We welcome the involvement of patients, carers and other members of the public. You can help improve research and make sure it benefits the people and communities who need it most.
Many involvement activities take place online as well as in person. Here you can find some tips and resources on virtual participation that you may find helpful. If you require any assistance or have any concerns about virtual participation please contact Rachel Taylor rachel.taylor@ouh.nhs.uk M:07500 095526.
Some of the ways you can get involved are described below.
Introductory Videos
You can help researchers to do health research
Some of the ways people help researchers are:
- deciding what area of a specific disease area to research
- creating written material that is easily understood by patients
- getting involved in research funding applications
- checking how research is progressing
- making sure the research reaches the people that need it most
If you are new to patient and public involvement in research, this guide provides useful information about getting started in research: Starting Out Guide – Why and how to get involved in research (nihr.ac.uk)
If you are interested in getting involved in research at Oxford BRC please contact Rachel Taylor at rachel.taylor@ouh.nhs.uk or GetinvolvedOBRC@ouh.nhs.uk.
You can also contact one of the patient and public involvement groups which look at different conditions and areas of research, such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory, musculoskeletal and vaccines.
You can sign up for a weekly email bulletin of opportunities to get involved with research in Oxford and the Thames Valley. You can register here for this bulletin.
If you would like to find out about opportunities to get involved across the UK please look at – People in Research.
Here are some stories about people supporting researchers – healthtalk.org.
You can attend or listen to talks and events about health research
You can watch films about medical research and Oxford BRC’s work as well as films about Covid-19 research.
These are some webinars which are specifically for patients and members of the public who are or are thinking about being involved with research.
University of Oxford
Here are some up and coming events about health and medical research. Some of these are open to everyone, click on the talk you are interested in to find out if it is open to the public.
Here is information explaining the types of public events the University of Oxford runs about health and medical research, such as working with schools and museums.
Here are some Industry Insight Seminars showing University of Oxford works with industry to progress research.
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Some public events run by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley.
Some public events run by the Working Together Group, a group which brings together NIHR organisations from across the Thames Valley and Milton Keynes, including the Oxford BRC, with a shared interest in developing patient and public involvement, co-production, person-centred care and research.
You can be a participant on a research study
Being a participant on a research trial means you give formal consent to take part in a trial or study. An example, would be a patient who has breast cancer and is a participant on a research study investigating treatment for this condition.
If you are interested in being a participant in a research study in Oxfordshire, visit the page for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust trials.
You can find out about research projects happening across the Thames Valley here https://thamesvalleyresearch.nihr.ac.uk/ and the UK on the Be Part of Research website.
For more information on signing up to be part of a trial:
Trials seeking volunteers – Oxford University Hospitals (ouh.nhs.uk)
Be Part of Research (nihr.ac.uk)
Information for researchers
The PPI guidance for researchers is currently being comprehensively updated. New resources will be available on this page from mid-November 2021.
In the meantime, if you have any queries or need support, please contact Rachel Taylor (rachel.taylor@ouh.nhs.uk) or view these resources and advice for researchers.
If you’re looking for people to get involved in your research, you can post an opportunity.
Author: Rachel Taylor, Public and Community Involvement, Engagement and Participation Lead
Diversity Seminar
In February 2022, Corina Cheeks and Shamsideen Knowlton, two members of the Diversity in Research Group participated in a Diversity Seminar with researchers organised by the University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences. An edited version of the seminar is here: