Launching the Improving Black Health Outcomes BioResource

The Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource, jointly led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, NIHR BioResource and Genomics England, is dedicated to studying health conditions in people from Black communities in the UK. The team is inviting individuals from Black communities to participate in research specifically aimed at improving our understanding of how these communities develop and experience health conditions. The project will facilitate research across a range of areas: Sickle Cell disease Mental health Diabetes Cardiovascular disease Kidney disease Environment and lifestyle Historically, there has been an under-recruitment of Black people in health research, meaning much of what we know about many health conditions is usually based on White populations. Representation is crucial, as research findings may not always be applicable to groups outside of those included in studies, meaning that the development of new assessment tools, treatments and services might not necessarily benefit everyone. The IBHO BioResource aims to address this gap and improve Black health outcomes by including more Black people in health research. Sickle cell focus Sickle cell is more prevalent among Black populations. According to the Sickle Cell Society, the genetic trait for sickle cell is found in...