Currently research proposals are written by researchers, in research institutions. While researchers may need patients or the public to be involved in the research, they rarely ask for their input at the design stage. According to a recent HRB survey, this is not because researchers don’t want to, but because they don’t know how to go about it.

‘No one has more to gain from health research than patients who are already using health services, or the public who are all potential users. It makes sense to involve the public and patients at the outset to ensure that their life experience informs the approach taken when designing a research proposal,’ explains Dr Mairéad O Driscoll, Interim Chief Executive at the Health Research Board. 

More information about the scheme and the successful applicants is available from the HRB press release at the link below.