News

As part of LEAP’s work to cultivate the best possible future for digital health in South West England and Wales, we have been at the forefront of this year’s Black Internship Programme (BIP).

The BIP, which is organised by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive pipeline of health data scientists that’s fully representative of British society.

With funding from LEAP, Universities, NHS bodies and other LEAP partners offered seven paid summer internships to Black students and recent graduates wanting to develop their health data science skills.

Each of them has been carrying out a practical, real-world project with direct benefits for health and care.

Karen Dawe, Deputy Director for Skills and Training at LEAP, said:

“The future of digital health has to be shaped by a wide range of voices. It’s not just about representation for its own sake, it’s about making sure the technologies and systems we develop reflect the needs, priorities, and lived experiences of the people they’re meant to serve.

 

The BIP provides training and career development opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds. Schemes like this help us to grow a more diverse, skilled, and confident workforce who can shape a digital health future that works for everyone.”

Below is a summary of the 2025 projects, with comments from hosts and participants.

Together they emphasise the breadth and value of the internship projects and the benefits for the host organisations.

Lilian Sudi (left) Miquel Perello Nieto (centre) and Hanna Isotalus (right)

Intern: Lilian Sudi

Hosts: Miquel Perello Nieto and Hanna Isotalus

LEAP brings together a wide network of partners, all focused on using digital technologies to improve healthcare. But with so many organisations and individuals involved, valuable expertise and shared interests can sometimes go unnoticed. This project aims to uncover those hidden connections – and Lilian’s internship has been making a valuable contribution.

Miquel, from the University of Bristol, explains that this is being done by automatically gathering and analysing written content from partner organisations, such as websites and using natural language processing (NLP) to find links between people working in similar or complementary areas.

Lilian hopes that this analysis can spark new collaborations, highlight shared goals, and identify pressing training or healthcare needs in the region – core aims of the LEAP Digital Health Hub.

Lilian has been impressed by LEAP and excited by her internship project. She said:

“It’s been such a rewarding experience. The LEAP team has been phenomenal: supportive, thoughtful, and innovative.

 

The projects I’ve been involved in feel truly revolutionary. I’ve had the opportunity to apply NLP and even developed a tool LEAP can use to support their networking efforts, which has been a highlight.

 

I’ve developed a multidimensional perspective in examining challenges and have grown in my appreciation for solutions that consider diverse inputs. It’s easy to design something that works in theory or for a specific group, but real, lasting impact lies in inclusive, adaptable approaches that reflect the complexity of the real world.”

Denise Cabral (left) and Kiran Channa (right)

Intern: Denise Cabral

Host: Kiran Channa

Denise was invited to work on a project exploring how well VTE (venous thromboembolism) risk assessments translate into timely prescribing decisions for hospitalised adult inpatients. The specific focus was on understanding what influences the “conversion rate”, from completing a VTE risk assessment (when a prescription is needed) to prescribing on the drug chart. This will improve patient safety by deepening understanding of real-world practice.

Denise, who applied for the internship to gain hands-on experience of the professional world, has been very impressed by the internship. She said:

“My host organisation has been incredibly flexible, which has made a huge difference. As a student who works part-time to support my studies, it’s often difficult to commit to internships over the summer – but their support has made it manageable. I’ve gained so many transferable skills and valuable insights.”

For Royal United Hospitals Bath, being part of BIP aligns with its commitment to equity, diversity, and nurturing future leaders in pharmacy and healthcare. Kiran said:

“Being a host is not just about offering experience, it’s about listening, learning, and creating space for underrepresented voices to thrive. We’re proud to play a part in shaping a more inclusive NHS and empowering the next generation of talent.”

Elvis Annan (left) and Yvonne Nartey (right)

Intern: Elvis Annan

Host: Yvonne Nartey

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are vital in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF), which is a cause of ischemic stroke. However, disparities in DOACs prescribing persist across ethnic groups.

The study Elvis is involved with focuses on evaluating trends in DOAC prescribing with specific attention to variations by ethnicity during and after the pandemic. The findings will contribute to research into equitable healthcare delivery.

Elvis applied for the internship to develop key skills such as organisation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. He also has a strong interest in data and its potential to improve healthcare outcomes. Commenting on the internship he said:

“This internship has provided a valuable mix of hands-on data science and meaningful communication, with a real impact on healthcare research.

 

I’ve learned so much from working with people I never imagined I’d collaborate with, including fellow interns and colleagues with PhDs.

 

I’ve been able to develop key technical skills in Python, PySpark, and Databricks tools that are essential for anyone pursuing a career in data science.”

An internship with the Electronic Health Record group at the Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, is a great opportunity to be part of a team with vast expertise in the use of trusted research environments for applied research.

