Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement
Patients, carers, and communities are at the heart of our research. Through Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), we work in partnership to shape studies that are inclusive, relevant, and make a real difference to people’s lives.
What is PPIE?
PPIE means working with patients, public, carers, and communities at every stage of research. Rather than research being done about people, it is done with and for them. Community partners bring their experiences, insights and priorities, helping to ensure that our research truly reflects what matters most.
Why PPIE matters
PPIE is embedded across all our work. Involving people from the start helps us focus on real-world needs, tackle health inequalities, and create research that improves everyday lives. Working side by side with the public also builds trust, openness, and accountability in how research is carried out.
How we work together
- Community partners and researchers co-develop research questions, study designs, and study materials.
- We interpret findings together, co-author publications, and agree on the most meaningful ways to share results.
- We actively connect with underserved and under-represented communities so that a wide range of voices and perspectives shape our work.
Examples of involvement
- Parents and young people’s groups. Families help shape family-focused research, ensuring studies are accessible and relevant.
- Condition-specific groups. People with lived experience of familial hypercholesterolaemia, breast cancer, or diabetic foot ulcers guide projects and share perspectives, often in partnership with charities such as Heart UK and Breast Cancer Now.
- Community connectors. Trusted individuals from local communities act as a bridge between researchers and participants. They bring cultural insight, support recruitment, provide translation, and help share findings in ways that are meaningful locally.
- Working with underserved communities. Our teams have partnered with diverse groups across Nottingham and the Midlands on projects in areas such as dementia and genomics/precision medicine. These collaborations have helped shape more inclusive study designs and ensure that people who are often under-represented in research have a voice.
- Building long-term networks: To make these relationships sustainable, we are co-developing the Underserved Communities Advisory Network (U-CAN). This initiative is creating lasting, trust-based partnerships to embed the perspectives of ethnic minority, low-income, and other under-represented communities in health research.
Get involved
You don’t need research experience to contribute - just an interest in helping to shape health research. Training and support are available, and everyone’s input is valued.
- For opportunities at the University of Nottingham, contact: spcr-support@nottingham.ac.uk
- For details about specific PPI groups, please visit the individual project or research group websites.