This site is optimised for modern browsers. For the best experience, please use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

Kind-hearted research worker urges South Asians to take part in NIHR research

A kind-hearted research worker is calling on more people from the South Asian community to take part in NIHR-supported research.

Pratik Solanki, 32, is an NIHR Wellcome King's Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Administrator. He has recently helped out on an information stand at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as part of a series of activities to celebrate healthcare and research workers from South Asia as part of South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM).

The 32-year-old believes it is important to raise awareness about the importance of health and care research. He said:

"If more people from the South Asian community participate in NIHR-supported research, then researchers will be able to deliver better health outcomes that will benefit them and everyone else. Research does help wider society and future generations. I'd encourage anyone to sign up for a research study. The process is very safe and rigorous, and the staff work hard to support our volunteers.

"I wanted to demonstrate through SAHM that South Asian people have contributed many great things to the UK and to try to bring people together to recognise and celebrate their role in our society."

South Asian Heritage Month commemorates, marks and celebrates South Asian history and culture.

Pratik has also created cards so visitors and colleagues can learn and practice greeting one another in different South Asian languages.

CRN South London's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead Chifundo Stubbs, who is also Public and Patient Engagement Lead at King's CRF, also took part in the activities to support SAHM. She said:

"I was delighted to stand with Pratik and my colleagues from across King's College Hospital to celebrate healthcare and research workers from South Asia as part of SAHM.

"Pratik is spot on about the importance and value of research. I'd encourage anyone to visit the NIHR's Be Part of Research online service and find out about the array of available research studies."

The NIHR is the largest funder of health and care research in England. The NIHR's Be Part of Research service was set up to help people find out about health and care research taking place across the UK.