I want to help with research

By getting involved in research, you can help make research more relevant and useful to patients, carers and the public. By working with researchers, you will improve research and make a difference to the way health and social care is provided in the future.

What can I contribute to research?

Your knowledge from having experienced your own care, or the care of others, is of great value to researchers. Researchers may have textbook knowledge about different conditions but unless they have also lived through it, there will be gaps in their understanding.

You won’t be expected to have technical knowledge of how research works. The knowledge you have as a patient, carer or member of the public is what’s unique about your contribution.

“Your role is to be a critical friend to researchers. You will see the research from your perspective and advise researchers on how their research could be better. Sometimes this can just seem like common sense to you, but it will be valuable feedback for the researchers.” Amander, Norwich

What difference will I make?

You can make a difference at any and every stage of research. Your contributions can help shape the thinking behind the planning and delivery of a research project. In addition, your voice can influence people beyond the research team, including the people who take part in the research and the people who use the results. Sometimes the involvement of patients, carers and members of the public determines whether a project gets funded, whether it runs successfully and whether the results change practice.

In the case studies below, you can read about examples of research where patients and the public have made a big difference to the project:

Earlier diagnosis of dementia in patients

Routes to Wellness: a person centred approach to research

NIHR supports global pharma company's patient-focused approach to breast cancer trials

Why do researchers want to involve the public in their research?

Most researchers are aware of the benefits of involvement and therefore want to do it well. They want to learn from their conversations with patients, carers and the public. They will often make changes to their ideas and plans as a result.

Researchers have an added incentive to involve people in their work. When they apply for funding, they are often asked how they have involved patients and the public in developing their proposal, and how they will involve them in carrying out the research. The UK Standards for Public Involvement provide a framework for researchers, showing them what good public involvement looks like.

Shaping health and social care research

Access People in Research, a list of opportunities for members of the public to get involved in research. You can sign up to receive email alerts when a new opportunity is added that matches your interests.

Joining a committee is also an opportunity to be involved in research and learn more about the process. Our different committees decide which research projects to fund and priorities. Explore more about joining a committee.

Why do people decide to get involved in research?

People who get involved in research have different reasons for wanting to do it. Some people have had a difficult experience and appreciate being able to do something positive with it. Others have had very good experiences, and see their involvement as an opportunity to ‘give something back’.

For most people, it’s about wanting to make a difference – so that in the future, care will be better for the people who come after them.

“I still have my condition, but my experiences and other people’s experiences can help to change things. I know what we do makes a difference, maybe not to my health, but to someone else’s, to future generations. To be able to be part of that journey by being involved is an amazing thing to do.” Diana, PenARC Peninsula Public Engagement Group member, Exeter

Find out more about getting involved in research