Patient Public Involvement in Research

Patient and public involvement is not about recruiting patients or members of the public as participants in research.

Patient and public involvement in research

Effective patient and public involvement can help researchers to improve the quality of their research and ensure it is relevant to patients’ needs. Members of the public might, for example, be invited to sit on a study steering group to give the patient point of view on all aspects of study design and conduct, or a group of people might advise a research team on research priorities.

Grant funders now usually require researchers to involve the public in their research, so it is best to start involving people at the grant application stage. Whether you are a researcher who wants to involve people in your research, or a member of the public who would like to get involved, you can find advice and support from Carol Porteous.

 

MS-SMART Trial

Patient public involvement has played a vital part in the evolution the MS-SMART trial and will continue through the trial. With the help of the MS Society specially convened focus groups were set up enabling people with MS to provide constructive feedback on the design of the study and in addition, two patient representatives have formal roles in the trial bringing them directly in contact with the clinicians, scientists and other researchers leading the trial.

Get involved

If you would like further information about being part of a research team please contact:

Carol Porteous

Patient & Public Involvement and Engagement Adviser

  • Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility

Contact details

Other organisations

These organisations support public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research:

Resources and training for public involvement in research

The James Lind Alliance

Participants and Completed Studies

If you have participated in a research study from the ECTU Trial Portfolio and it is complete and you would like to find out more please contact us.

Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit

Contact details

Address

Usher Building
The University of Edinburgh
5-7 Little France Road
Edinburgh BioQuarter - Gate 3
EDINBURGH
EH16 4UX

This article was published on