Public contributor spotlight: Joanne’s take

At the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, we work with patient and public contributors across a range of health conditions. But who are they, and what is it like to get involved in research as a member of the public? To find out, read this piece authored by our public contributor Joanne Lloyd.

I joined the Birmingham BRC’s Public and Patient Advisory Group (PPAG) in 2023 and have since been involved in several key areas that support public involvement across the whole BRC. The PPAG helps ensure patient and public voices are reflected in all the BRC’s governance and research themes not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of research. 

As a representative of PPAG, I am part of the BRC’s Communications group. This has given me the opportunity to work closely on improving how the BRC communicates with the public. In this role, I supported the development of the BRC’s new website. I reviewed and tested the content across two research themes, provided feedback on the PPIE section and helped make the language clearer and more engaging. I gave my opinion on visuals, layout, mobile-friendliness and accessibility, ensuring the site felt welcoming and easy to navigate for all users. I also made suggestions for simplifying the homepage and am proud to be part of the team shaping a resource that reflects the BRC’s commitment to public involvement. 

“It’s brilliant to be part of a team that listens, reflects and takes action, based on our input.” 

Joanne

Beyond the website, I helped develop the first edition of the BRC PPIE newsletter, review other communications materials and suggest ways to improve how the impact of public involvement is acknowledged. It’s brilliant to be part of a team that listens, reflects and takes action, based on our input. 

I’ve also been invited to participate in wider engagement opportunities. For example, I joined a PPIE workshop for early career researchers where I shared my honest perspective on what good involvement looks like. These spaces allow us to influence how researchers think about involving the public especially early in their careers. 

I have recently become a public reviewer for the BRC, where I’ll be reviewing applications for pre-grant funding to support early career researchers to be supported to involve and engage people from the start. This will involve offering feedback on how research teams plan to involve the public in meaningful ways from the start. It’s an honour to be appointed to this role, and it shows how committed the BRC is to embedding involvement across its work. 

If you’re thinking of getting involved, I’d say ‘go for it!’ You don’t need to be an expert. Your lived experience, your honest opinions, and your ability to ask questions that matter are exactly what researchers need. You’ll learn so much, meet amazing people, and help make research better for everyone. I love it. 

Are you also interested in getting involved in research? Explore how you can join our community of public contributors.