The Centre for the Art of Living and Dying Well at St Mary’s University, together with the Royal Marsden, the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Lancaster University Medical School and Public Health Wales, has been awarded Joint Runner-Up for the prestigious Joanna Mugridge Prize at the Marie Curie Research into Practice Conference 2026. The award was formally announced during the opening conference session on Monday 23 February 2026.
Special recognition is also extended to the Community Advisory Group - whose members co-created this project - drawn from Birmingham’s Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic communities.
The Award-Winning Poster
Ethnically Diverse Faith Perspectives on End-of-Life Care and Death Literacy: A Community-Based Participatory Research Project in Birmingham explored healthcare disparities affecting ethnic minority communities in Birmingham - one of Europe’s most diverse cities, home to over 340,000 Muslims alongside significant Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh populations. Despite this diversity, these communities remain significantly underserved in end-of-life care.
Using community-based participatory research methods, the team established a Community Advisory Group and conducted focus groups with participants from Islamic, Hindu, Sikh, Judaism and Buddhism traditions, including faith leaders, community workers and faith members.
The Art of Living and Dying Well - Marie Curie Poster
Why This Matters
All posters were reviewed by a mixed panel of experts, who were impressed by how accessible the poster was, with clear key information and a good balance of visuals. They also noted how much they valued the actionable recommendations for the future, showing how the work from your study can lead to meaningful change.
The poster was highly commended, reflecting the Centre and its collaborators’ commitment to community-engaged research and to improving equity in end-of-life care for diverse faith communities.
Maggie Doherty, Lead of the Centre for the Art of Living and Dying Well at St Mary’s University said: “Our greatest thanks go to the Community Advisory Group and those who participated in the focus groups - their wisdom and openness made this research what it is. We sincerely hope that the recommendations which emerged from these communities are taken up by healthcare services and faith organisations across the country, so that everyone - regardless of their background or belief - can access the compassionate end-of-life care they deserve. The research is now being extended to London in collaboration with the Royal Marsden Hospital.”
About the Joanna Mugridge Prize
The Joanna Mugridge Prize honours the memory of a dedicated Marie Curie Nurse who worked at the Marie Curie Hospice in Caterham. Awarded annually, the prize supports ongoing research education and development. As Joint Runner-Up, the Centre will receive up to £250 to support further impact activities or professional development.
Further information, visit https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/research-and-policy/research/conference/joanna-mugridge-award