The inclusion of patients and the public – collectively known as Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) – is becoming increasingly pivotal in research. By collaborating with the public to guide and shape research, the SPCR aims to ensure that our work meaningfully benefits society. However, despite its importance, there is still a lot to learn about how best to conduct PPIE.
The SPCR’s funding has helped researchers at Keele University to develop their PPIE programme, enhancing its diversity and the impact of their research. Alice Moult, a research fellow and academic lead for PPIE at Keele’s medical school, works with their Research User Group (RUG). The RUG has about 160 members who are involved in more than 60 research projects, ranging from mental health to gout. “We spend a lot of money doing research, and we don’t want any of that to be wasted. And to stop that, we need our public contributors’ voices at the centre of it,” she says.