Driving inclusive, translational research from the frontline

Manchester Integrative Medical Practice is an award-winning research-active practice. We have been offering opportunities for our patients to get involved in cutting-edge research since 2017. In April 2025, in recognition of our commitment to involve patients who are traditionally ‘under-represented’ in research, MIMP was awarded competitive funding from the NIHR Research Delivery Network to launch the Greater Manchester Inclusive Research Network (GM IRN), in partnership with the NIHR School for Primary Care Research at the University of Manchester and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)-GM.

GM IRN News

GP & Researcher Collaboration Event on Thursday 22nd January 2026 10am til 12.30pm at Village Hotel, Ashton OL7. Free parking and networking lunch included. Book your FREE place here GM IRN GP & Researcher Collab Event  – Fill out form

This event invites GPs, PMs and GP Registrars serving deprived populations (deciles 1 to 4) across GM; Health Inequalities Leads and Researchers committed to inclusive research to connect and collaborate to (i) learn about funded opportunities in inclusive research (ii) co-design research to improve health outcomes and tackle health inequalities and (iii) shape strategy in inclusive primary care research and innovation across GM and beyond.

***Limited places. Please book early to avoid disappointment***

Agenda includes:

• Keynote from Professor Caroline Mitchell, Founder of Deep End Research Alliance
• Getting involved in research: From Quick and Easy to Clinical Academia
• GP-Researcher ‘Speed-Date’ with Researchers in Cancer Care; CVD Prevention; Mental Health; Women’s Health; Health Tech
• Commercial research opportunities: Connecting with the NIHR GM CRDC

Why has the GM IRN been set up?

Evidence shows that both patients and GP practices benefit from getting involved in research. However, practices working with already underserved populations often do not have the time, energy or resources (the right funding or staff) to get involved in research. In addition, their patients often lack awareness about research, may struggle with language and cultural barriers and have misconceptions about taking part in research.

The NIHR and other research funding bodies are striving for ‘research inclusion’ to make sure that the results of research better support the NHS to deliver improved care for patients of all backgrounds. Researchers are eager to work with patients and their GPs to develop useful and relevant research together. 

What are the aims of the GM IRN?

The GM IRN is a partnership between researchers, patient groups and research-active GP practices serving the most deprived and challenging areas of Greater Manchester. The GM IRN aims to co-develop useful, relevant research to help our patients live longer, healthier lives and reduce health inequalities. We will achieve this through the Four ‘Cs’:

Co-creation

To co-create useful, relevant research in order to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for our patients. Support researchers to ensure inclusive design across the research lifecycle – from developing initial research ideas and research questions; informing the selection of participants and data collection, through to its analysis and evaluating impact.

Capacity-building

To develop a network of research-active practices serving populations that are traditionally under-represented in health and social care research, harnessing economies of scale. Gather data and insights from primary care teams serving deprived populations in order to inform NIHR policy to support sustainable practice-based research delivery.  As GP training practices, support the next generation of GP academics in leading research which is catered to practices serving deprived and under-researched populations.

Collaboration

To collaborate with key stakeholders including the NIHR North West RRDN; NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) GM and their NHS England Research Engagement Network (REN); commercial partners; local patient groups and voluntary care sector organisations to better engage our patients in research.

Consultancy

With the increasing use of AI technology and automation to manage demand in primary care, offer research consultancy for tech companies to ensure that emerging technologies effectively support primary care teams to meet the needs of patients with poor health and/ or IT literacy.

‘Deep End’ Research: The GM IRN is closely aligned with the ‘Deep End’ movement which originated in Glasgow, aiming to address the Inverse Care Law identified by Tudor Hart over 50 years ago. The movement initially comprised formal and informal networks of general practices collaborating with patients and communities and has now spread globally. ‘Deep End’ research programmes continue to highlight the striking disparities in resource allocation and health outcomes in primary care, linked to socioeconomic deprivation and the wider social determinants of health.

The GM IRN Team

Dr Maria Ahmed Drake is the Director of the GM IRN and Principal GP, GP Trainer and Research Lead at MIMP. She has acted as Principal Investigator for over 35 studies in disease areas including cancer, cardiometabolic disease and respiratory disease and has provided research consultancy for commercial and non-commercial study partners. As a GP working in a ‘Deep End’ practice she is passionate about engaging her patients in research to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. Her substantive role as Consultant in Primary Care Research, combined with her former roles as the GM NIHR Clinical Research Network GP Research Champion and NIHR GP Academic Clinical Fellow (ACF) have granted her unique insight into the challenge of navigating the provision of high-quality care with engaging her practice team and patients in research, whilst respecting the needs of researchers working to time and target. Maria holds additional qualifications in patient safety, public health and healthcare leadership and has held various leadership and quality assurance roles including as Non-Executive Board Member; CQC Specialist Advisor and NICE Committee Member.

