A key part of research is ensuring that it reflects the lived experiences and needs of all communities. The NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has a dedicated Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) programme which brings research to life in our local area.
Central to this programme is bringing people together to have conversations about the health issues that matter to them. On 17 March 2026, we welcomed over 50 attendees from across the city to the St George’s Centre for an information and research event focussed on diabetes. The event built on our “Lunch and Learn” community engagement sessions to provide tailored education on diabetes, healthy eating and obesity as this was a priority area for those we were engaging with.
The day kicked off with an introduction to diabetes research by Professor Ramzi Ajjan and Nina Davies (Integrated Care Board – ICB), followed by interactive workshops on eye health, diet, diabetic foot care and obesity. These sessions weren’t just informative, they created real opportunities for people to connect directly with researchers and better understand how research is shaping everyday care.
We were also joined by our community partners and colleagues, including Healthwatch Leeds, Diabetes UK, the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility Healthy Hearts Programme, NHS Leeds Health Awareness, the Health Population Management Hub (ICB), Obesity Institute (Leeds Beckett) and Diabetes Pharmacy (ICB). The stallholders offered health checks, advice and support for the event attendees.
One attendee, Bonnie Curran, shared: “My husband has been diabetic for over 20 years, and I am always looking for new treatment options for him. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge attending events like these and I think it’s invaluable to understand the latest research and the innovations on the horizon.”
Events like this are a great example of how we’re bringing research closer to communities, supporting prevention, and encouraging more people, especially those often underrepresented, to participate in research for the benefit of everyone.