THIS Institute Strengthening Equity and Diversity in Healthcare Improvement Fellowships

Funding for research projects to address issues to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion to improve healthcare.

Launched in January 2018, the Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute (THIS Institute) was co-created by the University of Cambridge and the Health Foundation to strengthen the evidence base for the NHS for improving the quality and safety of healthcare. THIS Institute works to increase research activity to provide more clarity on what works in improving healthcare, what doesn’t, and why.

THIS Institute has launched this fellowship opportunity to support research into strengthening equity and diversity in healthcare improvement. THIS Institute welcomes fellowship applications from researchers from a wide range of relevant backgrounds and disciplines, and at different stages of career, for projects to address issues to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion to improve healthcare.

The call covers all areas of equality, diversity and inclusion, and applications relating to single or multiple protected characteristics, as defined by the 2010 Equality Act, are welcome. THIS Institute also welcomes improvement research focused on poverty, employment and other socioeconomic dimensions and the interplay between different forms of disadvantage.

The call is intended to support research and/or evaluation studies (not quality improvement projects), and should be conducted to appropriate standards of scientific rigour and ethics. The scope of the fellowship is deliberately broad to allow for new thinking and ideas.

Applications should target at least one of the following four priority areas:

• Improving improvement through attention to equity, inclusion and diversity.
• Equity, inclusion and diversity in access.
• Inclusion, diversity and equity in the NHS workforce.
• Data, methods and measurement relating to equity and improvement.

Successful applications are likely to demonstrate a commitment to, and ideally experience in, meaningful and embedded stakeholder engagement, with thoughtful approaches to working with appropriate staff, patients and members of the public, and attention to under-served groups.

The appointed fellow will be offered a professional development programme which will be discussed on award and customised to the specifics of the fellow’s needs, commitments, and fellowship duration. The programme may include, for example, membership of a learning set, coaching, and/or mentoring. Full engagement with the agreed programme will be expected.

THIS Institute fellows will have a unique opportunity to be part of a vibrant and intellectually stimulating interdisciplinary and intergenerational community, centred on the study of improvement in healthcare. THIS Space, convened by THIS Institute, meets annually and THIS Institute fellows will have the opportunity to submit abstracts to be considered for presentation at the event.

The fellowship should be completed in 24 months, or up to a maximum of 36 months if part-time. Projects delivering in shorter timelines also encouraged. It is expected that the fellowship will begin in summer 2023.