Rochdale community group founder recognised for contribution to research engagement with South Asian residents

Khalid Bashir (centre) with David Pickthall and Ash Minchin, both from NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester

A kidney transplant recipient from Rochdale has been presented with the CRN Greater Manchester Certificate of Achievement for his work in helping Rochdale’s South Asian community to be part of health and care research.

Khalid Bashir, who underwent his own lifesaving kidney transplant in 2021, set up a community health group called Kidney Patient and Carer Experience (KPACE) to help people going through the same difficulties of living with chronic kidney disease and in need of an organ donation. This has resulted in scores of locals taking part in the Genes and Health Study - a huge genetics research project which is enabling researchers to understand more about the nature of disease in South Asian communities nationwide.

Taking part in this study requires only a small saliva sample and providing some basic medical details, which means it can take place in everyday community settings.

Khalid was presented with the accolade by the team from Clinical Research Network (CRN) Greater Manchester, part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The award is presented to deserving teams or individuals who have made a significant contribution to the delivery of health and care research in the region.

Khalid received the award for his work in supporting CRN Greater Manchester to engage with members of Rochdale’s South Asian community.

He has invited the CRN team to attend the community events and sport tournaments he organises in the town. During the events, Khalid uses his language skills, cultural insight and personal ties in Rochdale to help explain the Genes and Health study to his peers and explain why they may consider taking part.

He has also supported the CRN to speak with residents about joining the Research for the Future consent-to-approach registry, which allows people to hear about lots of ways to get involved in research.

Khalid Bashir, who is also on CRN Greater Manchester’s Research Champion programme, said: “It was a pleasure for me to receive this certificate from CRN Greater Manchester. We have been working together since 2022 and I have enjoyed playing a part in getting people involved in their important work.

“As someone who has benefited from a kidney transplant, that is all thanks to advances made possible by research and it is satisfying for me and my family to help others through KPACE and by supporting research.”

Ash Minchin, research support facilitator at CRN Greater Manchester, said: “Khalid has helped enormously with our efforts to reach the South Asian community, which is a population that has not traditionally taken part in research but which has some of the highest rates of heart disease, diabetes, and poor health.

“With his support, we have been able to provide lots of opportunities for local people of South Asian heritage to be part of the Genes and Health Study and start conversations about the benefits of being involved in research more generally.

“One of our values is to make research as inclusive as possible for everyone across Greater Manchester and Khalid is certainly helping us to do this.”