Professor Peter Bower currently leads the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, which is part of the NIHR School for Primary Care Research. Peter co-led the NIHR Rose National Evaluation Team (Rose NET). He is an NIHR Senior Investigator, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. His work has a focus on mental health, multimorbidity, and the evaluation of innovations in service delivery including effective ways of improving management of long-term conditions, with a focus on multimorbidity, the delivery of effective psychological therapies for common mental health problems, and the effective recruitment of patients to randomised trials. Peter collaborates with colleagues at a range of universities in the UK and internationally and his main methodological interests include evidence synthesis, trials and evaluation methodology.

GM IRN Steering Group: We are delighted to be working with exceptional colleagues from across GM who are passionate about enhancing opportunities in research for people from deprived communities. Our GM Steering Group membership is listed here:

• Dr Almas Agha, Primary Care Consultant in CVRM at Manchester Integrative Medical Practice & Consultant in Lipid Medicine, Royal Liverpool & Aintree Hospital
• Dr Huma Ghauri, GP at Ailsa Craig Medical Practice & CD at Ardwick and Longsight PCN
• Dr James Higgins, GP at Brinnington Surgery & CD at Tame Valley PCN
• Dr Uwa Ima-Edomwonyi, GP at Donneybrook Medical Centre & Chair, RCGP NWE Faculty
• Dr Sinead Millwood, GP Research Lead at Hawthorn Medical Centre
• Dr Omair Razzaq, GP at Ashton Medical Group & GP Specialty Lead at NIHR NW RRDN
• Dr Joseph Rylands, GP at Limelight Health and Wellbeing Hub & Health Inequalities Lead for North Trafford Neighbourhood
• Mr Paul Ansbro, Practice Manager at Brinnington Surgery & Finance Director at Tame Valley PCN
• Supported by Dr Faizan Ahmed, GP and Ms Mandy Bruder, PM at Manchester Integrative Medical Practice

How to get involved

Patients: wishing to take part in research will be contacted directly by the practice if a suitable study becomes available.

Practices: If you are a practice which serves one of the most deprived areas in Greater Manchester (decile 1 to 4) and are considering becoming ‘research-active’ or already are, you are welcome to join the GM IRN. Please complete this form GM IRN EOI Form

Researchers: If you are a commercial or non-commercial researcher looking to co-design or deliver research that includes patients from diverse or deprived socio-economic backgrounds, please contact gmicb-mh.mimpresearch@nhs.net

GM IRN Member Practices

Following our hugely successful Launch event in September 2025, we currently have over 50 practices serving over half a million patients from across GM registered as members of the GM IRN. This provisional list is being updated regularly.

Our Partners

• The University of Manchester
• NIHR North West Regional Research Delivery Network
• NIHR Applied Research Collaboration – Greater Manchester
• Beacon Medical Services Group
• BARDOC

Research at MIMP

Manchester Integrative Medical Practice (MIMP) has been a research-active practice since 2017. With the support of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) North West Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), we offer opportunities for patients to take part in research which ultimately aims to improve their health and wellbeing. Patients do not have to take part in any research study and the care received by the patient is not affected in any way, should they choose not to take part in research. Patients always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study will involve and have the opportunity to ask further questions about the study.

Dr Maria Ahmed Drake is the GP Research Lead at MIMP

MIMP is based across two purpose-built NHS sites at Moss Side Health Centre and Longsight Health Centre. The practice serves a growing list of approximately 15,000 patients with a significant proportion of patients with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The practice population falls in the most deprived decile and comprises 67.4% ethnic minority patients (5.5% Mixed, 33.5% Asian, 20.6% Black, 7.8% Other non-white ethnic groups). MIMP Facilities to deliver research include fully-equipped clinical rooms and emergency drugs/ resuscitation equipment at each site; centrifuge and secure, temperature-monitored fridges, freezers and storage spaces.

MIMP Research Team Dr Maria Ahmed Drake is supported by the wider multidisciplinary team at MIMP, comprising GPs with a specialist interest in COPD, Diabetes, Cardiometabolic Medicine, Dermatology, Cancer and Palliative Care and Women’s Health; Clinical Pharmacists (including a Pharmacist prescriber) with specialist interests in asthma, diabetes, hypertension, lipid management and antimicrobial stewardship; practice nurses (specialist interests in asthma and diabetes); physician associates (specialist interests in mental health and women’s health); healthcare assistants; First Contact Physiotherapist; Integrated Health Worker, Dietician and Mental Health Worker. Many of the team are multi-lingual, engendering enhanced trust with patients. GCP-trained staff include three GPs; two pharmacists; two physician associates; two practice nurses and the practice manager.