At the NIHR Imperial Clinical Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital in West London, we are carrying out a wide range of clinical trials looking at new ways of treating or preventing a wide range of conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and malaria.

We are fortunate to have many people taking part in our clinical trials, either because they or their family members have a condition being studied, or as healthy volunteers.
However, we’ve decided to take things a step further and not only have people taking part in our clinical trials but also help design them.

We define patient and public involvement in research as research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. This includes, for example, patients, carers, and members of the public working with us to prioritize research, offering advice as members of a project steering group, commenting on and developing research materials, and undertaking interviews with research participants.

The Imperial CRF PPI Panel is a group of people who help us improve the way we carry out research by sharing their thoughts and opinions on how clinical trials are run from a lay person’s point of view.

You can help us at all stages of the research, from identifying topics for research to reviewing participant information sheets to make sure they are easy for people to understand, as well as to help us share the results. Even though some PPI opportunities may require regular commitment or one-off commitment, many of our activities will take place online so you can complete them in your own time. You can also pick and choose the activities you wish to take part in. In return, we will offer free training and support. If you are invited to travel to the ICRF for activities such as focus groups we will pay for your travel and related expenses.

Activities members of the panel could be invited to take part in include:

  • Commenting/advising on PPI plans in research projects or suggesting PPI plans where there are none.
  • Designing and commenting on research materials such as drafts, research protocols, research funding applications, questionnaires, patient information sheets and consent forms including the use of lay language.
  • Identifying and facilitating ways that patients/members of the public are involved in research e.g. developing research tools and information, gathering and reviewing documentary evidence, analysing and interpreting the results of research.
  • Disseminating information, in other organisations or networks, writing progress reports or newsletters, lay summaries of research results, giving public talks, presenting at conferences and events, being a co-author on a journal article or newsletters.
  • Supporting researchers to evaluate the impact of patient and public involvement, e. recording short and long-term impacts from your perspective, supporting the establishment of monitoring and evaluation PPI and PE mechanisms in research.
  • Advising on ways to recruit patients and members of the public to take part in clinical trials as participants.

If you would like to find out more, please call our Patient and Public Involvement Manager, on 020 3313 1312, or complete our PPI registration form - PPI Registration Form V6

Download a copy of our leaflet PPI Leaflet (pdf)

You can view our NIHR Imperial CRF PPIE Strategy 2022-27 (pdf) NIHR Imperial CRF PPIE Strategy 2022-27 (htm)

PPI panel testimonials

Anna Dawson

‘My involvement with the lay role in research began when I had a hip replacement operation. As part of the pre-op review there was a question asking whether I would get involved in post-op review of my experience. While doing that I was asked would I be interested in getting more involved in other types of research. (Slowly but surely I was being lured into the whole business) I contacted NIHR (as, yes it was them) and completed their list of topics I would be interested in contributing to. Once I had actually retired I did accept some reviewing and found it very interesting…and a great way of keeping my brain active, and feeling that I was making a worthwhile contribution.

The reasons above are obviously part of the reason I have become increasingly involved. I am now a lay reviewer for a number of charities as well as NIHR and your own organisation…I am even a co-applicant on one project I got involved in!! It uses the skills from my work life…I was a lecturer in an FE/HE college and taught research methods and supervised dissertations and since I had gone back to University for an MA Ed as a mature student I was still enthused about learning generally and didn’t want to let all that learning and experience just drift away. This job has provided me with the challenges and stimulation (without all the administration and meetings!!!) of my original workplace role; while giving me control over the amount of work I take on…the ideal work/life balance so to speak.

I am genuinely not sure how I originally got involved with this organisation.. I just clicked on one of the INVOLVE research opportunities I think…But I am very glad I did. This has been a very positive experience both in terms of the challenges it has delivered and the variety of the topics I have covered. The contacts I have made have been supportive and friendly and put up with my technological quirks and shortcomings. I look forward to continuing my association with this organisation for as long as my aging brain is able to contribute!!’

Jeremy Dearling

'I’ve long been an admirer of P.G. Wodehouse, so much so that when occasionally faced with a mildly diverting question I’ve pondered upon “WWWD?” “What Would Wooster Do?”, and such an occasion arose some six years ago to ask this very thing.  There was I, standing in the glittering metal and glass concourse that only the best NHS PFI schemes could squeeze from the Treasury, to find my eyes resting on a leaflet asking if I would be interested in helping research.

“This can’t be right, Jeeves”, I said, “Here’s some cove asking for my opinion. No one ever asks for my opinion.  Aunt Agatha positively insists I keep my opinions to myself”. I read on, only to discover that the opinions of ordinary members of the public are genuinely welcomed by people wanting to do research to further the aims of medicine and surgery.  One coffee later had me signed up to a forum of PPI members, and I found myself in a community of like-minded people.  We all had our different stories to tell, but we all had one single thing in common.  We care passionately about furthering research, and we all have opinions.

It amazes me still how the diversity of public voice, enriched and gilded with real-life experience, can illumine the eyes and senses of medical research. We help researchers avoid making fundamental blunders, is the bottom line, and their gratitude is evident in that they keep coming back for more.

Now, six years down the road, I find myself on PPI panels across the country in a range of institutions. I’m involved jointly in everything from just exploring ideas to funding decisions.  It’s immensely rewarding, fulfilling, and I would recommend it to everyone young and old from every walk of life.  All our opinions matter, amazingly, and the opinions of ordinary people brings energy into the research discussion, so if you were in any doubt whether to become part of the PPI discussion doubt no more.  Go for it.'

