This page is for patients, carers, families and members of the public who would like to find out more about getting involved in research at the NIHR St George’s Clinical Research Facility.
Clinical research is for everyone. It helps us understand health and disease, improve current treatments and develop new ways of caring for people in the future. Research would not be possible without people like you taking part, sharing your views and helping shape what we do.
At NIHR St George’s Clinical Research Facility (CRF), we want patients and the public to be at the centre of our research — from study design and set-up, through to recruitment, participation, feedback and sharing results.
What is Patient and Public Involvement?
Patient and Public Involvement, often shortened to PPI, means research is carried out with or by patients and the public, rather than simply to, about or for them. This approach is also used by Cambridge CRF in its patient and public information pages. This means patients, carers and members of the public can help shape research by sharing their lived experience, views and ideas. You might help by:
- Commenting on patient information sheets
- Helping researchers make study materials easier to understand
- Sharing what matters most to patients and families
- Advising on how studies can be more accessible
- Supporting community engagement
- Helping improve the participant experience
- Giving feedback on how research findings are shared
- Be a member of our PPI Steering Group.
You do not need research experience to get involved. Your personal experience, questions and perspective are valuable.
What is participation in research?
Participation means taking part in a research study or clinical trial.
If you are a patient at St George’s, you may be invited to take part in a study if your clinical team thinks there may be a suitable opportunity for you. Taking part is always your choice. If you decide not to take part, your treatment and care will not be affected.
You can also speak to your doctor or one of our research nurses to find out whether there are any studies you may be eligible for. St George’s also signposts patients to studies currently recruiting at St George’s and to the national NIHR Be Part of Research service.
Before joining a study, the research team will explain:
- Why the study is being carried out
- What taking part would involve
- Any possible risks or benefits
- How your information will be used
- Who to contact with questions
- Your right to withdraw
You will have time to ask questions and decide whether taking part is right for you.
Why involvement, engagement and participation matter
At the NIHR St George’s Clinical Research Facility, we support a wide range of clinical trials and research studies across different conditions and specialties. Patients and the public are central to how our facility operates, from study set-up and outreach through to recruitment and participant experience.
Our Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation work helps us:
- Make research more relevant to patients and communities
- Improve the way studies are designed and delivered
- Make information clearer and easier to understand
- Increase awareness of research opportunities
- Improve equity of access to clinical trials
- Include people and communities who are often underrepresented in research
- Learn from feedback and improve the participant experience
Our current aims include incorporating patient and public views through co-design and feedback, improving equity of access to clinical trials, providing engagement and education opportunities, and building local partnerships to reach diverse communities.
Research for our local community
St George’s serves a diverse population across South West London. We want the research we support to reflect the people and communities around us.
That means listening to different voices, working with local communities and making sure that people from a range of backgrounds have opportunities to learn about, shape and take part in research. We are especially committed to improving access for groups who have historically been less represented in health research.
How you can get involved
There are different ways to get involved, depending on your interests, experience and availability.
You could:
- Join our Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation Steering Group
- Share your experience as a patient, carer or member of the public
- Give feedback on study documents or research ideas
- Help us improve how we communicate about research
- Attend research events or engagement activities
- Help us reach local communities
- Take part in a study, where a suitable opportunity is available
If you are interested in shaping clinical research and are local to South West London, we would like to hear from you.
To express your interest or find out more, please contact the Patient and Public Engagement team by email on: [email protected]
Taking part is always your choice
Whether you are giving feedback, joining an involvement group, attending an event or taking part in a study, your involvement is voluntary.
You can ask questions at any time, and you can decide what level of involvement feels right for you.
Our team will support you with clear information, respectful communication and a welcoming environment.