What are we doing?

The High Risk Neuroblastoma Study 2 (HR-NBL2) is comparing two treatment strategies across three therapeutic phases (induction, high-dose chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. The study aims to involve patients, parents, and carers in the running of the study in the UK as part of the Trial Management Group.

How can you help?

We seek public contributors with lived experience as a cancer patient or the impact of cancer on a close family member or friend. You will contribute to discussions on the impact on patients and their families, patient/carer/public perspectives, and perceptions of clinical trial research.

How will we support you?

We will ensure that you receive appropriate training to undertake this role. Currently there is no payment provided for this opportunity, but this will be reviewed.

Deadline for application is 4 May 2025. For further information, contact Jennifer Laidler at j.laidler@bham.ac.uk.

What are we doing?

The Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility (CRF) are hosting the 1st joint NIHR BRC and UKCRF Network Conference on 14-15 July 2025 at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. This event will bring together colleagues from across the networks to discuss current issues and share the latest developments in clinical research and experimental medicine.  

How can you help?

We are seeking 5 public contributors to shortlist posters/presentations from delegates for display at the conference. From this shortlist, the organising committee will then make their selections. This is an opportunity to contribute to the selection process and ensure the highest quality of content is presented at a conference aimed at staff. All posters must be reviewed by 12 May. It may take up to 10 hours over – not all in one go. We do not know how many submissions will be received, but all reviewing will be online. 

How will we support you?

We will provide guidance and offer payment in line with the NIHR guidelines of £25 per hour of activity.

You will also be invited to attend the conference (1 or 2 days, as you wish). This includes accommodation and reasonable travel expenses. All interested public contributors are required to complete this application form by 22 April.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Laura Chapman at l.chapman.1@bham.ac.uk.  

What are we doing?

We have some important research that will be published shortly and will be writing a press release to share with the media. We will be preparing some key messages about the research that are aimed at the general public and we would like to gather input from public contributors to ensure those messages are clear and easy to understand.

How can you help?

You will need to attend an online meeting (approximately 1 – 2 hours) where the research will be presented followed by a discussion about the key messages where we will gather your thoughts to help shape the final version.

The date and time of the meeting has not yet been confirmed but is likely to be in May.

How will we support you?

You will be paid for your time at the rate of £25 per hour.

Please send any questions or expressions of interest by 25 April 2025 to brcppie@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Tuesday 20 May | Queen Elizabeth and Heartlands hospitals

Join our stand at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on International Clinical Trials Day to celebrate the ground-breaking research being done in our region and the fantastic work of our public contributors involved in research. You can join our team on the day or help shape our display beforehand. Payment and travel expenses will be offered to people able to attend and talk to the public.  

To find out more contact us at brcppie@contacts.bham.ac.uk. 

Saturday 21 June | Edgbaston campus

What are we doing?

The University of Birmingham turns 125 this year, and to help celebrate we’re all invited to be part of the festivities during this special celebration weekend! The BRC will be having stands to showcase their research, including one about how the public can be involved.  

How can you help?

Can you share with other people about what you like about being part of public involvement? Perhaps you have only just joined a group or been in one for a while? Having a ‘real’ person to ask about what it really might be like can encourage people to get involved too.

If you can attend for an hour or so on the day, or prefer to just let us put something in writing about your experience of PPIE with the BRC, or want more information, please contact brcppie@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

How will we support you?

Payment for time and reasonable travel expenses offered. We would love you to be part of this event with us. 

Monday 14 April | 4-5pm | Online

Presented by Professor Alastair Denniston, co-lead of our Data, Diagnostics and Decision Tools theme, this webinar will explore why we need to use scientific methodology to innovate, evaluate and iterate frameworks that regulate AI health technologies. Register here. 

Medical research can be hard to find and understand, which is why UK Organ Donation and Transplantation Research Network (UKODTRN) is creating plain language summaries of published research. These summaries will be available on the UKODTRN website, making it easier for everyone to access and understand research findings.

We want to hear how you would like to receive research results. Your feedback will help us present information in the best way possible.

Complete this survey by Friday 25 April.

Have you or someone you are for experienced complications after surgery in the last 5 years? We want to hear from you! Participate in our quick, anonymous survey (takes about 30 minutes) and get a chance to win one of ten £25 shopping vouchers

The deadline for responses is midnight on Sunday 27 April.

For questions, contact Hannah Rooney, Patient and Public Involvement & Engagement Manager: h.rooney@bham.ac.uk. 

What are we doing?

The IBHO BioResource is a new research initiative funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). We aim to study health conditions affecting people from Black communities in the UK, including those from various ethnic backgrounds such as Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British, and others.

How can you help?

We are seeking participants from the following ethnic backgrounds: Black African, Black Caribbean, Black African-Caribbean, Black British, Black Welsh, Black Irish, Black Scottish, Dual or Mixed Black heritage, and/or Black ‘other’to help with research on health conditions like sickle cell disorder. Through this research, we hope to get a better understanding of the condition. This could help people get earlier and better treatment before developing more severe complications.

If you choose to take part in this study, you will be asked to read and sign a consent form, provide a small blood sample, and complete a questionnaire that will ask some questions about yourself and your health experiences.

How will we support you?

We will offer you a £15 voucher and cover travel costs up to £22.50 for reasonable travel expenses.

For further information or to book an appointment, please contact the Core Research Team on 01213718535 / 01213718535 or email humeira.hafsa@uhb.nhs.uk.

The British Liver Trust and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) are reviewing the National Liver Offering Scheme (NLOS), which allocates livers from deceased donors to patients on the transplant waiting list. Introduced in 2018, the scheme has been monitored and received mixed feedback. The review aims to determine if the scheme should continue as is or be modified. They are seeking input from liver transplant recipients, those awaiting transplants, their families, and the public through a survey to ensure all voices are heard. Find out more here.