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We’d love to introduce you to our team. There are a few new faces around here! Introduction Four new Community Researchers joined the UPTURN team in April 2024, and are based at the University of York. The Researchers will be working on the 5-year NIHR-funded UPTURN study. The project focuses on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, commonly referred to as COPD, which is a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Each researcher will focus on community engagement and research activities, including gaining consent from participants taking part in the study, recruitment, conducting focus groups and interviews. Participants who are eligible will be invited to help co-design the UPTURN support package which aims to help COPD patients who have been referred to Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Dr. Ada Achinanya Dr. Ada Achinanya, a qualitative researcher, will be working with African communities. She has worked on a range of projects including fertility care, inflammatory bowel disease, and mental health. Ada’s experience spans capacity-building in low-middle-income countries, policy development with the Gambian Ministry of Health, and creating interventions for young people with chronic illnesses. In her previous role, she has collaborated with diverse groups, including African Caribbean-led social care providers, and explored the challenges faced by people with complex mental health difficulties in an NIHR study with Sheffield Health and Social Care. Ada said, “Joining the UPTURN-EDI Workstream Group to support Bangladeshi, Black African, and Caribbean communities to access pulmonary rehabilitation is a thrilling opportunity. I look forward to leveraging my background to identify barriers and develop effective solutions. As I often say, ‘People begin to heal the moment they feel heard’. I am excited to contribute to this important project and work with such a dedicated team. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those we aim to serve. Ada is devoted to murder mysteries and can recite every episode of Peter Falk’s Columbo. Aside from being a sleuth, she also enjoys baking and creates edible enchantment. Living in Sheffield you can be sure to catch Ada walking in the Peak District with her Labrador Ms Lorraine Lawrence Ms. Lorraine Lawrence will be working to recruit people from Caribbean communities. Lorraine has experience of working in community engagement and partnership building with Caribbean and African communities. As a Community Engagement Officer, Lorraine gained hands-on experience in managing Black Leaders Networks for three of Greater Manchester’s 10 localities, including Tameside, Bolton and Trafford. As part of her Researcher role, Lorraine was involved in engaging and recruiting participants from Black communities to focus groups. Lorraine is delighted to be part of the University of York’s UPTURN EDI research group to support Caribbean, African and Bangladeshi communities in accessing Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Being a mother to a 14 month old is undoubtedly a wonderful and fulfilling role, and finding time for hobbies like reading can be a challenge. However, Lorraine participates in an online book club as she finds it enriching to discuss books with others who share her passion, and to explore different interpretations and insights together. It also provides a valuable opportunity to connect with others and enjoy some well deserved relaxation time. M M Golam Rabbani M M Golam Rabbani (He/Him) is a researcher, filmmaker, and environmental activist of Bengali heritage. He earned his PhD in Environment and Geography from the University of York and has worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC). His research has focused on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction in South Asia, and circular sanitation and science education in four African countries. Rabbani specialises in qualitative research methods, including interviews, photo-elicitation, focus groups and surveys, using NVivo, PQMethod and SPSS for data analysis. He is excited to join the UPTURN-EDI Research team to co-design and implement Rehabilitation Packages for COPD patients, aiming to engage with Bangladeshi, Black African, and Caribbean communities in England. When Rabbani is not filmmaking he finds joy in the kitchen and adventure on the road. Cooking allows him to explore flavours and cultures right from his home, while travelling gives him the chance to discover new ingredients, techniques and dishes to bring back to his own culinary creations. Whether he’s experimenting with a new recipe or planning his next getaway, he is always in pursuit of new experiences and tastes. Tahsin Tabbasum Tahsin Tasneem Tabassum is a public health professional from Bangladesh based in Leeds. After completing her medical studies, she undertook postgraduate degrees in Public Health from the Universities of York and Bangladesh,  and has a strong background in both clinical and preventive medicine. Tahsin has participated in mixed method health research projects on diverse topics including chronic diseases, COVID-19, geriatric mental health, and addiction behaviours. Tahsin has been involved in a number of projects, one of which focused on the caregiver burden of schizophrenia patients, and the other focusing on dietary compliance and physical activity compliance among patients with Severe Mental Illness. She has also received training in the Department of Psychiatry, which has given her the expertise to successfully navigate the challenging terrain of working with a plethora of populations from different demographics. Away from work Tahsin enjoys reading mystery and crime books, which draws her into the intellectual challenge of piecing together clues and solving puzzles, as well as being immersed in the suspense - which keeps her engaged. Dr Suman Prinjha Dr Suman Prinjha is a Senior Research Fellow (Associate Professor) at University of York. She is a qualitative researcher with over 20 years’ postdoctoral experience and a BACP-registered psychotherapist. She leads research into health inequalities, ethnic minority health, and patients’ experiences of illness and healthcare. Suman is Co-Investigator and EDI Workstream lead on the UPTURN study, leading work on the inclusion of Bangladeshi, Black African and Caribbean communities to all the work packages. She is delighted to be working with a fantastic team of Community Researchers on an exciting study that will generate important learning and impact for communities, researchers and funders.  