Research partnerships

Consumer involvement in research & clinical trials

Bring lived expertise into the decisions that shape your research. Plan meaningful involvement from the beginning and support consumer partners throughout the research lifecycle.

Discuss this service

Who this is for

Researchers, clinical trial teams, research institutes and health services planning a study, grant application or consumer partnership.

A useful starting point when…

You are developing a grant application, protocol or involvement plan.
You want consumer input into study information, consent materials or participant experience.
You need to establish or support a consumer advisory group for a research program.

What the work can include

From a clear purpose
to practical action.

We agree the depth and combination of support around your brief. These are examples of the work we can scope together.

Plan involvement early

Identify the decisions that consumers can influence and the experience your project needs. Develop a practical involvement plan with roles, timing, support and a realistic budget for the work.

Review the research experience

Work with consumer partners to consider the relevance of your research question, the burden of participation and the clarity of study information. Explore how recruitment and involvement processes can include a wider range of perspectives.

Support an ongoing partnership

Create useful ways for your team and consumer partners to work together, including orientation, accessible meetings and clear feedback. Record how input informs changes and consider how findings will be shared with communities.

Tangible outputs

Leave with something
you can use.

A clearer plan for involving consumers and a practical way to demonstrate how lived expertise shapes the research.

Depending on the agreed scope

A consumer and community involvement plan
Advice on roles, recruitment and advisory group design
Consumer-informed review of study materials and participant pathways
A record of involvement, decisions and feedback for your team

Can you contribute before a grant is submitted?

Yes. Early advice can help a team clarify the purpose of involvement, the decisions to share and the support to budget for. The scope is agreed around the stage of your project and the time available.

See how an engagement works

Start with a conversation

Let’s work on what matters.

Tell Shyam about your project, your context and the decisions you want to improve.

Discuss your project