Patient Involvement at Cancer Research UK
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What is patient involvement at Cancer Research UK?
At Cancer Research UK, we actively involve people affected by cancer in our work. This insight is helping us to beat cancer sooner while ensuring that we’re meeting the needs of patients and their families, and loved ones.
What is Patient Involvement (PI) and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
Patient involvement (PI) is the process of working together with patients, carers, and loved ones, to shape, influence and guide projects as they develop. Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is the wider context of involvement in a research or medical setting.
The widely used definition of Patient and Public Involvement in research is: 'research carried out 'with' or 'by' members of the public rather than 'to', 'about' or 'for' them.
Find out how you can use your experience of cancer to shape our work
We have a network where anyone affected by cancer can join, and a dedicated team brings our internal work and people affected by cancer together to enable us to work directly with the people we want to serve.
Current involvement opportunities
Take a look at the latest involvement opportunities available to get involved. This page has activities for you to get involved in our work as well as wider opportunities from other organisations.
Working with us through our network
You can work with us through our network and use it to find activities and roles that suit you. You can use your experience of cancer to help shape our work for the benefit of others.
The impact your involvement makes to our work
People affected by cancer make a real difference to our work. Find out the impact Patient Involvement makes and why they get involved in our work.
Working with us through our Cancer Insight Panels
Our panels bring the experience of people affected by cancer to the heart of our work in an accessible and informal way.
How much experience do I need?
You don’t need experience in research or have an understanding of what patient involvement is to take part or join the network. Your experience of cancer is what will add real value to our work, from your very first activity. If you’d like to get involved in an opportunity, but your worried you don’t have the skills, experience or confidence to take part, we can offer you advice and support. Email us at involvement@cancer.org.uk or call us on 0203 469 8777. We're always happy to answer questions and receive feedback, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Ready to get involved and want to receive the latest opportunities?
Watch our video
Find out more about being involved in our work, becoming part of our network and panels, and how you can use your experience of cancer to make positive change to others affected by cancer.
Our commitment to you and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
We’re committed to driving up standards in health and social care research and believe excellent patient involvement is inclusive, values all contributions and ensures people affected by cancer have a say in what happens. Together with a host of organisations from across the UK, we’ve signed a shared commitment to public involvement.
Patient Involvement toolkit for researchers
Our toolkit is designed to help researchers involve people affected by cancer in their work.
Get in touch
If you have questions about any of our opportunities, or feedback for us, you can contact us by emailing us at
involvement@cancer.org.uk or call us on 0203 469 8777. We're always happy to answer questions and receive feedback, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.