Postgraduate research students

PhD Project: Making trials more equity focused for minority ethnic people: Assessing differential treatment effectiveness and under-inclusion

Background

People from minority ethnic groups are often under-represented in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and despite extensive use of feasibility and qualitative studies to improve inclusivity, this problem persists. However, the causes and impacts remain insufficiently examined, imposing several risks such as conducting expensive RCTs that do not meet the needs of their target populations or have different effects on ethnic groups. This study aims to explore how RCTs can be made more equity-focused for minority ethnic populations.

Potential Research Questions

Although in the early stage of the PhD, potential questions to explore include:

• Reporting of ethnicity in RCTs
  • How well is ethnicity data reported in randomised controlled trials, and what factors influence the quality and completeness of this reporting?
• Differences across ethnic and intersectional groups
  • How does the reporting and representation of ethnicity differ among ethnic groups and across intersectional characteristics (e.g., gender, socioeconomic status)?
• Heterogeneity in outcomes
  • Is there evidence of heterogeneity in treatment effects and adverse events among different ethnic groups?

By answering these questions, we may be able to increase ethnic minority inclusion in RCTs and enhance generalisability of clinical research findings, as well as understand if treatments should be tailored by ethnicity. The end goal is to contribute to a future where evidence-based medicine for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and mental health-related issues truly reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

• Professor Vittal Katikireddi
• Dr Lili Wei
• Professor David McAllister

2025-2028: UK Medical Research Council (MRC) funded studentship for three years through the Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP) doctoral training programme (DTP).

2023-2024: UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission/Newcastle University fully-funded award for my MSc in Global Public Health degree through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme.

2024 - Newcastle Students for Global Health (SfGH) Annual Conference

• Oral Presentation: Temporal Trends and Patterns of Multi-drug Resistant Tuberculosis Incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990-2019

Profile:

I trained as a clinician and public health researcher, earning a bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours in Physician Assistantship from the University of Cape Coast, and later a master’s degree with Distinction in Global Public Health from Newcastle University (as a Commonwealth Shared Scholar). My professional experience spans clinical practice and public health research, including roles as a clinician and research lead at the Salaga Municipal Hospital in Ghana, NHS Health Advisor, and research assistant at LIDRIT and the College of Health - Yamfo. My research sits at the intersection of society, health, and disease. Recently, I have been leading and collaborating on projects examining the association between socio-economic development and disease trends—including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and cancers affecting women—across Africa, with a particular focus on the ‘geographies of inequality’. I also contribute methodological expertise to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study.

The merits of my scholarly work have been recognised by several institutions, awarding research grants and prizes, most recently by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, and Newcastle University, among others. My ongoing PhD research, funded by the MRC through the Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP) Doctoral Training Programme (DTP), aims to develop innovative approaches to make randomised controlled trials (RCTs) more inclusive and equity-focused for minority ethnic populations. By exploring heterogeneity in treatment effects and adverse events, addressing barriers to participation, and developing inclusive trial designs, I hope to contribute to a future where evidence-based medicine for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and mental health-related issues truly reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

As an active member of the Trials Conduct, Health Informatics, and Early Career Researcher Working Groups within the TMRP, I am committed to advancing trials that are not only scientifically robust but also socially equitable. My work centres on promoting efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity, while also supporting methodological innovation and knowledge exchange across disciplines. By engaging in these initiatives, I aim to help shape a research environment where clinical evidence is produced with the highest standards of rigour and with a clear commitment to equity.