NIHR launches new standards for public involvement in research

The six standards aim to provide concise benchmarks for effective public involvement, alongside indicators against which improvement can be monitored, it said.

Developed through an 18-month partnership bringing together members of the public with representatives from the NIHR (England), the Chief Scientist Office (Scotland), Health and Care Research Wales and the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), the standards are designed to encourage self reflection and learning.

"They are not designed as rules, or to provide fixed ideas about public involvement in research," the groups stressed.

The partnership will now work with ten pilot sites* across the UK as they put the standards to practical use in their own working environment, but is also encouraging "as many groups and organisations as possible" to employ the new standards and share learning and experiences.

"With over 50 organisations applying to be pilot sites it is clear that, across the entire UK health research system, there is now a real commitment to involve patients, carers and the public so that research is done with their interests and priorities in mind," the NIHR noted.

"We know that the quality of public involvement varies greatly across research projects and organisations," noted Dr Dan Venables, head of Public Involvement & Engagement, Health and Care Research Wales. "The national standards clearly describe a vision for excellent public involvement that we expect all research to aspire to, whilst also enabling us to identify and celebrate existing good practice."

"With 7,000 new medicines in development by our members, the future of medicine is exciting," said Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). "These standards will help ensure patients are at the heart of cutting-edge clinical research for much-needed diseases like cancers, diabetes and Alzheimer’s."

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