Research Research Home Research Aims Funded Projects Participate in Research Lay Research Panel Research Committee For Researchers Our Lay Research Panel Involving patients and the public Researchers can involve people with lived experience of alopecia in all types of research, and throughout all stages of the research process. There is growing evidence that involving people with lived experience can improve the quality and impact of research, for example by focusing research questions on the real needs and challenges of those living with the condition, improving the experience for individuals participating in research, or by helping share and implement key messages and findings (Forsythe, et al. 2019). We believe people affected by alopecia have the right to be involved in shaping research to ensure it is relevant to them and has the best chances of achieving a benefit for them. The Alopecia UK Lay Research Panel We work with a group of people with lived experience of alopecia who make up our Lay Research Panel. The panel provides a unique opportunity to researchers who wish to involve people affected by alopecia in their work. It includes people with different types of alopecia, carers and family members. Lay Research Panel members do not have to have any scientific background to get involved in research, as they are experts in their own right, by lived experience, and provide different perspectives to researchers. What does the Lay Research Panel do? The Lay Panel acts as a bridge between researchers and the community of people affected by alopecia. To make sure research achieves the best results, we involve people affected by alopecia in research directly through a process called Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). This allows researchers and people affected by alopecia to speak directly and work together on findings answers to the most important questions and challenges. Some examples of Lay Research Panel activity include: reviewing language used in documents, applications, interviews and surveys to ensure it is accessible and appropriate for people with alopecia. reviewing funding applications or be part of judging panels to ensure the priorities and needs of those with alopecia are represented in research. participating in meetings, focus groups or workshops with researchers to guide study design. sitting on study advisory groups or steering committees, to guide ongoing management of research projects. engaging in two-way learning with researchers, optimising sharing of information between the research community and those who can implement, and benefit from, the findings of research. identifying and addressing barriers and challenges to participation in research. improving inclusion of people from diverse cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in research, to ensure research outcomes are relevant for everyone in society affected by all types of alopecia. Requesting Lay Research Panel involvement in research If you would like to involve people affected by alopecia in your research, or have any questions, please get in touch via [email protected]. Resources on patient and public involvement Working effectively with public contributors (NIHR) PPI in lab-based research (co-developed by NIHR and charities) Briefing notes for researchers (NIHR)