7 April marks World Health Day, and this year’s theme, Together for Health: Stand with Science, is a call not only to champion scientific progress but also to ensure it leads to healthier futures for all. 

The global campaign highlights the need to engage with facts, strengthen confidence in public health, and support science-led solutions. Achieving this means ensuring that research is not just done on communities, but with them. 

This is the focus of our work through the North Central London Research Engagement Network (REN).

Working in partnership with the North Central London Integrated Care Board, Edmonton Community Partnership, and a team of Community Research Champions, our network is tackling one of the biggest challenges in health research: trust.

By working directly with communities often underserved by research and with research institutions, we are creating opportunities for open conversations about research. These opportunities are vital to breaking down research misconceptions, sharing information about current research, and building confidence in how research can improve health outcomes.

By working with trusted community champions, we are helping to increase participation among Black African and Black Caribbean communities, who have been and are often underrepresented in research and often face significant health inequalities. By addressing these barriers, we are working to ensure that the evidence shaping health treatments, medications, and care reflects all populations.

By working with research institutions, we are helping build better relationships between researchers and communities, offering researchers opportunities to meet communities, hear their needs, share more about their research, and develop strong, trusting relationships with people. 

Since the network started, 43 residents across Enfield and Haringey have signed up to take part in research. Each person represents a step towards more inclusive evidence, a better understanding of health inequalities, and more effective, science-led solutions. 

Our network is proud to be working alongside researchers and communities to create a healthier, more equitable future for all. We stand with science.

Research Engagement Network