Rebecca Harmston

My background is in Scientific Research and I used to work for both Biochemistry at Cambridge University and in a tumour imaging laboratory at Cancer Research UK. I resigned from CRUK due to ill health after a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease and Osteo-arthritis. One day travelling on a train between Norwich and Cambridge I met the manager of our local Norfolk based patient involvement group PPIRes and decided to join the panel. Over the last six years my patient involvement experience has “snowballed” and I am now a member of six national health research committees as a Lay Member including RfPB, NICE Technology Appraisal and the Health Technology Assessment Panel.

I enjoy taking part PPI research as I think the patients should be heard and listened to as this is research which effects them directly. As a scientist I know that academics often have a very focused view of research based on outcomes and scientific questions. As a patient involvement advocate I have the chance to influence current research and change the outcomes for patients. For me patient involvement has become a new career and a chance to influence research at a national level.

I tend to review documents for the ICRF by email as I am based in Norfolk but always look forward to hearing and becoming involved in new projects.

Martin Lee

I have been fortunate to be associated with patient and public involvement since 2009, as soon as treatment for my Head and Neck cancer was completed – in both research and clinical services, in the UK and Europe.

I have learnt a lot from my involvement, not only regarding the many aspects of health research, legislation, and the importance of communication, but also in working with professionals and patient contributors.

Originally my involvement, in 2009, was with the Dorset Cancer Trust where I established support groups focusing on the long-term rehabilitation needs of cancer survivors, having identified several patient unmet needs and a lack of ongoing support for cancer survivors.

In 2010, on my return to London, I was invited to join the Royal Marsden Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and their Clinical Research Facility (CRF), the later focusing on imaging and nuclear medicine, as a patient representative, where I became chair of the BRC PPI research strategy panel. I also developed the PPI strategy for the National Blood and Transplant Units as well as developing PPI strategies for the Royal Marsden.

I was the Royal Marsden representative (PPI) on the 100,000 Genomics project at Imperial. After that I was employed in Vienna as Head of PPI with the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) to design, develop and implement PPI across their member states, continuing my involvement with the Royal Marsden and the position of deputy chair of PPI with the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMC). I am also a member of the Institute on Cancer Research (ICR) Clinical Trials and Statistic Unit Research Advisory Group.

I enjoy all aspects of working in research and frequently work with the Royal Marsden Learning and Support Group, providing education presentations to both clinical, research professionals and public contributors regarding various aspects of PPI.

Being involved in research is not only interesting and rewarding, but it also allows the patient voice to steer the future of health benefit for the population. PPI is seen to improve both the relevance and quality of health research and the interface between professional researchers and public contributors adds the essential lived experience to the design of a research study.

I only joined Imperial CRF at the beginning of 2025 and am very much looking forward to contributing to the cutting-edge research undertaken by the Imperial CRF.

Deb Smith

I initially started doing patient and public involvement work as I myself have a number of long term health conditions and knew that at times the care I had received could have been much better and the same was true for many people I knew. It is this that continues to drive me to try and get health and social care the best it can be for everyone. If you like, a legacy for my god children and their peers.

I find the work rewarding as I see the views myself and others give make an impact on how research is shaped and allow us to use good or bad experiences to try and ensure the best for those to come. I enjoy learning and meeting new people and have become more confident and open to new things in all parts of my life.

Wassila Tanswell

As one of the leading experts in academic research methodologies, I have taught and supervised research projects and respectively designed and developed Postgraduate Degrees aimed at highlighting an extensive understanding of the principles of research methodologies. I have empowered researchers with the processes and tools to create their respective research design, sampling techniques, data collection and data analysis methods. In doing so, the objective was to promote research underpinned by rigour, consistency and validation.

Beyond academia, I have contributed to a diverse range of public sector clients’ management of change programmes with thought leadership and solutions, to include professional development strategies. Since 2000, I have contributed to several PPP/PFI initiatives, where I have worked on and led a number of strategic initiatives in EMEA, funded by Central Governments, Corporates, the UN, and the World Economic Forum. 

After a health scare and a major operation at Hammersmith Hospital as well as taking part in a clinical trial, I wanted to give thanks by giving back. Since last year, I volunteer with PPI/Imperial, and I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and expertise when and where they make a difference.   

Working closely with the NIHR Imperial Clinical Research coordinator, we provide objective feedback, and the guidance required to achieve their strategic goals and plans, on select clinical trials, and we also review documentation that will be shared with patients. Separately, we contribute with our input to content development and presentation. This is a true partnership and a fruitful collaboration which delivers a voice for the patients and support for NIHR. 

Last summer, I attended the 2024 NIHR/UKCRF conference with its major aim “making the invisible visible”. A multitude of challenges have been highlighted by researchers and how much is still needed to be done to generate inclusive research.  

It was also an opportunity to meet with counterpart/volunteers from across the UK as well as NIHR staff.  

Recently, I was invited to be part of the Moorfield Research Advisory Group aimed at promoting Diversity in Research, tackling Data Health Poverty, and Mistrust for Research. 

As a CRF/NIHR volunteer, the overall experience is very rewarding and the NIHR team are highly professional and most pleasant to deal with.  

NIHR Imperial CRF

General enquiries


imperial.crf@nhs.net
+44 (0)20 3313 8070

Core operating hours
Monday to Thursday
 - 08.00 to 20.00

Friday
 - 08.00 to 18.00