The BAPIO Institute for Health Research (BIHR) was established by the executive committee of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin to promote high quality research and innovation in health and social care by supporting diversity and leadership and engaging in strategic collaboration with other key partners in the UK and beyond.

The BIHR membership was appointed through application by the BAPIO executive
committee and comprise clinical and academic leaders within its membership. These individuals bring their personal knowledge and expertise to a diverse and multi-disciplinary group who are committed to support and deliver its key objectives. This is achieved by providing engaged leadership and intelligence to funding bodies for the development of research themes aligned to its mission, promote equality and diversity in research and academia, collaborate with other research -active organisations, and to commission and undertake independent research.

Our mission is to promote world class research and innovation in health; equitably involving and reflecting the interest of BAPIO’s diverse membership.

Our Motto

• Innovate
• Collaborate
• Diversity

Background

• BAPIO Institute for Health Research (BIHR) is an arm’s length organisation of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, established in 2020.
• BIHR was conceived to nurture innovation and research by upholding the values of equality (of opportunity), diversity and excellence,
• For the advancement of health sciences and tackling inequalities, for all

Founding principles

• Promoting: Promoting diversity in research and academic community
• Targeting: Targeting health inequalities through scientific exploration
• Supporting: Supporting innovation in technology & artificial intelligence
• Fostering: Fostering strong partnerships with patients and organisations
• Influencing: Influencing systems, strategy and policy through evidence

• To explore inequalities in the determinants of health and well-being
• To collaborate with global research and healthcare organisations
• To build strong patient/public partnership for testing research ideas
• To generate resources to support research and innovation activity
• To design and deliver research/ innovation for excellent patient care
• To design and deliver research/ innovation for excellent patient care
• To provide a platform for supporting research and innovation from under-represented communities/ backgrounds

BIHR will develop research themes by actively engaging with its members and collaborators in setting research priorities that include contemporary and relevant themes and address inequities of care. It will support a research-engaged workforce that will collaborate to develop culturally sensitive solutions to ensure high quality healthcare is available to all.

BIHR will support widespread dissemination of its research output via publication in BAPIO’s policy journal ‘Sushruta’ and health journal ‘The Physician’, following rigorous peer review. Publication in other journals and media outlets will also be encouraged.

BIHR will arrange periodic, facilitated engagement events to distil research themes that are most relevant to its members. It will facilitate collaboration with other research organisations, and access the wealth of expertise within its membership to provide solutions to design and delivery of high-quality research.

Themes that have been central to BAPIO memberships interest, such as differential attainment among healthcare workers in the NHS, diverse leadership in promoting favourable health outcome in populations, supporting vulnerable members of staff to ensure that they achieve their maximum potential in serving the health needs of the nation will be developed through specific research calls. Grant applications and research design will be supported.

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