Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research
Patients and the public with relevant lived experience influencing what and how health and medical research is done.
What is patient and public involvement in research?
Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research is an active partnership between patients/public and researchers in the research process. It is different from people taking part in research studies.
Anyone can take part in PPI - patients (current and recovered), members of the public, carers, people who use health services as well as those from organisations that represent people who use services all have valuable experience and insight to bring to research.
The Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences is committed to continually improving and developing its PPI, and is in the process of producing an updated strategy to demonstrate this.
WHY IS PPi important?
PPI in health research is important for a number of reasons:
- Patients and the public are experts with lived experience that can make research more relevant and ensure it addresses the things that matter to people.
- PPI can help to ensure research is more ethical and accessible.
- Lots of research is funded by public money, so people have a right to a say in how it is spent.
- Funders are increasingly demanding high quality, appropriate PPI in applications.
Keep in touch
The local Working Together Operational Group produces a PPI newsletter every other month.
Making a difference
Lay leader Karen Maskell was awarded for her work in setting up Health Makers.
How to get involved
Information for researchers
Our comprehensive PPI guidance for researchers covers everything you need to know to incorporate PPI into your research.
PPI case studies
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:
Departmental PPI network
Within the department, staff from different teams help to ensure PPI is embedded in research projects and develop relationships with PPI contributors. The departmental PPI network is made up of these PPI liaisons as well as dedicated PPI practitioners and researchers whose work focuses on PPI.
Health Behaviours: Anisa Hajizadeh, Public Health Researcher and DPhil student
MS and HERG: Angela Martin, Operations Manager
Cardiovascular Disease: Bethany Jakubowski, Qualitative Researcher
CEBM: Anne-Marie Boylan, Department Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow
Digital Health and Innovation: Laura Armitage, Clinical Doctoral Fellow
Big Data: Nicola Pidduck, Project Manager
Centre for Health Service Economics and Organisation: Raphael Wittenberg, Deputy Director
Interdisciplinary Research in Health Sciences: Joanna Crocker, Senior Researcher
Interdisciplinary Resarch in Health Sciences: Stuart Faulkner, Programme and Operations Manager
Infections and Acute Care: Philip Turner, Manager and Senior Researcher
