Institute of Allied Health Sciences Research project information

Examples of current or recently funded research projects include:

Barriers and Enablers to Employment: Black Disabled Peoples Living with Sickle Cell Disorder Project

Sickle Cell Disease/Disorder (SCD) is the world’s most common (mono)genetic disorder.  The sickle cell gene is more widespread in areas of the world that either are or once were malarial. In England, SCD mainly affects those of Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent.

Sickle cell disorder (SCD) is the most common single-gene condition in England, with 15-20,000 people living with SCD. It is a life-long condition characterised by severe pain, anaemia and long-term organ damage. SCD is very variable both between different people and within the same person over time. The aim of this project is to co-produce evidence, working together with people living with SCD of: 1) barriers to employment and 2) enablers to employment. The project is funded from 2018 to 2020 by DRILL (Disability Rights Independent Living and Learning) and the Big Lottery.

The project is led by the experiences of voluntary organisations for people living with SCD: The Sickle Cell Society and OSCAR Sandwell Organization for Sickle Cell Anaemia Research and Thalassaemia Support.

Hyperhidrosis Priority Setting Partnership

The Hyperhidrosis Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) is a collaboration between De Montfort University and the James Lind Alliance and is funded from 2017 to 2019 by the UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network.

Hyperhidrosis is a skin condition where an individual has abnormal levels of sweating. It is very common, affecting one to three per cent of the population. It affects both sexes and all races equally. It can cause both physical problems and psychological distress, and significantly affect quality of life.

Despite it being widespread, excessive sweating is relatively under-researched compared with other skin conditions that affect a similar number of people.

It is essential that future research into the treatment of hyperhidrosis should focus on the questions that are important to people who have this condition, the people who care for them and the health professionals that treat them.

The Hyperhidrosis PSP consulted a wide range of people with the condition, their family/friends, and the healthcare professionals that treat them, to find out what questions they would like to see answered by research.

Following further shortlisting processes, and a final workshop event attended by people with hyperhidrosis and healthcare professionals, we have now agreed the Top Ten Research Priorities for Hyperhidrosis. These will shortly be announced and publicised.