I am currently Reader in Patient Experience and Public Involvement in the Centre for Research into Primary and Community Care at the University of Hertfordshire. As part of my role, I co-lead the patient and public involvement (PPI) theme for the East of England Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC). I have been involved in a programme of research on public involvement for the last 13 years, and am currently leading an external evaluation of public involvement in the work of the Greater Manchester Primary Care Patient Safety Translational Research Centre. I am also a co-investigator on a number of other studies funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council. I believe it is right, morally and ethically, for the public to be actively involved in the design and conduct of health research. In addition to my work with INVOLVE, I am a member of the International Collaboration for Participatory Health Research, and the Interest Sub-group on Patient and Citizen Involvement for Health Technology Assessment International.