Associate Professor at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre at De Montfort University, United Kingdom
Dr Natalie Darko is an Associate Professor at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre at De Montfort University.
Natalie is an experienced academic and researcher and has been working in higher education for over 15 years, leading on national and international research exploring health, ethnicity, race, equity and inequality.
She has completed research projects for the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Sport, the International Olympic Committee, Sport England, NIHR Applied Health Research and Care (AHRC) East Midlands, Bangladesh Youth & Cultural Shomiti Centre, the Ministerial Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Leicester City Council, Leicester City Commissioning Group, Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (GMCVO) and the Big Lottery.
Natalie specialises in research and practice that addresses equality, equity, diversity and inclusion of ethnic minority groups and diaspora in the UK. She has extensive experience in supporting researchers and health practitioners on how to capture the unheard voices of ethnic minority groups, and how to work collaboratively to inform health research and equitable research practice.
Natalie currently works across a broad portfolio of research within social sciences and health of which her current projects focus on;
- Social isolation and social care provision for African, African-Caribbean and South Asian older people,
- Anti-racism activism amongst Black African and African-Caribbean groups.
- Culturally –tailored health interventions for ethnic minority groups.
- African-Caribbean diaspora, health and healthcare access Windrush irregularities and citizenship.
- Intersectionality and health amongst Black- African and African-Caribbean British women.
- Ethnic minority groups and Covid-19.
- Racial hair discrimination.
- Ethnic minority secondary school students, Covid-19 and mental well-being.
- Improving equality, equity and inclusion in research and health practice.
Natalie has recently published a book titled: ‘Engaging Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in Health Research: ‘Hard to Reach’? Demystifying the Misconceptions, Policy Press. For more information, click here.