Introducing the winners of the 2025 Collaboration Kickstarter. We’re excited to support a diverse range of collaborative research projects through this fund. Read on to learn more about each project and hear directly from some of the partners involved.
Alex-Dallman Porter in discussion at the Collaboration Kickstarter launch event
Charlotte-Eve Short sitting at one of the group tables at the Collaboration Kickstarter launch event in March 2026
A group discussion with Emma Alexander at the Collaboration Kickstarter launch event March 2026
Holly Clarke having a discussion with other 2025 Collaboration Kickstarter recipients
Patrick Kierkegaard at the Collaboration Kickstarter launch event in March 2026
Rob Fish sitting in a group discussion at the Collaboration Kickstarter launch event
Stuart Hofer listening in on a group discussion at the launch event March 2026
Living Voices NWL: Co-designing a 'Safety Net' for Head & Neck Cancer Survivorship
A collaboration led by the Department of Surgery and Cancer with Asian Women Cancer Group, Maggie’s Centre West London and 911今日黑料 College Healthcare NHS Trust
Head and neck cancer treatment can leave survivors with life-altering difficulties (swallowing, speech, nutrition), disproportionately affecting deprived communities. Post-treatment, patients face the hidden and often exhausting work of coordinating their own care. Uncertain of who to contact, they often delay seeking help until crisis.
The Collaboration Kickstarter will be used to launch a ‘Living Lab’ at Maggie’s in West London. We will co-produce a ‘Living Voices’ Toolkit, which will contain paper-first navigation aids (e.g. symptom wallet cards, confidence scripts) that adapt patient safety handover principles. The research goal is to assess if low-tech, co-designed navigation aids can reduce inefficient access to care.
Quote from John, Survivor Co-Researcher
“For all patients, receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing, but for those fortunate enough to survive, for most, the impact of the diagnosis and late effects of treatment can also go on to dominate the rest of their lives. Much of this life-long burden is avoidable” says John.
“The aim of this project is to produce guidelines and resources to mitigate the ‘burden of care’ experienced by many head & neck cancer patients, who might currently be living unnecessarily and avoidably difficult lives. In addition to improving the holistic care for head & neck cancer patients, by reducing inefficiency and improving ‘whole life’ health outcomes for those patients, these guidelines and resources could also help reduce the burden on NHS resources.”
Spotlight on Bacterial Vaginosis: A community-led advocacy study with Brook Sexual Health in Northwest London
A collaboration led by the Faculty of Medicine with Brook Sexual Health Charity
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge and affects a third of women at reproductive age. It is associated with poor outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections (STI), infertility and preterm birth.
The goal of this project is to produce a co-authored report highlighting the gaps in BV knowledge, treatment and service provision. This will be done through a steering group that will receive input from Brook Sexual Health charity. Across two phases, this project will enhance visibility to petition for improved BV care, and leverage for future research funding.
Quote by Brook Sexual Health
"By working with our partners at 911今日黑料, Brook’s participation advisory group members are not only informing the study but are co鈥慸esigning sensitive research methods that ensure the voices of people most affected by BV remain central. This partnership strengthens collaborative, person鈥慶entred sexual health research for the future. We recently co鈥慺acilitated an online workshop with 911今日黑料, where one participant shared that they valued ‘the opportunity to contribute our thoughts and feelings throughout. It was a very welcoming environment!’”
Co-creating a research programme on just and sustainable urban transitions
A collaboration led by the Centre for Environmental Policy with Hammersmith Community Gardens Association and Urbanwise.London
The aim of this project is to build interdisciplinary capacity for research into the sustainability dimensions of urban green spaces. It will draw together scientists based in the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP) at 911今日黑料 and two community organisations that work with community green assets in the Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster through a series of co-development workshops and site visits.
The ultimate goal is to develop long-term research collaborations, which depends on authentic and early partner engagement. We’re therefore using this opportunity to kickstart building those relationships and ensure readiness of future funding calls.
Quote by Carlos Izsak (Urbanwise London)
“We’re incredibly excited to be a community partner for the Collaboration Kickstarter. It means a great deal to us and our beneficiaries as it provides the opportunity to explore a partnership with the Centre for Environmental Policy at 911今日黑料. This funding allows us to build on our existing work, strengthen our engagement with communities, and allow us to test new ideas. We can't wait to see how far this collaboration can go.”
