Shaping HIV Research with Lived Experience: Get Involved
- web81754
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
At Mildmay, we are committed to championing research that puts lived experience at its heart, especially when that research seeks to amplify voices that are too often overlooked.
That is why we are promoting a new study led by Marcia May, a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Marcia brings both academic and frontline insight to her research. She is currently undertaking a PhD exploring the lived experiences of older people with Black heritage living with HIV in the UK.
This research addresses a longstanding gap in our understanding of how age, ethnicity, and HIV intersect to shape people’s lives. While medical advances have transformed HIV into a manageable long-term condition, the social and emotional realities for older people, especially those from Black communities, are often invisible in mainstream discourse. Studies show that stigma, isolation, and inequality persist, yet tailored support and insight remain limited.
Marcia’s study is rooted in partnership with the community it seeks to serve. She is currently recruiting members for an HIV Lived Experience Advisory Panel — a group of older people with Black heritage living with HIV - to help shape the design and direction of the research.
Why Get Involved?
The advisory panel isn’t just about giving feedback - it’s about collaboration. The group will play a vital role in helping to develop and review the study's design, ensuring it is relevant, inclusive and reflective of needs. This is a chance to influence research that could help improve care, reduce stigma, and inform better services for older people living with HIV.
Could this be you?
If you are:
A person aged 50 or over with Black heritage
Living with HIV in the UK
Willing to share your perspective to shape meaningful research
...then Marcia would love to hear from you.
You can contact her directly by emailing: Marcia.May@uwe.ac.uk
At Mildmay, we believe in the power of lived experience to transform health and research. We’re pleased to support Marcia’s work and hope our community will consider lending their voice to this research.