I have been Director of Research and Clinical Effectiveness for the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (a medium-sized teaching hospital associated with the University of Bristol) for five years. I am a pharmacist by profession and have been personally involved in healthcare research, ranging from laboratory studies to patient-focused clinical research, over the past 25 years.

As I have been involved in implementing major changes in the management and strategic direction of research in my organisation, it has become clear that most healthcare researchers find it very difficult to develop strategies to meaningfully involve the public and service users in their research. Part of my role is to help them achieve this.