Bradfordians are being encouraged to join a medical research project which has seen the city hailed as a ‘global leader’, outshining academic centres such as London and Cambridge.

Once described as a “neglected backwater of medical research” Bradford is now leading the way as a world-class, people-powered medical research centre, after recruiting the highest number of volunteers for health studies in the UK over the past year.

A huge part of the success of Bradford's City of Research project, is due to the multi agency support for the initiative. City of Research is a collaboration between many different partners including Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR), Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Bradford, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Bradford District Care Trust, Bradford and Craven Health and Care Partnership, and DHEZ. 

Such an impressive roll call of medical professionals, with expertise in wide-ranging areas of health care and medical provision, allows the Bradford City of Research to launch diverse research projects. People may already be familiar with the Born in Bradford programme, as well as research programmes looking into asthma, diabetes and dementia.

There has also been significant engagement with the city's young people through the Age of Wonder project.

Despite 50,000 Bradfordians having already enrolled, all the partner organisations involved are encouraging even more people to come forward and to help take this research initiative to the next level.

Participation ranges from filling in a questionnaire to medical trials
When you join the City of Research registry you are agreeing that they can send you information about health research that you may be suitable for and to see if you would like to participate. This is entirely optional, and you are under no obligation to participate. The extent of your involvement or participation is entirely up to you, and a research study will only relate to one of the areas of research you have indicated an interest in.

Your participation could range from simply filling in a questionnaire, either at home or over the phone, to participating in medical trials.

The Bradford study, Age of Wonder, was one of the biggest research projects involving teenagers in the world, while volunteers have enrolled to take part in recent research project ranging from assisting asthma sufferers to helping improve the speech of people who have had a stroke.

Director of BIHR, Professor John Wright, pictured, said: “Just 15 years ago, the city was a neglected backwater of medical research.

“Today, we are leading the country – trailblazing flagship studies and securing world ‘firsts’, as well as overtaking the leading medical research centres in London, Oxford and Cambridge as the UK’s top recruiting hospital.

“Thanks to the amazing people of Bradford, who continue to join our research journey in unprecedented numbers, we can all work together to advance science and help develop better treatments at pace and at scale.”

Bradford’s standing at the top table of health research centres in the UK is down to the support provided by Bradfordians, with residents from every part of the city volunteering.

Now, all the stake holders involved with the City of Research are determined to build on the tremendous foundations and is calling on more people to sign up, get involved and ensure that not only that Bradford stays the best in Britain, but continues to lead on the world stage, too.

To register, just click here. To find out more, about City of Research.