Match Made in Science”, highlighting how strong partnerships and meaningful collaboration lead to better research – and ultimately, better care for patients.
About the National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Trials Initiative
Since 2019, the National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Trials Initiative has worked to identify and address the most pressing research priorities in adult cardiac surgery. Following the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, the Initiative identified the top 10 unanswered questions in cardiac surgery, as defined by patients, carers, and clinicians.
Over the past five years, the Initiative has built an impressive portfolio of research, including:
- Five HTA-funded randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
- Four international CIHR/NIHR RCTs
- Two NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR)
To ensure these studies reflect the UK’s diverse population, the Initiative is actively working on methods to boost participation from underserved groups and ensure wide geographical coverage.
Moving Forward
At BHF CRC, we’re proud to support initiatives like the Inclusivity Checklist for Clinical Research, which champion equity and diversity in cardiovascular research. We believe that every patient should have the opportunity to contribute to — and benefit from — high-quality research that reflects their needs and experiences.
To learn more about the National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Trials Initiative and download the Inclusivity Checklist, click here.
