Glasgow has secured £5 million in research funding to fight health inequalities. A partnership of city organisations will use data and research to address factors like poverty, housing, and education, aiming to improve the lives of all Glaswegians
The funding, from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), follows a successful development year and marks a significant step forward in Glasgow’s ongoing efforts to address deep-rooted health disparities. Glasgow is only the second city in Scotland to receive this funding.
A city-wide partnership for change: Funding to fight health inequalities
The grant will support a powerful partnership comprised of Glasgow City Council, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Strathclyde. Their collaborative application focuses on a data-driven approach, using research to inform and influence decision-making on the wider determinants of health.
Data-driven solutions for complex challenges
This includes crucial factors such as employment, housing, education, and the physical environment – all of which play a significant role in shaping the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
The partnership aims to co-design and evaluate solutions that will improve the health and wellbeing of every Glaswegian, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Child poverty: A focus for intervention
A key priority for the team is tackling child poverty, a challenge that significantly impacts health outcomes. The research will complement and build upon existing work through the city’s Child Poverty Pathfinder, reinforcing Glasgow’s commitment to supporting its youngest citizens.
City leaders champion a collaborative approach
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, expressed her enthusiasm for the five-year funding, emphasizing the potential for transformative change through data and research. “Glasgow’s health challenges are well documented,” she stated, highlighting the city’s lowest life expectancy in the country. She acknowledged the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, which have disproportionately affected the most deprived communities. “We need to do everything that we can to identify barriers and find ways in which we can overcome them,” Cllr Aitken affirmed.
“Our citizens deserve the very best support, and I continue to champion this collaborative research and development work that has the capability to make a difference.” She emphasised that initial work will focus on policies to further reduce child poverty, building on the progress made in recent years. “If we can secure early intervention in this area,” she added, “I know that this will have a positive impact on many areas on the health and wellbeing of Glasgow’s people.” Engagement with stakeholders and target audiences will be crucial to the success of the partnership. Collaboration and the effective use of data and research to inform solutions will be at the heart of the project.
Universities bring research expertise to the table
Professor Chris Pearce, Vice Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Glasgow, echoed this sentiment. “The University is proud to co-lead the NIHR Health Research Determinants Collaboration in Glasgow and delighted that it has now received full HDRC status,” he stated. He highlighted the School of Health and Wellbeing’s long-standing expertise in research on the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and health inequalities in Glasgow.
“Through this collaboration our researchers will continue to ensure their expertise can benefit our local communities,” he added. “Through HDRC Glasgow, we will continue to build on our existing collaboration with Glasgow City Council, as well as our other partners, to create new, solutions-focused research that will ultimately benefit the communities and people of Glasgow and beyond.”
NHS highlights the importance of addressing inequalities
Dr von Wissmann, Consultant in Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, welcomed the substantial HDRC award, emphasising its importance in addressing health inequalities. “I very much welcome this significant HDRC award to enable us all to better tackle health inequalities, the consequences of which we see in our doctors surgeries and hospitals every day,” he said.
“The health board have been supportive of this collaborative from the outset and wish to thank all the staff, from across the partners, who have managed to bring this opportunity to the city.” This collaborative effort promises to bring about real and lasting improvements in the health and wellbeing of Glasgow’s citizens for years to come.
