Unheard Voices.

Unheard Voices is a research initiative dedicated to advancing knowledge through inclusive research practices. 

By creating a space for people from underrepresented communities to have their say on the issues that matter to them, our aim is to make the field of healthcare research an open and welcoming place. 

We know the value of diversity of thought and experience.

Bringing unheard voices to the fore is necessary for making sure that research can be translated into equitable and culturally sensitive care and support.

Dr Michelle Peter, is the social scientist and researcher behind Unheard Voices. Working within the genomics research team at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Institute of Child Health, she is on a mission to make a difference. 

With research experience spanning over a decade, she is committed to working within arenas that address racial health inequalities, particularly in maternal health. She is co-author of the largest study on Black women's experiences of UK maternity care - the Five x More Black Maternity Experiences Report, a peer reviewer for Tommy's, the pregnancy charity, where she has reviewed their research centre's activities through a health inequalities lens, and a trustee at Bliss, where she inputs on the neonatal charity's activities that centre on achieving equity in neonatal care.

An advocate for equity across academic spaces and within healthcare services, she is keen to highlight the importance of representation within research studies. This, she believes, is fundamental for ensuring that cultural, social and personal values are considered in how health services are designed and offered.

She was recently awarded fellowship funding from THIS Institute and currently leads on a project exploring the views and experiences of Black women who have been offered prenatal screening and genetic testing in pregnancy.

Collaboration is integral to the ethos of Unheard Voices. 

Partnering with people and organisations who are trusted and embedded within their communities not only allows the leveraging of local expertise but means that networks are built from the inside out, helping to bridge the gap between researchers and community members. 

Together we can make a bigger impact than we can alone.