Patient and public involvement in research
How you can help shape research into prostate cancer
Volunteer to help shape research with your lived experience of prostate cancer, whether you yourself have been diagnosed or if you’re a relative, partner or close family friend of someone who has been diagnosed.
Why be involved in research?
Researchers want to learn from those who have direct experience of prostate cancer. You can help shape how they carry out their research, ensuring that the views and experiences of those affected by prostate cancer inform their work. Your input could have a longer-term impact on improving how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated.
As a member of the public, influenced by your knowledge and experience as a patient, carer, relative or friend of someone who has been affected by prostate cancer, you have a valuable point of view. You are an expert from your experience and know the issues which concern those affected by prostate cancer.
What is involvement in research?
Patients and the public can get involved in research to shape what research gets done, how it is carried out, and how the results are shared and applied in practice. Involvement in research is research done with or by patients and the public. Involvement in research not the same as taking part or participating in a research study.
Taking part in a research study
Participation in research is about people giving formal consent and taking part in a trial or study. If you are a prostate cancer patient and interested in taking part in a study, please talk to your hospital team. To help with your discussions with your hospital team, you can also contact our specialist nurses for information about clinical trials which may be suitable in your circumstances.
How you can get involved
We'd be delighted for you to get involved in shaping research into prostate cancer. We offer two routes to volunteer and be involved in research.
1) Joining our Patient Representative Network
Great if you .... • Are new to being involved in research and/or would like to gain some experience in involvement. • Would like to give involvement in research a go to see if it's for you. • Would prefer taking on involvement opportunities on a more flexible time basis.
2) Becoming a Patient & Public Involvement Representative
Great if you.... • Have some previous experience of involvement in research, or evaluation and critiquing patient and public involvement in research funding applications. • Can commit to preparing for and attending four to five meetings per year. • Are willing to represent the views of those living with prostate cancer as part of our scientific committee.