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The Health Inequities Research Group (HIRG) is led by Professor Stephani Hatch, Vice Dean for Culture, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Professor of Sociology and Epidemiology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London.

HIRG delivers interdisciplinary research on inequities in mental health and health services, with a particular emphasis on race at the intersection of other social identities.

Our research programmes include:

All HIRG projects are linked to the Health Inequalities Research Network (HERON).

 

Health and Social Equity Collective (HSE Collective)

The HSE Collective brings together researchers, community leaders, policymakers, and health professionals to tackle persistent health and social inequities.

We aim to address inequity by identifying and engaging the levers of change within and across institutions, through collective action to:

  • Generate inclusive knowledge that can be translated into impact for individuals, communities, and policymakers

  • Tackle entrenched inequalities in education, training, and capacity-building

  • Redistribute power by working in genuine partnership with communities affected by health inequities

Supported by Impact on Urban Health and a King’s Together Award, the Collective works to co-create inclusive, sustainable, and interdisciplinary approaches that drive system change. Our work challenges the structures that determine what gets researched, whose voices are heard, how training and career pipelines are navigated, and which forms of evidence are valued.

We place social justice and lived experience at the centre of our activities, shifting away from ‘deficit’ narratives and towards fair, impactful, and human-centred solutions.

Activities include:

  • Seminar Series – meeting every other month to discuss current research by members or external collaborators

  • Peer Support and Reflective Practice Sub-Group – a safe space for researchers, clinicians, and engagement coordinators to share resources and support each other

  • Skills Directory – a co-produced resource listing members’ expertise across academic, clinical, and community settings, enabling collaboration on research methods, engagement, funding, and teaching

  • Career Development Workshops – informal sessions where colleagues at all levels (MSc students to senior leaders) share advice, experiences, and resources

If you are interested in joining the network, or would like any more information please email hsecollective@kcl.ac.uk.  

 

Community Organised Research for Equity (CORE)

CORE supports community-driven research projects in Southwark and Lambeth, funded by Impact on Urban Health. 

The programme funds quantitative or mixed-methods research that analyses existing data (e.g., surveys, service records) to address priority issues identified by local communities, including:

  • Environmental health

  • Mental health

  • Maternal health

  • Chronic illness

CORE projects align with the guiding principles of the HSE Collective, focusing on:

  • Community engagement and advocacy – ensuring community voices shape decision-making

  • Education, training, and capacity development – building knowledge and skills among community members

  • Research and evidence generation – producing actionable evidence to inform policy and practice

Our goal is to advance health equity by supporting innovative, community-led research that tackles the underlying causes of health inequalities and generates evidence-based solutions for lasting change.

For more information on funded projects, please visit the HSE Collective website.

 

Support and Funding

HIRG and its programmes are supported by the Wellcome Trust, UKRI, and Impact on Urban Health.

Group lead

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