It's a big week in research. To mark International Clinical Trials Day on Saturday 20th May, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is promoting its 'I Am Research' (#iamresearch) national campaign to raise awareness of the part played by patients, carers and the public in making research happen. From today until well into … Continue reading Patients are part of the crew in health research not passengers. This week you can support them by getting behind the #iamresearch @OfficialNIHR #ICTD campaign
public engagement in research
Patients and the public are vital to science’s role in a post #Brexit Britain. A response to Pfizer’s MD, Erik Nordkamp
I do try to live up to my Tunbridge Wells postcode by firing off regular 'disgusted' letters to the press and, in particular, The Daily Telegraph (DT). On Monday Erik Nordkamp, Pfizer's Managing Director, wrote this article about the importance of the life sciences industry to a post-Brexit economic strategy. So I sent this to … Continue reading Patients and the public are vital to science’s role in a post #Brexit Britain. A response to Pfizer’s MD, Erik Nordkamp
The NHS is becoming like the Trevi Fountain…#sixprinciples
I am sure many of you will have heard the legend about the Trevi Fountain in Rome which inspired the 1954 film 'Three Coins in the Trevi Fountain' and title song. It says you must throw three coins into the fountain: the first guarantees your return to Rome, the second leads to a new romance, … Continue reading The NHS is becoming like the Trevi Fountain…#sixprinciples
Today’s public involvement in health research t-shirt
I didn't know this but, apparently, the word 't-shirt' does not just refer to the summer garment. It can also be used to describe a very brief 'blog posting.' There, I bet you feel better for knowing that? Anyway, here's my washed, cleaned and ironed t-shirt for today. Later this afternoon I am speaking to … Continue reading Today’s public involvement in health research t-shirt
A town hall meeting in Camden held a mirror up to public engagement British style and it wasn’t pretty
I was at Camden Town Hall on Monday night with a couple of hundred other citizens. We came together to talk about clinical research and I got a real kick out of it. The occasion was the first ever 'Clinical Research Education Event' held in the UK by the American non-profit organisation, the Centre for … Continue reading A town hall meeting in Camden held a mirror up to public engagement British style and it wasn’t pretty
Public engagement in research must break through its rose-tinted glass ceiling #engage_2015
On Wednesday a consortium of 15 research funders and Universities UK led by the Wellcome Trust published its report 'Factors affecting public engagement by researchers.' The Wellcome Trust launch website is here and the report itself can be found here. It's an important piece of work; a 'state of the nation' commentary on public engagement activity across … Continue reading Public engagement in research must break through its rose-tinted glass ceiling #engage_2015
Review of public involvement in NIHR published #ppiextramile
Hot off the presses: Almost a year to the day that the Director General Research and Development/Chief Medical Officer commissioned a strategic review of public involvement in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the final report and recommendations have today been published. Simon Denegri, the National Director for Patients and the Public in Research … Continue reading Review of public involvement in NIHR published #ppiextramile
Should we be stopping people in the street about their health? But not in our slippers.
I live in Tunbridge Wells. I would be happiest in Chester. I should avoid Wealden. But if I couldn't make the journey then Sevenoaks is my best bet. That's what I learnt from the interactive test entitled 'Where in Britain would you be happiest?' that's now available on the BBC website. Do it. It's fascinating. The foundation … Continue reading Should we be stopping people in the street about their health? But not in our slippers.