This is a review into public involvement in research with a specific focus on non-clinical health and biomedical research. It explores public involvement culture and practice within MRC and the external research landscape.
We commissioned Vocal to conduct the review. The team included:
- researchers
- public involvement practitioners
- public partners
Vocal worked with an external advisory group including:
- public partners
- involvement practitioners
- scientists and researchers
- representatives of research organisations
Summary of review findings
The findings show that there is a significant amount of active public involvement taking place across the wider landscape of non-clinical research and within MRC.
To enable and achieve the potential of public involvement, we need to develop our culture, within head office and in the MRC-funded research community. Research environments should enable person-focused, inclusive, reciprocal and valued relationships with people, patients and communities.
The review provides:
- recommendations to support the development of a new MRC public involvement and engagement strategy
- knowledge and evidence to support the growing community of practice in public involvement with non-clinical health research
Read a personal perspective on the benefits of taking public involvement into the research lab, by Rachel Knowles, Lead for Clinical Research Policy, Ethics and Governance at MRC.
Co-developing our public partnerships strategy
With Vocal and the external advisory group we ran a series of workshops (June to July 2023).
In the workshops we explored:
- what people would like to see in the MRC public involvement and engagement vision and priorities
- what would be needed to deliver it in practice
Attendees included:
- MRC staff
- researchers
- funders
- public involvement and public engagement professionals
- public or community contributors
Following the co-development workshops, we continued to work with our external advisory group and sought input from other stakeholders.
The consultation on the draft MRC public partnerships strategy ran from 8 to 29 January 2024. The results are being reviewed and will inform the final strategy due to be published in spring to summer 2024.