“People who participate in cancer research play a vital role in helping to reduce cancer inequalities.” - Dr Olufikayo’s experience

With a background in Microbiology, and after several years of working in the health, education and banking sectors, Dr Olufikayo Bamidele came to the UK from Nigeria in 2012 to study for a master’s degree in public health. 

“At that time, my knowledge of cancer was limited to what I’d heard on social or mainstream media; cancer wasn’t one of those topics people would openly talk about in Nigeria”. 

For her master’s dissertation, Olufikayo investigated breast screening programme uptake among Black African women in Luton. It was then she discovered that, despite breast cancer being less prevalent in Black women than white women, they were more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage, when survival rates are often lower.

Olufikayo went on to do a PhD which explored the experiences and needs of African and Caribbean men and their partners after prostate cancer treatment.

“My Masters and PhD research projects sparked my passion for giving a voice to those who are not often represented in cancer research yet have poorer outcomes from cancer. I thought to myself something more needs to be done to improve the representation of underserved communities in cancer research, one of many avenues to reduce cancer inequalities. I am glad to be part of a team that is doing that”.

Olufikayo’s life in Yorkshire started in 2019, after spotting an advert for a Researcher to join the TRANSFORM team at the Hull York Medical School, University of Hull. TRANSFORM, led by Professor Una Macleod, is a £4.9 million programme of research projects, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, which aim to understand and address inequalities in cancer diagnosis and survival in the Yorkshire region and beyond. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research is committed to funding research to help reduce health inequalities and ensure everyone has the same opportunities for improved cancer outcomes, no matter who they are or where they live. 

Olufikayo works on several research projects under the TRANSFORM programme, from understanding barriers and facilitators to prostate cancer service uptake among Black communities, to investigating the impact of COVID-19 on people with cancer in Yorkshire.

Work from the TRANSFORM programme has led to the development of further Yorkshire Cancer Research-funded research projects which Olufikayo is now supporting, including the £350k DOORStep trial, led by Dr Charlotte Kelly, which offers thousands of women in Hull free door-to-door transport to their breast screening appointment. In Hull, 29% of eligible people are not up to date with their breast screening, meaning that less cancers are detected early when there are more options for treatment.

“My role as the Qualitative lead on the DOORStep trial means we can better understand first-hand, the experiences of many people, especially those from deprived communities regarding the implications of transport for breast screening uptake. These experiences will inform the recommendations we put forward to help dismantle barriers to screening and ensure more people in these communities can attend their appointments when invited”,

All the research projects Olufikayo work on share one goal: that the voices of people in Yorkshire remain at the heart of the research. 

“Everyone has different motivations for getting involved in research. Some people gain a sense of satisfaction from the opportunity to express their feelings. Some people want to provide a less represented voice. People who participate in cancer research play a vital role in helping to reduce cancer inequalities.”

Olufikayo is one of 710 researchers and cancer experts funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research as part of its mission to bring more pioneering cancer researchers and experts to the region.

Olufikayo said: “Without funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research, I couldn’t help people with cancer through evidence-based and inclusive research”.

When asked about the future, Olufikayo concluded: “From technological advancements to awareness around equity, diversity and inclusion, we have seen so much progress in cancer research in Yorkshire, and beyond. Yorkshire Cancer Research turning 100 this year is a huge milestone, and I believe the future of cancer research in our region is bright”