The annual event, held at King’s College London’s Strand campus, focused on doing inclusive applied health and care research in turbulent times, building on ideas from last year’s event. Around 75 researchers, people with lived experience involved in research, community and voluntary organisations and clinicians came together to explore this theme.
The event provided a space for sharing applied research and practice that centres lived experience and tackles health inequities head-on, and the entire day was live illustrated by Camille A. It included panel discussions and a presentation, followed by Q&As.
Dr Jane Stafford, associate director of operations, Professor Tushna Vandrevala, deputy lead for capacity building and Professor Cilla Harries, capacity building theme lead at the ARC South London, welcomed everyone. Dr Stafford highlighted some of the ARC’s impact over the past five years, prioritising the needs of people with multiple health conditions and better understanding of health inequalities through applied health research.
The first panel explored the impact of hostile state policies on maternal and child inequality, sharing research led by Dr Hannah Rayment-Jones on the long-term health and social outcomes for pregnant women and young children with No Recourse to Public Funds, and was chaired by Zenab Barry, patient and public involvement advocate.
Hannah, Zenab, Esther and Sandra speaking on the first panel
Ever since I found my voice it has become my identity, and that’s what I’ve been using to campaign, to make people aware that it’s okay to not be okay, you are not in this alone. We will get there… We want the government to listen. It’s a big ask. We need to make laws that make life easier for people, especially people with children.
The second panel discussion focused on developing solutions for more equitable and safer care for women living with HIV, and was chaired by Natalie St Clair-Sullivan, research assistant, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London.
Women make up one third of those living with HIV in the UK but all too often their voices are missing from research and service design.
Natalie, Grace, Kiersten and Rebecca speaking on the second panel
There are biases and prejudices towards women living with HIV. Pain and side effects are minimised, which can lead to delayed care. Women living with HIV must be at the centre of design, delivery and decision making.
Our final speaker, Cassandra Lovelock, activist and lecturer in research methods and inequality, University of Glasgow, raised pressing challenges around the extent to which lived experience truly sits at the heart of research, policy and service design.
Lived experience is desired in more places than ever, but it is hard to wrap up a story for policy makers to make sense of. Whose vulnerability is welcome? Lived experience is inherently tied to human rights. It is our human right to comment on our health, social care, housing and our experiences, more than that - the purpose of lived experience is to humanise research. Lived experience is nothing if not deeply driven by care for our loved ones and our communities and that is not going to stop due to the state of the world.
Casandra Lovelock delivers the day's final presentation
Sixteen organisations shared their work during a lively and informative networking session held over lunch. Among them was Healthwatch Greenwich, represented by Prince Oshogwe, a young peer researcher taking action to encourage uptake of the HPV vaccine.
Attendees showcase their work, browse stalls and connect with one another
I initially got involved in this project through work experience with my local pharmacy. I love working within my community, being able to educate and share. As a young person, people may feel more comfortable talking to me and I am able to relay information that helps them make informed choices.
Dr Stan Papoulias, lived experience researcher, King’s College London and patient and public involvement research theme lead, ARC South London, closed the event highlighting the importance of appropriate investment in inclusive research, recognising that research institutions do exclude, and that striving for inclusive research means working against a multiplicity of hostile environments and towards a horizon of social justice.
Stan Papoulias addresses attendees
The range of projects and experiences covered in the day was impressive. Cas Lovelock put into words what I have been thinking for a long time, far better than I could have done.”
“Really liked the emphasis on social justice at the end.”
“Focus on intersectionality and social justice within academia and health care research. Sense of solidarity among attendees and those speaking. Actual inclusion of lived experience in every panel.
Thank you to everyone who attended this final Knowledge Exchange, and who has shared their research, experience and commitment over the years. The conversations at this event reinforce why inclusive applied research remains essential, especially in challenging times, and why lived experience must continue to shape what comes next.
The ARC South London ogranising team
Knowledge Exchange Event 2026, Doing inclusive applied health and care research in turbulent times