What does people-centred research have in common with bats and birds?

The bat and the bird evolved separately from different ancestors to both have wings. Similarly, a range of people-centred research methods – patient and public involvement, co-production, human-centred design, participatory research – have all evolved from different disciplines with the same aim; not to fly, but to put people at the heart of research.

Patients, carers and health/social care professionals must be listened to when exploring how to better understand a condition, improve a service or develop an innovation. In doing so, people-centred research ensures that healthcare meets, and is tailored to the needs of people.

But what do the different methods have in common? How do they differ? Does it matter which method is used? Which produces the best results for patients and their carers? How could these methods better share learnings, work together and ensure research and healthcare is truly people-centred?

In the Institute of Global Health Innovation’s first Global Health Forum of 2020, the multidisciplinary panel including patients, designers, clinicians, researchers and patient involvement experts will explore these important questions. The event will be an opportunity to discuss how we can share learnings, work together and ensure research and healthcare are about people.

Speakers include:

• Anna Lawrence-Jones, Patient Involvement Lead, Institute of Global Health Innovation (Chair) - 'Power struggles: can power ever be shared equally?'
• Tessa Richards, Senior Editor, BMJ - 'Sharing, ideas, decisions and power with patients and the public'
• Professor Rafael Calvo, Chair in Engineering Design, Dyson School of Design Engineering - 'Responsible health tech'
• Pip Batey, Design Strategist, Helix Centre - 'Strategy design in healthcare'