Public activity in research

Every week, hundreds of people in Wales help with health and social care research. Good research helps us find new treatments and improve services. This research can't happen without your help.  

You can help with research in Wales by participating in studies or sharing your time and experiences. This helps shape research to better meet people's needs and is known as public involvement in research. 

To participate, you need to know about the research and why it matters. Informing people about research is called public engagement. 

Health and Care Research Wales believes that your involvement is essential for good, safe, and ethical research. It should be a regular part of the research process. 

When we talk about the public, we mean carers, patients, their families and friends, potential future patients, and anyone who uses health and social care services. 

To make it easier for you to find out how to get involved, we've divided the information into two sections: 

Help with research 

As a member of the public, you can assist researchers in designing and conducting their studies using your personal experiences. Whether you're a patient, carer, or service user, your personal experiences can provide valuable insights into what needs to be considered and how research plans might affect those participating. 

Take part in research

Discover research studies happening in Wales and the UK and check if you can join them. 

Participating in studies can involve various activities, such as filling out surveys about your experiences, giving a blood sample, or participating in a study testing a medicine.