Black Health and Research Conference 2026

Join us for the second event of its kind at Norwich Research Park focused on the black health experience.
About this Event

Join us at the Black Health and Research Conference 2026!

For the second event of its kind at Norwich Research Park, our incredible health, science and research experts will share their work centred on the black experience.

Presenting perspectives and discussions on the following topics:

Morning session: The Black Health Gap

• Uterine Fibroids: Implications for Women's Health and Healthcare Systems – Dr Priscilla Day-Walsh is a Next Generation Fellow, Centre for Trophoblast Research & Research Assoc, Homerton College.
• The importance of the Bioresource - Bridie Willan and Katherine Read will share national discussions on sickle cell disorder (SCD) in the UK: The importance of the Bioresource to improving Black Health.
• ‘Breaking Through Racial Barriers in Social Work’ – a presentation by Dr Carlene Cornish, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, UEA discussion racial oppression against minoritised Black Asian and Ethnic birth mothers in statutory services. Author of ‘Breaking Through Racial Barriers in Social Work’

Afternoon session: The Campus Response – activity at Norwich Research Park

• NNUH Hospital perspective - Roberta Hook, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Prof Jon Lartey, NNUH Research Lead and Obstetrician and Beth Gibson, Clinical Director of Gynae and Obstetrics.
• The IDEA project - cultural competency training in the Faculty of Medicine
• Dr Leanne Tyson, Research Associate and Dr Zoe Vaill, Senior Research Associate, Norwich Medical School, UEA. The IDEA project - cultural competency training in the Faculty of Medicine and Health - an overview of the training and results of the evaluation.
• Introduction to the UEA African Caribbean Medical Society - Nneoma Nwakamma, UEA Medical Student

Panel Discussion - This will be introduced and chaired by NNUH Deputy Chief Operating Officer Roberta Hook. The panel will explore everyday individuals whose leadership, service, and professional excellence sustain Black life across Britain with emphasis on Black health. It aims to make visible the contributions of those who often work "quietly" within their communities.

We are making visible the contributions of those who often work “quietly” within their communities

This event is open to people of all backgrounds (clinical and non-clinical) who are interested in increasing their knowledge of health inequalities and strategies to improve health equity for all.

Agenda

🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Registration and refreshments
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Opening remarks and welcome

Info: Nick Goodwin, Chief Operating Officer, Anglia Innovation Partnership and
Hawa Ocheni, Senior Contracts Specialist, Quadram Institute and NNUH

🕑: 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Morning session - The Black Health Gap

Info: Uterine Fibroids: Implications for Women's Health and Healthcare Systems – Dr Priscilla Day-Walsh is a Next Generation Fellow, Centre for Trophoblast Research & Research Assoc, Homerton College.

The importance of the Bioresource - Bridie Willan and Katherine Read will share national discussions on sickle cell disorder (SCD) in the UK: The importance of the Bioresource to improving Black Health.

Breaking Through Racial Barriers in Social Work – a presentation by Dr Carlene Cornish, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, UEA discussion racial oppression against minoritised Black Asian and Ethnic birth mothers in statutory services. Author of ‘Breaking Through Racial Barriers in Social Work’

Followed by Q&A

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch and networking
🕑: 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Afternoon session - The Campus response

Info: NNUH - Hospital perspective - Roberta Hook, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Prof Jon Lartey, NNUH Research Lead and Obstetrician and Beth Gibson, Clinical Director of Gynae and Obstetrics.

The IDEA project - cultural competency training in the Faculty of Medicine

Dr Leanne Tyson, Research Associate and Dr Zoe Vaill, Senior Research Associate, Norwich Medical School, UEA. The IDEA project - cultural competency training in the Faculty of Medicine and Health - an overview of the training and results of the evaluation.

Introduction to the UEA African Caribbean Medical Society

Nneoma Nwakamma, UEA Medical Student

Followed by Q&A

🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Break
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Panel discussion

Info: This will be introduced and chaired by NNUH Deputy Chief Operating Officer Roberta Hook.
The panel will explore everyday individuals whose leadership, service, and professional excellence sustain Black life across Britain with emphasis on Black health. It aims to make visible the contributions of those who often work "quietly" within their communities.

🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Closing remarks
🕑: 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Drinks and networking