Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)

How does PIRU think about PPIE?

PPIE is an essential element of PIRU. We are committed to including the diverse views and expertise of members of the public, and especially the voices of people who are less often heard.

We have a PPIE panel whose members advise on our programme of work, join our team meetings and help us focus our research on real-world needs and concerns. We also involve members of the public in individual projects. They work as equal partners with researchers in designing and conducting studies, reviewing and sharing findings, or identifying impact. You can find out more in our PPIE strategy.

What is PPIE?

We understand public involvement in research as: research that is conducted ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public, rather than ‘to’, ‘for’ or ‘about’ them. Members of the public include patients, family members, and carers. They also include people who use social care, people from patient or carer organisations and anyone who could be affected by the research or its findings.

Why is PPIE important in research?

We want to make sure that as many people as possible can benefit from our research, especially those most affected by it. PPIE members help us identify the questions that should be asked and think about how the research might go about answering them. They also help us understand what the findings might mean, and how they can be presented so that they are easy to access and understand. This way, we can make sure we answer the questions important to people affected by the research and its findings.

What is expected of PPIE members?

You don’t need any previous PPIE experience or specialist knowledge. You are an expert by experience, and we are interested to hear your perspectives and ideas.

You can be involved as much (or as little) as you feel comfortable. You will be paid for being involved, and there are opportunities for mentorship and training if you would like to learn more about the research process and PPIE.