On 10 December 2025, Wesley Hall Community Centre in Highfields hosted a highly successful Tuberculosis (TB) public engagement event, bringing together nearly 50 local residents, many of whom had personal or family experience of TB.
The two-hour session was delivered in both English and Gujarati and led by Dr Natalia Grolmusova, a PhD student working to improve TB diagnosis in the UK, and Aatika Kanyat, a TB cultural link worker. The event was supported by the BRC Public Engagement team and members of the TB Research Team at Glenfield Hospital, headed by Dr Pranab Haldar.
Many attendees heard about the event through local partner organisations, personal invitations, or the popular BRC Dance and Health classes, where TB researchers had been sharing their work, forming community links and gathering feedback in the weeks beforehand.
During the session, the team introduced new and innovative TB research projects, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse lung scans and improve diagnosis and care. They also presented a study using PET scans to help distinguish between “sleeping” TB infection and active TB disease and gathered feedback about people’s willingness to take preventative treatment for TB.
Community members took part in a lively TB quiz and even tried their hand at identifying signs of TB on medical scans – gaining first-hand insight into the challenges clinicians face and how AI could support diagnosis. Attendees shared invaluable perspectives on topics such as confidentiality, imaging research, and TB stigma.
Their feedback will directly inform methodology of the AI project, but also aspects of future studies and help ensure that research reflects the needs and experiences of those affected by TB. Several participants also expressed interest in becoming regular public contributors for upcoming TB studies.
The Public Engagement Manager of the Leicester PPI team expressed his delight to see the authentic nature of the engagement. “It was really encouraging to see how the Natalia navigated the challenge of actively engaging a community that is seldom heard and overcame language and cultural barriers. It was fascinating to see how participants were made empowered to ask sensitive questions around a tabooed topic. This activity demonstrated the real potential of PPI when it takes place within community spaces where people feel safe and comfortable.”
If you would like to receive our quarterly TB Research Newsletter or get involved as a public contributor, please email: uhl-tr.nihrleicesterppiemailbox@nhs.net