MS research is for everyone: Building a more inclusive workforce

We can only conduct research that's truly relevant to everyone living with MS if we embrace inclusivity and diversity. But at the moment there’s a lack of diversity and inclusivity in the research workforce, both in MS research and beyond. 

The HDR UK Health Data Science Black Internship Programme is working to change this by helping Black students get hands-on experience with real-world data projects, as well as providing training and mentorship to support their careers in health data science. You can read more about the programme on their website.

As part of this programme, Joy and Laura recently completed an internship at the UK MS Register.

Joy’s experience

All my life, I've always been interested in numbers. But I was also drawn to healthcare. So I was looking for something that would help me to combine numbers and healthcare science.

Once I realised my interest in heath data science, I started to learn how to code. But after a few months of teaching myself, I realised I needed to practise with a group of people, not just on my own. And the first thing that came to me was an internship.

In my project I explored the connection between pain, depression and anxiety. I think looking at the relationship between mental health and pain in MS is so important, but they're symptoms that often get overlooked.

Growing up in Nigeria, I didn’t really have much knowledge about mental health. This has made me more curious about how we can use data to create insights to teach people about mental health.

At first, I felt discouraged to apply for internships because I wasn’t sure I would get accepted, as someone from a minority background. But then I saw the HDR UK Black Internship programme on LinkedIn and thought “this is for me”. People of colour still have a hard time getting into programmes like these. And seeing an internship that is meant for people like me was so important and helpful.

In fact, it's opened doors for me. I’ve gained real-world experiences of working as a data scientist and I've had the opportunity to go to events and network with people.

If you're ever interested in applying for any opportunity, don’t think twice. When you see it, apply immediately! 

Women and people from minoritised backgrounds are often less likely to apply because they might feel they're not qualified. But these internships exist as an opportunity for you to learn. You don’t have to be an expert before you apply. I’d definitely encourage you to go for it if you're interested.

Laura’s experience

In my project, I evaluated how different diets impact the progression of MS, particularly on physical and psychological symptoms. I’ve always been interested in learning the mechanisms and reasoning behind certain health conditions. So I was fascinated by the amount of data available at the MS Register, which offers countless research opportunities for making a positive impact.

I’d definitely encourage people to apply. You gain a lot of transferable skills and knowledge during the internship that increase your overall efficiency within different sectors. You’d be surprised how much you learn in 8 weeks. It's also a great way to get your foot into the industry of health data sciences, if that interests you.

Even though times have changed and society has progressed, people of colour still experience many biases and discrimination, especially when trying to enter certain industries. This is why I think programs like these are extremely important. They provide valuable, equal opportunities and a platform to build upon and develop specific expertise and skillsets.

I really enjoyed the internship, and it’s helped me prepare for my master’s in health data science at University College London. Once I've completed my master’s, I'm hoping to work continuously in this field and make valuable contributions.