Public Involvement
CanTest had Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) at its heart from the outset. Patient views were at the core of the programme and were represented throughout the research lifecycle, often through co-creation. The CanTest PPI Panel was led by Margaret Johnson and had representatives linked to all four CanTest UK institutions. In addition, the Panel liaised with the CanTest international institutions. Panel members worked closely with researchers and made an invaluable contribution to CanTest’s research and direction.
How the PPI Panel was involved
Our PPI representatives were involved in CanTest activities at all levels, from contributing to study protocols, publications and patient information leaflets through to providing strategic direction on the CanTest Steering and Stakeholder groups. Pete Wheatstone, who worked with researchers at the University of Leeds on several CanTest projects, said:
“My role is to ask the questions that ordinary patients might ask and help make the documents they produce understandable to the general public. I know almost nothing about biology or health but using my cancer experience and with their support, it’s been really easy to help them. There’s no such thing as a ‘dumb question’ and often it’s the ‘dumb question’ that really gets them thinking – which they appreciate.”
Read more about the CanTest PPI activities and some of our panel members in the below links.