EDIRA: Equality Diversity Inclusive Research Association Conference

Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Research Association (EDIRA) Conference will take place in Cardiff, Wales on 12th May 2023.

We are people from diverse and rare disease communities, inviting researchers, advocates, health and social care teams, policy makers and funders to join us. Engage with different groups: learn about and discuss issues, related to inclusive practice from different perspectives.

During May 2023, the United Nations, 'World Day for Promoting Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development' will also take place. This day will raise awareness about the essential role that intercultural dialogue has, in bringing positive change. This theme has underpinned the development of our EDIRA conference.

The ultimate aim of our EDIRA project is to co-create an inclusive research framework, which will provide practical guidance for practitioners.

The EDIRA conference will be hosted by Dr Sondra Butterworth, a Community Health Psychologist, CEO of RareQoL and founder of the EDIRA project, and Associate Professor Andrew Mitchell, from the University of Chester, UK

The in-person conference ticket includes admission to the evening networking dinner and EDIRA Campaign Launch event. Delegates are encouraged to be ready to have fun, dress code: casual. We will be asking delegates to tell us your favorite tunes to create a fantastic play list.

EDIRA is a RareQoL initiative to address the issue of inclusion and widened participation of diverse communities, in research that impacts service delivery.

This high-profile event will bring Diverse Communities of Colour together with Communities of Practice, working in the Rare Disease Space. Improving opportunities for participation of our communities will be at the forefront of the conference discussions.

1. Diverse and Rare Disease Communities: advocates, carers, patient groups
2. Academic Communities
3. Health Care Communities
4. Pharmaceutical Communities
5. Research Communities
6. Social Care
7. Policy Development Communities

EDIRA is a RareQoL campaign addressing issues around the inclusion of diverse communities in rare diseases research. The EDIRA project promotes the inclusion of patient voices in consultations about rare disease service provision, particularly focusing on under-represented patients and communities.

Our Campaign will include four post conference seminars held in September, December 2023, March and May 2024. We aim to you the Swap Card platform funded by our sponsors to host our EDIRA inclusive practice seminars.

Our EDIRA virtual conference will take place one week after our in person conference. We wanted to put our full attention into each conference. We decided to repeat the conference again and provide an alternative for an international audience, or for those who are unable to attend an in-person event.

Both conferences will have the same content: the same presentations, activities and speakers will be at the virtual event.

We will not be holding a virtual launch party, but we are delighted to be able to host the virtual conference on the event platform, Swapcard.

There is a separate registration for our virtual conference.

Host or Publisher RareQoL