Dr Maria Ahmed Drake

Dr Maria Ahmed Drake is a GP Partner and Research and Innovation Lead at Manchester Integrative Medical Practice, serving highly deprived and ethnically diverse communities in the area where she grew up. She is Founding Director of the Greater Manchester Inclusive Research Network, which has engaged over 80 practices serving approximately 750,000 patients, more than 70% of which were previously not research-active. She also directs the Manchester Inclusive Research Hub, pioneering an approach focused on elevating neighbourhood health through research. Her work spans health inequalities, research equity, patient safety and earlier cancer diagnosis. Maria is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester and serves on the NICE Suspected Cancer Guideline Committee and NIHR Predoctoral Award Primary Care Funding Committee. Drawing on frontline practice, system leadership and personal experience, she advocates for approaches that elevate and empower - rather than label or stigmatise - communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities.