Medical initiative and archaeology project scoop prestigious Times Higher Education Awards
A University of Leicester student-staff group redefining racial equity in medical education and experts who identified the impact of tobacco on twelfth century skeletal remains have been awarded prestigious Times Higher Education Awards.
MedRACE, which stands for Raising Awareness Celebrating Excellence, clinched the Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award category, while the Tobacco, Health & History project led by Dr Sarah Inskip, a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, received the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Project of the Year category at a glittering awards ceremony in Edinburgh last night (13 November).
The awards recognise Higher Education institutions who are going above and beyond to deliver innovative approaches and overcome challenges.
A delighted Dr Inskip said: “We are thrilled that our research project has received such fantastic recognition in the Times Higher Education Awards. The work was a true collaboration between the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, and Leicester van Geest MultiOmics Facility, all based at the University of Leicester and shows just how much we can learn by working together.”
Despite tobacco’s early global reach, little was known about its consumption patterns before the 20th century. The project analysed 1,000 archaeological human skeletal remains (15th to 19th century) from England and the Netherlands, integrating metabolomics, palaeopathology, historical archaeology and dentistry.
A key breakthrough was the development of a metabolomic approach in collaboration with Leicester’s van Geest Multi-OMICs Lab, proving that archaeological bone retains usable small molecules.
Findings revealed unexpectedly high tobacco use among women and linked tobacco consumption to socio-economic status and disease patterns. By bridging humanities and STEM, the Tobacco, Health and History Project reshapes historical narratives and offers invaluable insights into tobacco’s enduring health consequence.
Dr Inskip added: “Our research shows that there are significant differences in the molecular features contained in bone of past tobacco users and non-users. This potentially shows that we can see the impact that tobacco use has on the structure of our skeletons. Our ongoing research aims to ascertain how these differences emerge as this may have significance for understanding why tobacco use is a risk factor for some musculoskeletal and dental disorders.”
University of Leicester Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “This fascinating project thoroughly deserves this recognition and highlights how fantastic our departments at the University are at bringing their expertise together for one common aim. As ever, the work doesn’t just stop here but continues onwards to the next stage of discovery. This project summarises precisely what the University is all about – world changing research and education. Huge congratulations to Dr Inskip and her colleagues who brought this project together.”
Kiran Bhavra, student co-chair of MedRACE between 2023-24, said: "MedRACE has introduced me to unforgettable role models, taught me a wealth of knowledge and insight and has made me feel a true sense of belonging. It is a beacon of hope and progress within equality, diversity and inclusion, and I feel so proud that we have achieved the recognition this group truly deserves."
Kate Williams, Professor of Education in Applied Health Research, and founding staff co-chair of MedRACE, said: “We’re thrilled, on behalf of the MedRACE team, to take home the award.
“It recognises what can happen when a group of students come together with the support of staff. With shared purpose, determination and five years of hard work we’ve strived to address and prevent racial harassment originally through the British
Medical Association (BMA) Charter for medical schools and subsequently through MedRACE, while championing diversity, equity and inclusion across the profession.”
MedRACE is a collaboration of students and staff at the University who work together towards their common aim to foster a safe, inclusive learning environment through robust reporting, anti-racism curriculum and policy advocacy.
Among the group’s many achievements has been the introduction of a racial inclusion tool kit to help ‘decolonise the medical curriculum’, ensuring students see illustrations that embody all ethnicities, as well as the introduction of appropriate theatre headwear to accommodate all hair types.
MedRACE actively encourages individuals to speak out when issues arise by being an active bystander. It has also worked to ensure students access vigorous processes for reporting and handling complaints and increased diversity in staff interview processes by training and working with students on medical school appointment panels.
University of Leicester Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, added: “It’s no surprise to me that MedRACE has scooped this prestigious award. We have seen for ourselves how it has grown, going from strength to strength to deliver its important aims – aims which will ultimately help ensure the highest standards for the good of patients and the profession.
“MedRACE thoroughly deserves this award. I am immensely proud and pass on my warmest congratulations to all staff and students helping to transform medical education at a local and national level. Congratulations must also go to colleagues who were shortlisted in other categories by Times Higher Education – this itself is a huge achievement.”
The University of Leicester’s Global Empathy in Healthcare Network (GEHN), which works to embed empathic healthcare for the benefit of patients across the globe, was also shortlisted in the International Collaboration of the Year category.