MAHSC Seminar Series: ‘COVID-19, clinical research & communities: How health inequalities & engagement are shaping our research response’

Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), part of Health Innovation Manchester, brings together world leading academic and NHS partners to drive health research forward.

The MAHSC Seminar Series will showcase the great discovery and clinical science being undertaken within Manchester and its impact on the health of the local population.

The series will give a local platform to the nationally and internationally renowned scientists of MAHSC, to share their work with clinical, non-clinical and university colleagues but also crucially members of the wider community seeking insight into innovations in the delivery of healthcare.

In this seventh seminar, held on 4 November 2020, our speakers discuss how health inequalities & engagement are shaping our research response, the Coronavirus pandemic, its impact and clinical research across the city-region. Speakers included Professor Arpana Verma, Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology at The University of Manchester, Dr Bella Starling, Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow and Director at Vocal and Circle Steele, Community Partner.

Dr Bella Starling started the session by analysing the inequalities that are being laid bare by COVID-19. She said: “The toll of COVID-19 is certainly not equal. So, we know that there is a greater COVID burden with older age, male sex, obesity and underlying health conditions and poverty. We also know that black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are at increased risk of infection from COVID, and that they usually have worse outcomes than white British groups. It’s not just division according to race and ethnicity, but according to other protected characteristics as well… There is increased mortality risk for disabled people, some religious groups at particularly high risk and there is a higher social and economic and physiological impact on women.

“But, we have some wonderful community partners that we’re working with in our community response to COVID and our clinical research to COVID. I’d like to just bring in our partners into the conversation today, for them to talk about the community impact that COVID is having and how some of their community organisations are playing a vital role in the response to COVID.”

Watch the session

Watch the session to see what our line-up of speakers discussed.

‘COVID-19, clinical research & communities: How health inequalities & engagement are shaping our research response’.

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