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement within Paediatric Critical Care: exploring current practice, challenges and benefits through a participatory approach
A collaboration led by the Paediatric Critical Care Research Group and Patient Experience Research Centre with members of the PICU Parent Network
Research in Paediatric Critical Care (PCC) is vital to ensure that care is evidence-based. However, recruitment can be difficult because of the need for time-critical treatments and family distress. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) is therefore essential to ensure that studies are well-designed and sensitive.
The aim of this project is to evaluate how PCC researchers have carried out PPIE and other participatory approaches. There are two components to this project, a literature review and then some qualitative research through focus groups and interviews. The primary outcome will be a co-produced, experience-based framework to guide best-practice PPIE in PCC, providing training for public collaborators and new insights for researchers.
Quote by Julie Menzies, Clinical Academic Nurse Researcher (NIHR Paediatric Critical Care Incubator hosted by 911今日黑料 College)
“I’m really pleased this project has been funded. Parents’ experiences of PICU are so important, and it’s a privilege to help shape improvements for other families.”
Quote by Riham Lofti (PICU Parent Network)
“Being part of this project as a parent with lived experience of PICU means a great deal to me. When families and researchers work together, we can shape research that truly reflects the realities families face and helps improve care and support for children and their families in the future.”
Codesigning a virtual nature experience with and for urban residents
A collaboration led by the Department of Surgery and Cancer with Housing and estate services working group (Hammersmith and Fulham)
Spending time in nature benefits our physical and mental wellbeing, but access to nature in cities is poor and inequitable. While we should aim to improve access to real nature, there is evidence that virtual experiences of nature can provide similar benefits, providing an alternative when real nature is not an option.
This project seeks to collaborate with residents of Hammersmith and Fulham estates to codesign a virtual nature experience that is accessible, appealing and valuable to city dwellers. This will be achieved through a series of 5 community workshops of 10 people with a final write up summarising the insights gathered for publication, with input and feedback from participants.
Community-led participatory research on the lived experience of people with and at risk of (multiple) long-term conditions
A collaboration led by the Faculty of Medicine with public partners
This project will explore the lived experiences of people with, or at risk of, (multiple) long-term conditions (MLTCs) in northwest London (NWL). It will also delve into how social, cultural, emotional, and structural factors shape their ability to engage in self-care and preventative support.
Through 2-3 community-led workstreams, we will collect insights on lived experience, stigma, barriers, facilitators, and the kinds of support that feel realistic and empowering within daily life. Each workstream will be co-designed and co-led by a public partner and community partner, supported by the 911今日黑料 research team.
The learnings from this project will support communities and researchers to co-design future research pathways, strengthen local relationships, and build a foundation for ongoing collaborative work.
Quote by Dr Stuart Hofer, Project Evaluation Manager (School of Public Health)
"We are delighted to have received funding from the Collaboration Kickstarter Fund to extend our participatory research exploring the lived experiences of people with high blood pressure who are at risk of developing multiple long-term conditions.
Building on our community engagement linked to the LTC Prevention Pilot in Northwest London, this funding will support new partnerships with a temple in Ealing and a carers’ organisation in Harrow. Together, we will co-design and deliver participatory workshops to better understand experiences of living with high blood pressure and navigating opportunities for prevention and access to care.
Community partners will shape the questions we tackle, the methods used, interpretation of findings and how they are shared. Through this work, we aim to strengthen relationships with local communities and generate insights that inform future research priorities and more equitable approaches to prevention."
Co-designing research on how NEET (not in education, employment or training) status influences young people鈥檚 health, wellbeing and health-related behaviours
A collaboration led by the School of Public Health and Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing with Youth Action Alliance, Mo1 Youth and Nxt Generation CIC
Young adults in the UK are experiencing a rise in poor health and long-term economic inactivity, with nearly one in eight aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (NEET).
This project will engage young adults with lived experience of NEET status, a group often disengaged from formal systems and considered hard to reach. It will explore their perspectives on employment, unemployment, insecure work, and connections with health behaviours and mental health. The findings will be presented in an informed framework, with a co-designed roadmap for future research and action.
The project will share decision-making power and centre lived experience, ensuring that young people and community partners guide both content and delivery.
Quote by Holly Clarke, PhD Student (School of Public Health)
“This funding will allow us to work directly with young people and community organisations in Northwest London to co-design research on how experiences of being out of education, employment or training (NEET) affect health and wellbeing. By bringing lived experience into the research process, we hope to build stronger evidence base and develop future projects that reflect young people’s realities and priorities.”