Health study appeals for ethnic minority volunteers

The study will contribute to analysing genetic differences and towards the development of new drug treatments that are safe and effective

Researchers are looking for British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani people for a study into the link between genes and health.

It aims to understand and tackle the higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is looking for participants in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Dr Nadeem Ahmed, study principal investigator at Melrose Surgery in Reading, said it was "a great opportunity" for residents "to help make a difference to health outcomes of their future generations".

British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani people aged 16 and over are asked to provide a small saliva sample at participating GP practices and hospitals, complete a short questionnaire about their health and agree for Genes & Health to securely link to their NHS health data.

They can also sign up online and be sent a saliva kit to complete at home.

Volunteers will be asked to give their consent to be contacted again and some may be invited to take part in further studies based on information from their samples and NHS data.

The study will contribute to analysing genetic differences and towards the development of new drug treatments that are safe and effective.

It has already made important discoveries, including the identification of genetic factors specific to South Asian people that leads to earlier type 2 diabetes onset.

Participants can withdraw at any time and samples and information are kept separate from personal details.

Researchers said the study was working with people from Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities as "they are significantly underrepresented in genetic research, meaning that they may not benefit from research discoveries and new treatment".

Dr Ahmed said she would request everyone from the two ethnic groups to participate, "just like some 65,000 people, who have already participated in the other parts of the country".

The study is supported by the government-funded Medical Research Council and medial charity Wellcome Trust.

Selected sites are open in towns and cities including Oxford, Reading and Aylesbury.

The study aims to recruit 100,000 people living in England by the end of 2028.