Patient and public involvement and engagement

Image of researcher in a lab refracted through a lens

Why engage?

Stem cell research impacts many different parts of society. As research leaders in this area, we believe our scientists play an important role in engaging with patients and the public to ensure the messaging being shared is accurate and effective. In return, these encounters have the potential to enhance the quality of the scientific questions we ask ourselves, and they help us continue to build public trust in research.

Engagement through the Discovery Research Platform 

The Discovery Research Tissue Biology Platform focuses on research using donated human tissues to understand how cells and tissues function in health and disease. It emphasises ethical, legal, and social considerations, including informed consent, equitable donor inclusion, and responsible use of emerging technologies. By actively involving patients, donors, clinicians, and the general public, the platform ensures research priorities and practices are aligned with public values while generating resources and guidance to support informed tissue donation and collaboratively designed research.

Our approach & aims

To ensure that patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) remains an effective part of our research culture, we have developed core aims that drive our activities.

1: Create an open and engaged research culture

  • Offer advice, support and training to develop researcher-led engagement projects, including applications for funding and seed funds.
  • Create a lab champion network to inform and share our engagement approach and build a community of practice.
  • Celebrate success through annual engagement awards and support efforts for wider accreditation for engagement at a University-level.

See: Awards & Seed funding

2: Reach beyond Cambridge

  • Increase awareness of basic stem cell biology concepts on a national and international level - 66% of the UK public do not feel well informed about stem cell research
  • Enhance trust in stem cell research and scientists - stem cell research and regenerative medicine will affect global communities and impact global health.

How?

  • Build partnerships throughout the UK, Europe, and beyond to collaborate on new and existing engagement initiatives.
  • Utilise our researchers’ global networks to engage communities with the people and in the places that best represent them

See: What would you become?

3: Connect with local communities

  • Offer access to our research and laboratories by new communities - everybody should be able to use and influence scientific research, regardless of their background or interests.
  • Help make all communities feel valued and better informed - Certain communities are often overlooked or excluded when delivering our engagement through the traditional channels (e.g. science festivals).

How?

  • Experiment with novel activities, unusual locations and targeted invitations to reach new people in the Cambridgeshire region.

See: Under the Microscope

4: Give patients a voice

  • Deepen and sustain relationships between patients and researchers - 60% of our research groups are investigating stem cell behaviour in a disease scenario
  • Ensure our key scientific goals are people-centred and responsive to the society they seek to serve while also helping us maximise our impact.

How?

  • Build relationships with local and national patient organisations and charities and explore new ways to collaborate.
  • Introduce a patient governance framework including specialised patient representation to review our science and engagement strategies.
  • Encourage co-developed research programmes between a patient group and clinically focused research teams.

See: