A leading Leicester academic has been nationally recognised for her impactful work addressing health inequities – particularly within Black women’s and maternal health.
Associate Professor Natalie Darko, Director of Inclusion at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), has recently been honoured with The Motherhood Group’s Research Excellence Award, a national honour celebrating her dedication to inclusive, community-led health research.
Reacting to the announcement, she shared: “I was thrilled and surprised just to be a finalist, so winning the award truly took me by surprise.”
She praised Sandra Igwe, founder and CEO of The Motherhood Group, for her leadership in amplifying the voices of Black women through powerful initiatives such as the Black Maternal Health Conferences.
In a timely progression of her work, Dr Darko has also secured funding from the Wellcome Trust for an upcoming project focused on Black women and cancer equity.
This builds directly on her recent research undertaken within the NIHR Leicester BRC, including a co-authored paper titled: “Exploring the perspectives of underrepresented voices: Perceptions and experiences of uterine cancer for Black African, Caribbean, Black British, and Mixed-Black women in the UK to develop strategies for early symptom presentation”.
The study identified critical barriers to early diagnosis and care – including fear, stigma, healthcare distrust, and a lack of culturally sensitive information – and highlights the urgent need for targeted awareness and support for Black women.
The new Wellcome-funded research will expand on this work, developing meaningful, community-informed solutions to address cancer and maternal health inequalities.
Reflecting on the broader mission behind her work, Dr Darko said: “Women face disparities not only in maternal health but across all health conditions, particularly at the intersection of their identities and multiple health conditions. My goal is to help create a health system that listens, includes, and truly serves all.”
She extended heartfelt thanks to the University of Leicester Vice-Chancellor Nishan Canagarajah, and the Director of the NIHR Leicester BRC, Professor Melanie Davies CBE, for their continued support in helping her balance professional achievements with family life.
She hopes her journey inspires other women, especially those who feel unheard, to keep striving for change.
The Director of the NIHR Leicester BRC, Professor Melanie Davies, said: “We’re all incredibly proud of Natalie, and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition for her excellent work which is making such a difference in addressing health inequalities.”