By engaging with the public, researchers can make their studies more relevant, impactful, and accessible.
Here’s an example of how one BRC researcher recently engaged the public in her research:
The Dance and Health sessions, one of the public involvement opportunity projects for researchers organized by the public involvement team and local dance instructors, are creating a space where fun and fitness meet valuable health knowledge.
Recently, cardiovascular researcher, Ann Cheng, joined the group, adding a whole new dimension to the experience.
Ann, a PhD researcher focused on making cardiovascular research more inclusive, brought science to life during her 30-minute talk.
Using a heart model, she broke down how the heart functions, what can go wrong, and how treatments like stents and bypass surgeries work. The way she explained these complex ideas made them easy to understand and sparked plenty of interest and questions from the group.
Ann also shared an opportunity for participants to get involved in an upcoming workshop for people who have experienced heart attacks or cared for someone with coronary artery disease. Their insights will help shape a digital tool aimed at supporting patients in making healthcare decisions that suit their individual needs.
Ann said: “Dance and Health is an ingenious way of connecting research with the local communities. It is an opportunity to build rapport with members of the community by dancing together, at the same time improving both the research and research process through public engagement. The feedback I have received have been invaluable and I am grateful for the community’s contribution.”
The Public Involvement Team is:
- Jeev Gunasekera (Public Involvement Manager)
- Ayodeji Ogunbuyide (Community Engagement Manager)
- Joanna Bell (Public Involvement Coordinator)
Researchers can access their help via the Resource Hub
The PPI team support members of the BRC with their Public Involvement activity, through innovative and established activities including:
- focus groups
- panels
- surveys & questionnaires
They are also involved with ‘Dance and Health’ sessions in communities across Leicestershire – bringing people together for fun and active Bollywood and Zumba classes. Each session ends with a quality conversation around health and wellbeing.
They are working across each theme, to implement the BRC’s PPI/EP strategy.
The team also works with you to follow the latest guidelines and requirements from the NIHR on public involvement.
You can also find out more about the NIHR’s ambitions on their website.
Useful Links
- Read our 2026 update: Advancing inclusion: transforming research culture in Leicester and beyond
- Funding Opportunities
- Overview of all open and upcoming funding calls from the NIHR- Funding opportunities | NIHR
- Research Design Service (RDS)
- Provides support for researchers to develop funding applications, including PPIE- Research Support Service | NIHR
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)
- What the NIHR says on public involvement in research- Public involvement in research | NIHR
- The NIHR’s Learning for Involvement website is the home for resources and training about public involvement in health and social care research. Take a look around to explore the resources and training already recommended by our community, or upload your own content or recommendations.
- Guidance for reporting public and patient involvement (PPI) in publications – Want to find out what information should be included when publishing findings in scientific publications? Use the NIHR’s recommended checklist to ensure that you’re including key information.
- PPIE Funding Guidance
- Guidance on budgeting for public involvement activities in research proposals- Payment guidance for researchers and professionals | NIHR
Researchers funded by the NIHR Leicester BRC can find all of this and more on the BRC Resource Hub