But according to Yvonne the benefits work both ways. She said:

“This internship aligns strongly with our commitment to fostering research excellence, training the next generation of data scientists, and promoting diversity and inclusion in health research.”

Andrew Asoeh (left) and Rebecca Harper (right)

Intern: Andrew Asoeh

Host: Rebecca Harper

Andrew is contributing to the Ambient AI project, which explores the use of artificial intelligence to enhance real-time clinical decision-making in anaesthetic and perioperative care. It involves observational data analysis and stakeholder engagement to assess the feasibility and impact of AI-driven tools in high-pressure clinical environments.

Andrew wanted to enter a new field which still has a connection with his work as a medical imaging professional and an aspiring researcher. He was particularly drawn to BIP’s commitment to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

One of the key issues he identified is the challenge of coming into health data science from a very different background:

“I began the internship with a dose of imposter syndrome, doubting my ability to contribute meaningfully to projects.

 

However, the support given by the team at the HealthTech Research Centre (HRC), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, helped me find my footing.

 

The internship has been inspiring and transformative. What began as curiosity has evolved into deep passion, particularly through my exposure to several HealthTech research initiatives.”

Rebecca added that as a newly established HealthTech Research Centre, they aim to build a diverse and inclusive research environment:

“It’s a privilege to support emerging talent and to contribute to a more representative future workforce.”

Alero Obioru (left) and Fiona Lugg-Widger (right)

Intern: Alero Obioru

Host: Fiona Lugg-Widger

Alero is working with the TOP-CAT team to develop engaging training videos for trialists involved in studies that use health systems data. This initiative aims to ensure that training is practical, inclusive, and grounded in real-world relevance.

Her focus is on maintaining blinding in trials and the onward sharing of trial data. Central to this is the co-production approach, which brings together subject matter experts and members of the public.

The completed videos will be made available via HDR UK Futures to support the wider research community.

Alero has a deep interest in the use of longitudinal and routine health data in ways that have a real-world impact. Her BIP experience so far has been highly positive. She said:

“Every week is full of learning, from seeing different approaches to research to actively engaging with a public advisory group on my project topic. The team has been so welcoming and always ready to help. It’s great to work on a project that matters and to know my contributions are part of something meaningful.”

Fiona added:

“For the TOP-CAT team, this wasn’t just about offering an internship, it was about investing in a more inclusive future for health research.”

Jennifer Tasong

Intern: Jennifer Tasong

Host: Giles Greene

Jennifer’s internship involves working on a project to analyse the impact of the minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy in Wales. She is looking at outcomes such as alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions, to see whether MUP has had any effect.

As a medical student she has always been interested in health policy and how it can influence health outcomes across entire populations. This internship is a perfect way to gain experience in both health policy and data analysis. Jennifer said:

“It’s been rewarding to not only see how health data can be used to influence population health, but to also contribute to that process myself.  

 

It has been a big learning journey, getting used to new coding languages and handling big datasets. But I’ve had a lot of support and guidance from my line manager and colleagues.

 

I’ve been able to strengthen my coding and research skills and deepen my understanding of how evidence shapes health policy.”

Christine Were (left) and Hanna Isotalus (right)

Intern: Christine Were

Host: Hanna Isotalus

The REST study is looking at how changes in sleep and physical activity contribute to risk of poor mental health outcomes in university students.

While at university, young people face a higher risk of poor mental health compared to their peers. These issues have increased sevenfold in the last decade and are the most common reason to consider leaving university.

Christine’s role is to work alongside academics, a PhD student and a postdoctoral researcher in the development of the study’s protocol.

As a digital health expert and enthusiast Christine saw the internship as an opportunity to work with real-world healthcare data, hone her analytical and research skills, and contribute to projects making a measurable impact on people’s lives. She said:

“My involvement in the design phase of this project has boosted my confidence in research and collaboration. I am also grateful to be working on mental well-being, a growing global concern that resonates deeply with me as a young adult navigating a fast-paced world.

 

One of my key takeaways has been learning how to design clinically meaningful and feasible digital health studies. This remains a critical gap in the field, where many digital health solutions currently in the market lack strong clinical evidence.”

Hanna emphasised they had been pleased to find Christine as they were seeking an intern who would be a good fit for their team and whose career aspirations will benefit from the experience. She said:

“We were blown away by the calibre of applications. There was a huge amount of talent in the pool and a real enthusiasm among the applicants.

 

I’m passionate about supporting bright and talented individuals in their career journeys where I can, and this scheme offered a fantastic opportunity to do just that.”

Visit the HDR UK website to find out more about the Black Internship Programme and register your interest for 2026.