We would like to warmly welcome Julie Cook to the Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC)

Julie Cook has joined ARC NWC as Senior Research Fellow within the Implementation and Capacity Building Team (IMPaCT), building on a remarkable career spanning public health, advocacy, and ethical research. Her deep commitment to reducing health inequalities aligns seamlessly with ARC NWC’s mission, and she is eager to channel her experience into supporting innovative research.

Julie’s professional journey began in the late 1980s with the National Breast Screening Programme, where she played a critical role in promoting awareness and accessibility for a new service that was unfamiliar to many. “At the time, there was a lot of ignorance around breast screening,” Julie explained. “We worked hard to address barriers to access, recognising that simply providing information wasn’t enough, it had to make sense to people and engage with their concerns.”

Her passion for improving access to healthcare led her to the voluntary sector, where she worked on women’s health and reproductive rights. Julie also contributed to advocacy efforts on tampon safety, which resulted in the inclusion of warning labels on products sold in the UK, a significant milestone in public health. “The labels were already mandatory in other countries, but not here,” she noted. “It took a challenging national campaign to make it happen, but it was worth it to ensure that people had the information they needed to make informed decisions.”

Julie’s work later expanded to ethics in international research, tackling global issues such as the exploitation of indigenous knowledge and “ethics dumping,” where researchers from high-income countries bypass ethical standards abroad. “It’s about ensuring that the rights and contributions of communities in lower-income settings are respected,” she said.

Julie’s connection to ARC NWC dates back to its early years as, The Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast , where she evaluated clinical academic research internships. Her return to ARC NWC is driven by a passion for fostering the skills of individuals who aim to make a positive difference in improving procedures, practice, and policy in their workplace, ensuring that researchers from diverse backgrounds are empowered to contribute.

Reflecting on her new role, Julie shared, “I’m particularly excited about supporting interns and fellows at the beginning of their journeys. Our research found that many of them face barriers or think, ‘This isn’t for me.’ My goal is to help them realise their potential and see how their unique experiences can drive meaningful change.”

Julie’s work involves matching interns and fellows with supervisors, guiding them through applications, and helping them navigate the challenges of pursuing research alongside their existing roles. She emphasised the importance of networks in this process: “The ARC network is such a valuable resource. It’s about finding the right fit for each person and ensuring they have the support to succeed.”

Julie’s role also includes working with ARC NWC’s public advisors and member organisations to ensure research priorities reflect the needs of the communities they serve. “Public advisors play a crucial role in shaping research,” she said. “Their insights can highlight perspectives that researchers may not have considered, making the work more relevant and impactful.”

Julie is particularly passionate about addressing health inequalities and the ways they intersect with other factors like gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. “It’s fascinating to see how much has changed and how much hasn’t,” she reflected. “We’ve come a long way in recognising the different needs of communities, but there’s still so much work to do.”

Julie is enthusiastic about the opportunities her new role presents, particularly the chance to collaborate with a wide range of people. “I’m looking forward to meeting interns, advisors, and colleagues across the ARC network,” she said. “Every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new and contribute to making a difference.”

Her commitment to inclusivity and innovation ensures that Julie will bring fresh perspectives and energy to ARC NWC. “For me, it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels they can contribute, no matter where they are in their career or what challenges they’ve faced.”

With her vast experience and passion for equity, Julie is set to make a lasting impact at ARC NWC. If you’d like to contact Julie about her work or internship opportunities, please email her at JCook11@uclan.ac.uk