PPI advice for researchers
It is never too early to request help in developing your PPI – make contact with the RDS team as soon as you start developing your proposal
Simply complete a contact form online – after which a meeting will be arranged with a First Contact Facilitator (FCF). PPI will be discussed in this first meeting with the FCF, as well as reference made to key support documents.
If further specialist advice is needed a meeting will be arranged with one of our PPI Specialist advisers.
In addition, researchers are offered the opportunity of presenting their research idea to the RDS NENC Public Involvement Consumer Panel. For information on the panel, please visit our Consumer Panel page.
The RDS NENC has a limited fund available to assist researchers with the cost of running PI activities. For more information on the Public Involvement Fund please visit our Public Involvement Fund page.
COVID-19 PPI advice
Despite the ongoing situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) we continue to provide PPI support via virtual/online PPI Consumer Panel discussion groups. The RDS PPI lead recently contributed to a blog Public involvement during a pandemic: how we are supporting researchers which outlines some of the things to consider if you are planning on conducting online PPI during this current Pandemic.
“I received wonderful support from the NIHR RDS NENC when applying for my NIHR fellowship. It was fantastic that the RDS had a PPI panel already set up who I could go to gain their views on my research ideas and how I was communicating these. For the nature of my research it was really useful that the panel spanned across people from all walks of life and wasn’t limited to only those with a certain disease condition. The process for accessing and engaging with this PPI group was easy to follow and comprehensive. I submitted information beforehand and then had written feedback to review and reflect upon. On the day the panel were really welcoming, interested and engaged. They were happy to share their thoughts and suggestions and my research proposal was definitely strengthened as a result of their contributions. For example, I revisited the rationale for the project, making more emphasis on certain points the panel felt important to stress. I also changed some of the terminology I was using to make it more accessible and understandable on the basis of the feedback I received. In particular the PPI group were really involved in shaping the plain English summary of the research and I received feedback from the NIHR panel reviewing my application that this was recognised; The plain English summary is admirably clear; perhaps because there was PPI in its production.”
Sarah, Senior Clinical Lecturer