Public Research Champions at Royal Surrey

The role of Public Research Champions is vital to what we do in research. Research Champions promote health research from the patient perspective.

Research Champions are involved from the very inception of a study.

  1. They help the researchers to develop their initial ideas, ensuring that all the research we do meets the needs of our community.
  2. They contribute to, and review research grant applications, making sure they are written in plain English, and fully consider the patient perspective.
  3. Once a study has begun, Research Champions are on-hand to talk to participants, keeping them informed, and sharing their experiences.
  4. Outside of the hospital environment, Research Champions also play a vital role in helping us communicate with the different communities we work with. They often advocate for the benefits of research in the media, and on social media. They speak at events, and represent the trust’s RD&I team in public fora and in the community.

This role is essential in upholding the NHS’s constitutional commitment that people using local healthcare services are given opportunities to take part in research studies. It is also an important part of our commitment to making sure the research we do has direct and tangible benefits to our patient by improving clinical care.

NIHR Public Research Champions

All of our Royal Surrey Public Research Champions automatically become Research Champions for the National Institute of Health & Care Research Clinical Research Network.

This means they work as part of a regional team (working across Kent, Surrey & Sussex), and are offered mentoring, training and networking opportunities.

Become a Public Research Champion

We are always looking for new Research Champions to join our group.

While most of our Research Champions have come to us after benefitting from participation in research, this is not essential. What we ask is that you are an enthusiastic and positive advocate for the benefits of clinical research, and that you are committed to representing our patients and the wider community.

It is a voluntary role, and as such the time you can dedicate to it will vary to suit you, and the work you do will be as much as possible tailored to your own strengths and interests. So whether you can spare half a day per month to talk with patients, or can help us behind the scenes on long-term projects, we are confident that we will find a role to suit you.

If you are interested, please contact rsc-tr.ResearchAndDevelopment@nhs.net, making sure to include “Research Champion” in the subject line.