Each funder has their own strategy and action plan for EDI. Some elements are common across all funders, but very importantly, there are some elements unique and specific to each funder. It is critical that researchers familiarise themselves with the funder’s EDI strategy and action plan and then specifically prepare their EDI approach accordingly.
Each funder may have specific priorities that would be relevant to the research design. For example, CRUK currently puts very strong emphasis on the inclusion of BAME representatives in the design of preclinical and clinical research.
- UKRI: EDI strategy: This covers all councils as well as Innovate UK and Research England. However, some councils were operating independently until 2017 and therefore have unique challenges, and each one of them has been working with their communities to continue to address them, while ultimately aligning fully with UKRI. EPSRC has taken the lead as a council on behalf of UKRI to compile the resource relevant to all councils.
- EPSRC
- BBSRC: Inequality in early career life sciences recent report
- NERC: Diversity and Inclusion Action plan 2022-2025
- MRC
- Innovate UK
- NIHR: EDI Strategy and EDI Toolkit
- Wellcome: EDI strategy and Inclusive Research and Practice
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK): EDI Strategy 2021-2023, EDI in research and EDI in Research action plan
- Horizon Europe Equality Plans Guidance
For the smaller charities that we get funding from, a lot of which are members of and comply with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) there is the overarching AMRC Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in Clinical Research Toolkit.
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