Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)

Centre PPI Steering Group Meeting - 14th November 2011

Members of the CR-UK Centre PPI Steering Group met for the first time on 14th November 2011 to discuss the Terms of Reference and Remit of the Group.

Dr Seema Chauhan outlined the need for PPI for the Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit; Lorraine Turner, Centre Senior Research Nurse addressed the group on her role and training available for group members and future recruits; and Emma Squibb spoke on the Centre's engagement with the local community.

Members who already sit on committees shared their roles and experiences with members of the Group who were new to PPI, and highlighted the areas where involvement is possible.

Minutes of the meeting will be available to download shortly.

Get Involved! - Wednesday 16th March 2-4pm

Thanks to all who joined us for an informal event at the University of Liverpool’s Cancer Research UK Centre to find out more and how you could get involved in the region’s cancer research, trials, treatment and support services.

Feedback was excellent and several of the attendees have subsequently helped out with Centre activities including outreach work, lab tours, focus groups, events and publicity. We have had several enquiries from people expressing an interest in coming to our next Open Day.

27 members of the public visited the Centre on 16th March to find out how they could become involved in volunteering opportunities at the Royal, Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, and Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

The visitors heard from Lead Cancer Nurse at the Royal Gill Hamblin, Dr. Seema Chauhan, Operational Director of LCTU, Joan Elmer, the Manager of Sunflowers Cancer Support Centre and local fundraiser Bernie Singleton.

The visitors also enjoyed tours of the labs conducted by Dr. Ricardo Nunes Bastos and Dr. Shirley Smith.

Download the flyer.

Find a Researcher

The Centre brings together The University of Liverpool's basic and clinical scientists conducting dynamic interdisciplinary cancer research.

Centre Seminar Series

The Centre's seminars are held every Friday at 1pm in the Cancer Research UK Centre Lecture Theatre. All welcome to attend.

The calendar of events is regularly updated and is available for download.

Forthcoming Guest Speakers

24th FEBRUARY 2012, 1pm
Dr Miguel Martins
University of Leicester, More...

28th FEBRUARY 2012, 5.15pm
Dr Elad Katz
University of Edinburgh, More...

Postgraduate Programme

The University of Liverpool offers one of the best Ph.D. programmes in the U.K., and has been ranked 4th in a study of completion rates for Ph.D. students at universities by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Liverpool CRUK Centre Clinical Fellowship entry has closed for 2012

Centre Resources

Development Fund.

Core Facilities:

- MISSION whole genome lentiviral shRNA library.

- Technology

- Medical Statistics & Bioinformatics

Donation Station Update

	Managers from local Cancer Research UK shops have been delighted to receive more than 513 bags worth
up to £15,390. Please keep your donations coming in so we can reach our new target of 350 bags. Collection points are in the Centre's foyer, Duncan Building, and DSO office.

Patient and Public Involvement

Getting involved in research activities

Many patients and public members work with researcher professionals and clinicians (e.g. doctors, nurses) and get actively involved in the different stages of research and associated activities. Active involvement in clinical research is very different from being a participant in a study.
It means:
• research done with members of the public, not to, about or for them
• getting involved in the research process or activity itself
• making sure that clinical research is relevant, useful and to the benefit of the public.

There are a range of activities that patients and public members may be able to get involved in, with opportunity to choose what interests them. Examples include:

• Helping to identify research that is important and relevant
• Helping to choose important topics for research
• Helping to develop patient information leaflets
• Helping to support a research project or advisory group as a member
• Helping to develop accessible information and research news
• Helping to support and promote good research

Getting actively involved can lead to:
• More relevant research questions being asked resulting in more useful research
• More sensitive approaches to people who take part in studies as ‘participants’
• Helping to keep the research on track
• Greater opportunities to share research news with patients and the public.

Patients and the public may benefit from being actively involved:
• By having a say in research
• Through sharing their experience
• By getting research started that is important to them
• By learning more about research activities
• Through meeting new people – researchers, members of the public and other people from different networks
• By gaining confidence and new skills
• By having the chance to make a contribution.

Patients and the public may get paid for their involvement depending on what they are doing. Sometimes getting involved is unpaid. This information will always be made clear at the beginning of involvement. Any expenses you incur will always be reimbursed.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE: Patients and network staff talk about their experiences of being involved in clinical research.

(Click the screen [left] to view Flash or Windows MediaPlayer version on the NIHR website; running time approx. 15mins)

If you found this film interesting, you may want to read the following publications prepared by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR):

1) Understanding Clinical Trials (PDF)

2) Clinical trials - what they are and what they are not (PDF)

To find out more about getting involved contact the Liverpool CRUK Centre Administrator.