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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.

Register for updates

Making a difference

Lay leader Karen Maskell was awarded for her work in setting up Health Makers.  

Find out more

How to get involved

Work with researchers to prioritise and shape research, join a project steering group, or comment on research materials.
Find out more

Information for researchers

Our comprehensive guide for researchers includes an A-Z of incorporating PPI activities in research studies.
Find out more

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

Hosted PPI Leads