The NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has officially welcomed its new Public Research Champions (PRCs) following a successful open day and site tour at Glenfield Hospital.
The visit marked the first activity for eight newly appointed Champions and was designed to introduce them to the role, build confidence, and provide an insight into the wide range of research taking place across the BRC.
During the visit, the Champions toured our cardiovascular and respiratory theme facilities and labs, and met with researchers, who shared how research is developed and how public input helps shape studies from the earliest stages.
Who are Public Research Champions?
Our Public Research Champions are members of the public who bring the representation of their communities into health research, supporting the work of our Public Involvement team.
We’ll be inviting them to share their lived experiences, highlight priorities from their communities, and help our researchers design studies that are inclusive, accessible and relevant to real life.
We also hope the champions can help raise awareness of our research within their communities, support engagement activities, and act as a bridge between researchers and the people our research is designed to benefit.
Meet our Public Research Champions
The Champions represent a wide range of communities across Leicester, including ethnic minority groups, faith communities, parents and carers, and people working closely with underrepresented groups.
They are Wale Orenuga, Demola Adepoju, Oluwatosin Adepoju, Jayna Patel, Baasim Borokinni, Oyebola Kayode, Samiat Bakare and Majeda Dewan Islam
Ayodeji Ogunbuyide, Community Engagement Officer at NIHR Leicester BRC, said:
“This open day was about bringing research to life. By opening our doors and showing the work happening across our themes, we want our Public Research Champions to feel confident, informed and excited about the role they will play in shaping research that reflects what really matters to local people.”
We are still welcoming interest from additional Public Research Champions, particularly young people aged 18-25, who would like to be involved in shaping future health research. If you are interested to join, email: uhl-tr.nihrleicesterppiemailbox@nhs.net.