Public involvement is essential in shaping meaningful and impactful health data research. It ensures that studies reflect the needs, priorities, and lived experiences of the public. While public involvement is now well integrated into the research cycle, Early Career Researchers (ECRs) often face unique challenges when embedding it into their work.

ECRs navigate a crucial transition period in their careers, balancing research demands, funding applications, and professional development. For them, understanding and implementing public involvement can be both rewarding and daunting. That is why listening to their experiences and provide the necessary support is critical.

A recent survey, co-produced by HDR UK’s Public Advisory Board (PAB) members in collaboration with ECRs, explored these experiences and needs. In this blog, we hear from Aisha and Breeshey, who have played key roles in this work, and from Anna, who shared insights into how effective communication can enhance public involvement.

Championing public involvement for ECRs

Aisha Kekere-Ekun, member of HDR UK’s PAB, and has been actively championing public involvement in health data research. Through her work with ECRs, including Breeshey, she has gained valuable insights into the challenges they face when embedding public involvement into their research. Aisha says:

“Working with ECRs across different institutions, I’ve seen big differences in the support they get for PPIE activities. Some have strong networks and funding, while others struggle due to a lack of resources.”

She also highlights a key concern:

“Sometimes, the people most affected by the research aren’t always involved in PPIE activities, which means the research falls short of its potential impact.”

Aisha hopes this work will encourage institutions to provide more tailored support, recognising that many ECRs want to involve the public meaningfully but face structural barriers. She says:

“Institutions need to foster open discussions where ECRs can share challenges and get the support they need.”

For ECRs looking to engage the public, Aisha stresses the importance of adaptability, saying:

“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. You may need to adjust your methods based on who you’re working with’, she advises. Gathering feedback and refining approaches over time is also crucial: ‘Small details—like the timing of activities or how much time people need to review materials—can make a big difference.” 

An ECR’s journey in public involvement

Breeshey Roskams-Hieter, an ECR, has worked closely with Aisha and other PAB members to explore the challenges and opportunities ECRs face in public involvement. Through this collaboration, Breeshey has developed a deeper appreciation for co-producing research with the public.

Reflecting on her early experiences with public involvement, Breeshey shares,

“Before starting the HDR UK PhD training programme, I didn’t have much knowledge of PPIE, and it wasn’t widely discussed in the research projects I was involved in.”

However, her perspective shifted during her first year in the programme:

“We undertook PPIE trainings and defended our thesis proposals to a patient-public review panel. This was my first hands-on experience with PPIE and really made me realise how important it is in the development of high-impact, translatable research plans.”

Since then, working with the PAB has further opened her eyes to a universal experience among ECRs. She says:

“I had my own realisation about how little I knew about PPIE, but working with the PAB showed me that this is a common experience for ECRs’, she notes. ‘Interventions are needed to address this gap.”

Breeshey advises other ECRs looking to incorporate public involvement into their work:

“Start the conversation! Reach out to mentors, colleagues, or management at your institution to see what resources they offer.”

She also suggests speaking to people outside of your field to practice explaining your research in lay terms:

“Understanding how to present your research to a non-technical audience is a great place to start. And be open to feedback!”

The power of communication in public involvement

At the HDR UK Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Forum, Anna Woolman, the Public Engagement and Communication Manager at HDR UK, shared invaluable insights on how researchers can bridge the gap between their scientific work and the public.  

Anna stressed the importance of thinking about how you want your audience to feel. She quoted Maya Angelou, advising researchers to use emotions to guide their communication and also encouraged framing research as a story:

“People will forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. Who are the characters in your research? What’s the conflict? What’s the conclusion?”

Anna also recommended using the inverted triangle of journalism to highlight key points upfront, making research more accessible. Engaging in public events is key, she said:

“The best way to improve your public engagement skills is to practice.”

For ECRs, Anna provided her advice and emphasised that strong communication is essential to integrating public involvement into research:

“It allows you to learn from others and create more relevant, impactful work. Start somewhere. Take the first step and keep going!”