Developing an inclusive research (methods) strategy for the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical...

As funders of health and care research increasingly mandate inclusive research practices, the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Clinical Research Facility (CRF) developed a comprehensive Inclusive Research (IR) Strategy to embed the principles of inclusivity across their experimental medicine research. This paper presents the co-production of the Strategy, shaped by collaboration between Inclusive Research Methods (IRM), Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) teams, alongside public contributors and wider stakeholders. The Strategy development was informed by iterative engagement, including workshops and one-to-one consultations, which revealed varying levels of understanding of IR and highlighted the need for accessible, evidence-informed approaches. It is structured around five strategic principles: mapping inequalities and protected characteristics; training and capacity building; working with communities and partners; establishing effective routes to delivery and using and creating Inclusive Research Methods. Key learning from the process includes the importance of aligning IR with existing organisational strategies, fostering inclusive governance through our Inclusive Research Oversight Board (IROB), and ensuring flexibility to adapt to emerging national guidance-such as National Institute for Health and Care Research's (NIHR) 10-step framework for inclusive research design or Core20PLUS5 - and the ongoing cycles of evaluation across the BRC/CRF programmes. Stakeholder feedback also underscored the value of co-production, the need to dismantle power dynamics, and the importance of clarity, accountability, and responsiveness in strategic implementation. The IR Strategy demonstrates how inclusive research can be operationalised within a complex translational research infrastructure. It offers a replicable model for embedding inclusive practices across the research lifecycle, leading to more equitable participant recruitment, enhanced research relevance, and health research with greater impact for all, including under-served populations. By fostering team research and an inclusive culture where inclusivity is business as usual, the IR Strategy seeks to drive meaningful change in health and care research, ensuring it is representative, accessible, and beneficial to all over the longer term.