When Suman isn't working, she likes switching off as much as she can and is a huge fan of meditation. She also enjoys travelling, eating out, and walking in the countryside. She has lived and worked in England, Thailand and South Korea, and is currently enjoying living in Bedfordshire. Participant Recruitment Flyers Community Researchers joined the University of York in April 2024, working on the 5-year UPTURN study. The project focuses on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, commonly referred to as COPD, which is a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. For further information on COPD visit COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) | Asthma + Lung UK ( asthmaandlung.org.uk ) Researchers will work with people from a range of ethnic minorit y backgrounds, including those from Bangladeshi, Caribbean and African c ommunities to co- design  a support package for people living with COPD. Researchers aim to rais e awareness of COPD across commu nities ,  including sympt oms, treatments, cultural beliefs, access to healthcare, and lifestyle changes  that c ould  impact the prevalence and management of COPD. To find out more about the project see link UPTURN study | CUH

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious illness causing disabling breathlessness and limitation to daily activities. The illness is common and treatable, affecting people in communities throughout the UK.   UPTURN is a newly launched research programme aiming to make it easier for people living with COPD, to benefit from Pulmonary Rehabilitation - an effective treatment that supports management of the condition and better long-term health outcomes for those afflicted. UPTURN is a 5-year, £2.8m research programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and led by hospital consultant Dr Jonathan Fuld (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).   The “COPD and Me” UPTURN Community Engagement Assembly on 27th November brought together about 120 people including Bangladeshi community leaders, and their guests from Peterborough, London and Bedfordshire. Research Champions also attended from the Peterborough Community Voluntary Services with representatives from Black African, Black Caribbean, Chinese, Nepalese, Russian and LGBTQ + communities in the UK.   The evening of talks, discussion and networking, at the Cresset Theatre in Peterborough connected health researchers with community groups to understand how to work well together in research and to raise awareness of issues affecting people who live with lung disease. The event was hosted by   members of the Bangladeshi community and led by the UPTURN study’s Patient and Public Involvement leads, Tracy Cripps and Mir Abdul Gofur. Presentations were given by NHS England, Asthma + Lung UK, the West Ham United Foundation and Anglia Ruskin University. Guests were invited to share their experiences as patients and carers, and the impact of lung disease on their lives.   “It was a pleasure to take part in this event. We got a lot of information which was so useful for the improvement of our wellbeing and health. Brilliant organisation of the event, delicious food. I hope to take part in research.” Guest feedback   Researchers Dr Frances Early (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) and Dr Suman Prinjha (University of York) set out the aims and activities of UPTURN.   Pulmonary rehabilitation is a programme of exercise and education that can transform quality of life for people with COPD by reducing breathlessness and hospital admissions – but some people who are referred for pulmonary rehabilitation do not attend their appointment and so never get the benefit of the treatment. Some ethnic minority groups have higher rates of COPD than others but low attendance at pulmonary rehabilitation. There can be many reasons for this.   Working with patients from Bangladeshi and Black African and Caribbean communities, UPTURN will create a support package that can be personalised to help people attend their pulmonary rehabilitation appointment. The aim is to increase the number of people who attend their appointment regardless of their ethnicity or socio-economic level. The event was extremely well received. The UPTURN team really appreciated the time taken by community members, some of whom came from afar, and who gave feedback and advice about how we can work well together.   The team was also grateful to those who said they would be willing to take part in group discussions and interviews to help design the UPTURN support package. The package will be tested in the NHS in a large clinical trial involving around 1500 patients.   If you would like to hear about news, future activities and opportunities to take part in the UPTURN project, please join our mailing list .   The UPTURN team would like to thank the NIHR and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre for funding this event.   Funder statement: This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research (NIHR204401). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.