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Welcome to The Worldwide Prison Health Research & Engagement Network (WEPHREN), an open access collaborative forum for everyone interested in prison health globally, aiming to improve the health of people in prison through the equitable development of the evidence base and through capacity building initiatives for health.
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About WEPHREN
Information on what the Worldwide Prison Health Research and Engagement Network (WEPHREN) will provide, and who it is funded and supported by.
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Get Involved
Contribute to our themed collections, write an article or blog, build your training profile, sign your site up to site-finder and share your experiences.
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Resources
WEPHREN's collections of key resources, documents and journal articles on the health of those in prison from various sources.
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Training
Develop and improve your research skills and career with these available training courses linking to prison health care.
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Events
Information on previous events on Health in prisons as well as the upcoming events, with further details on how to register.
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Publication Calls
Check out our latest publication call requests and see how you can contribute by clicking the link below.
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RISE-Vac
Aim to improve health of prison population by promoting vaccine literacy and to increase access and vaccine uptake among the prison population.
CALL TO MEMBERS:
Development of international guidance for conducting ethical health research in prisons
Work has recently begun to deliver on one of WEPHREN’s key priority actions – to develop guidance for the ethical conduct of health research in prisons.
An International Steering Group (ISG) has been convened, and we are engaging with experts in the practical aspects of the planning and conduct of ethical research in contemporary adult prison settings. We are currently planning to facilitate four working groups, each with responsibility for drafting content that will focus on different stages of the research process timeline, namely 1) Research pre-requisites 2) Planning and applying 3) Conducting the research, and 4) Post-research provisions. These will involve diverse multidisciplinary groups collaborating to develop an invaluable resource for researchers and research ethics committee members worldwide.
As a network member, if you would like to express interest in participating in a working group or ask any questions you may have, please contact t.munday@soton.ac.uk. This is a great opportunity to work internationally and with other professionals interested in prison health. You would be expected to commit on average 1-2 hours per week during a 12 week period May to August 2025.
The deadline to express interest is Sunday 4 May 2025.
CALL FOR EVIDENCE
The Government is launching a Call for Evidence to inform the development of England’s next National TB Action Plan (2026 – 2031). This Call for Evidence is now live and we are reaching out to ask if you can please support in circulating this to relevant stakeholders. We are particularly hoping to receive responses from patients and survivors of TB, so please do share with any of your contacts.
This Call for Evidence seeks ideas, insights, and evidence from technical experts, health professionals, researchers, civil society, and individuals with lived experiences to shape an effective and impactful national response.
How to Participate:
- Complete the online survey: Tuberculosis National Action Plan 2026 to 2031 - GOV.UK
- Deadline for responses: 2 May 2025
Both qualitative and quantitative evidence are welcome, including service evaluations, economic analyses, and personal experiences. Your input will play a vital role in helping to shape the next National TB Action Plan.
Thank you for your support and contribution.