North West People in Research Forum: Shared learning events

In January and February 2011 the North West People in Research Forum is holding three events to share learning about patient and public involvement (PPI and public engagement (PE) in health research. These events aim to:

  • Encourage the sharing of experience and ‘good practice’ around how to involve/engage patients and the publicin health research and what impact this can have
  • Tell people about the North West People in Research Forum, and to ask peopleabout what they want from the Forum

These events are primarily aimed at researchers and research managers in the North West, although patients and the public are also welcome.

The events will take place on:

  • 13th January in Liverpool
  • 24th January in Preston
  • 7th February in Manchester

All will run from 2pm to 4.30pm. There is no cost to attend. At each event participants will be able to hear more about PPI and PE activities in the region as well as to share what they are doing.

These events are being organised by the North West People in Research Forum, a new organisation in the North West, which aims to support and promote PPI and PE in the North West. There is more information about the Forum at the end of this page.

If you’re not able to attend, please help us by sharing your experience of PPI/PE. At the events and on the new North West People in Research Forum website, which we’ll be launching in January, we would like to share examples of PPI/PE happening in the North West. We hope this will promote good practice and help people to avoid re-inventing the wheel. Please complete the relevant sections of the booking form if you would be willing to share what you do.

If you would like to attend any of these events, please email Toni Osborne at r phone her on 0161 625 7457.

What is the North West People in Research Forum?

The North West People in Research Forum is a new organisation which aims to support patient and public involvement (PPI) and public engagement (PE) in health research in the North West. We aim to:

  • support researchers to involve and engage patients and the public
  • support patients and members of the public who are, or wish to become, involved in health research
  • share learning about PPI and PE in research
  • form a link between researchers and patients/public
  • raise awareness about health research in the Region and opportunities to get involved.

We support existing initiatives as well as developing new ones. The Forum works across the North West – Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire.

What does the Forum do?

The Forum was set up in October 2010, so we are only just beginning work. Our first priorities are to:

  • Organise meetings and events where learning about PPI and PE can be shared
  • Develop training about PPI and PE, for researchers and for patients and the public
  • Develop a web resource so people can share experience, learn and make links online

Who runs it?

The Forum is run by an equal partnership of patients and people who work in health research. It is funded by the North West Strategic Health Authority (part of the NHS) and the North West Research Design Service (part of the National Institute for Health Research).

For more information please email