London’s young people work with scientists and doctors to shape the future of child health research
25 March 2026
Over 200 children joined more than 100 researchers, clinicians, and parents at Chelsea Football Club in West London.
West London Children’s Healthcare, Imperial College London’s Centre for Paedatrics and Child Health and Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing and the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre brought together children and young people from across North West London to discuss the future of child health research and NHS services.
West London Children’s Healthcare brings together services for children and young people at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to improve quality, experience and outcomes across all aspects of child health.
A focus on common diseases of childhood
The event saw children from local schools meet scientists and healthcare professionals at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium. Here they learned about research to improve our understanding and treatment of diseases that affect millions of children in the UK, including asthma, allergies, infectious diseases, and, as pictured below, the science and benefits of breastfeeding to child health.
The Patient Experience Research Centre facilitated ‘research cafés’, where researchers could have relaxed conversations with the public. Young guests shared their own opinions of what’s most important in child health research and NHS care.
School groups also entered a competition to come up with the best new ideas to improve children’s health and wellbeing. Creative ideas included how to get more sleep, ways to encourage children to be more active, and how children can reduce stress. The team from Uxendon Manor Primary School and their pitch to improve mental health were worthy winners.
Nicola Grinstead, Managing Director for West London’s Children’s Healthcare, said: “It really matters to us to hear directly from children and young people about what’s important to them: whether that’s how hospital services are shaped; what research questions we should be prioritising; or how they want to be directly involved in shaping the future. That was the purpose of this event.”
The day concluded with a wide-ranging panel discussion and Q&A on research priorities to improve child health in West London and beyond.
Ben Coleman, Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham, pictured above, who took part in the panel discussion alongside leading researchers, doctors, and members of the community, said:
“To understand and help people, and do real research, you need to go out and talk to them. The more the NHS and researchers can work together, the better and healthier we can make the country. I hugely congratulate Imperial and West London Children’s Healthcare for trying to crack this.”
The event was supported by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a translational research partnership between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London, which was awarded £95 million in 2022 to continue developing new experimental treatments and diagnostics for patients. It was also supported by the Chelsea Foundation.