Public involvement in research
Also known as Patient & Public Involvement or PPI - we are transforming care by understanding and using patient and public experience.
What is public involvement in research?
Public involvement in research is an active partnership between the public and researchers in the research process, not simply people being the subjects of research.
The public (PPI Contributors) include patients, potential patients, carers and people who use health services as well as people from organisations that represent people who use services. Other terms for PPI Contributors include PPI representatives, patient advocate, lay researcher, public partner etc.
The Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences is committed to continually improving PPI, and has developed a clear strategy for how this will be taken forward.
Download our PPI Strategy (.pdf)
For researchers - PPI Checklist
WHY IS it important?
PPI Contributors can make a difference to health research by:
- identifying new topics for research and ensuring that topics are relevant to patients, carers and members of the public
- making sure that researchers ask the right questions and in a way that the public understand
- keeping the research on track so that it stays relevant
- making sure the people being researched are approached in the right way
- improving the quality of the research by adding another point of view to the design and way that the research is carried out.
Keep in touch
With our NIHR partners, we produce two newsletters about involving the public in research, service provision or commissioning.
Making a difference
Lay leader Karen Maskell was awarded for her work in setting up Health Makers.
How to get involved
Information for researchers
Diverse approaches to PPI
These case-studies show some of different approaches taken to patient and public involvement in the department, they were developed in partnership with the NIHR CLAHRC Oxford:
PPI Champions
Across our department, our PPI liaisons are responsible for embedding patient and public involvement in our research by sharing best practice and working to improve quality and access.
Health Behaviours Theme: Michaela Noreik, Assistant Trial Manager
Patient Experience Theme: Angela Martin, HERG Operations Manager
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Theme: Bethany Jakubowski, Researcher and DPhil Student
EBM and Research Methods Theme: Anne-Marie Boylan, Department Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow
Digital Health and Innovation Theme: Andrew Farmer, Theme Lead
Global Perspective Theme: Carl Heneghan, Theme Lead
Clinical Trials Theme: Ly-Mee Yu, Theme Lead
Health Policy and Health Systems Theme: Polly Kerr, NIHR Oxford BRC PPI Manager
Big Data: Nicola Pidduck, Personal Assistant to Prof Rafael Perera
Centre for Health Service Economics and Organisation: Raphael Wittenberg, Deputy Director
