Discover how patients & the public have shaped health research – for the better
It’s all happening at the 2026 East of England Patient and Public Involvement in Research Showcase, taking place on 16th June at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (where Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals are based).
NIHR – championing PPI to shape the research agenda
And not only that – we’ll also use the event to celebrate 20 years of NIHR.
Since its inception 20 years ago, NIHR has worked ceaselessly to champion a system where people, communities and professionals shape outcomes. As PPI pioneers NIHR ensures that people from all backgrounds and communities actively shape research agendas and priorities.
So join us on Tuesday 16 June 2026 at the
Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre with patients and members of the public, and discover how PPI has impacted health research.
The showcase will feature a panel discussion, short talks and presentations, a poster display co-developed and/or presented with public contributors and information stands.
You’ll also have the chance to talk to researchers and staff from the following event co-hosts about PPI opportunities in their respective organisations and how you can get involved:
Panel Discussion – 9.20am-10.20am
The day starts with aa PPI panel discussion on “Co-Creating Discovery – The Role of Patient and Public Involvement in Tissue & Organ Donation Research”. This session is run in conjunction with Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Institute of Metabolic Science and the Clinical School of Medicine, University of Cambridge
Anyone coming along is welcome to listen and find out about the vital role of PPI in shaping research that relies on tissue and organ donation – and even join in the discussion. You don’t need any medical knowledge or experience to attend – everyone is welcome.
Networking for patients and the public
With free lunch, poster display and the chance to talk with researchers over the break, the whole day promises to be a great way of finding out more about PPI, the difference it can make to research and how you can get involved.
Researchers: make sure your PPI is on show!
Are you a researcher in the East of England with a great example of how PPI benefited your research? Please tell us about it – and you may have the opportunity to tell patients and members of the public about it in our Showcase event.
We are currently calling for short abstracts (fewer than 400 words) for talks and poster presentations from publicly-funded researchers or research groups across the East of England whose research focuses on pre-clinical, translational, clinical research or applied health and social care research, which showcase the impact PPI has had on their health research.
Submissions from individual groups or teams, and/or that are co-developed (or presented) with public contributors are welcome. Posters or talks that have been presented elsewhere previously can be submitted.
Make a date for Cambridge Pride 2026
Three days before our PPI Showcase, we’ll be taking part in this year’s Cambridge Pride, with a stand at the Community Hub on Jesus Green.
So please make a date to join our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager Sian Cowell and find out why we need more diversity in taking part and getting involved in improving health research.
No need to book – just turn up on the day.
Date: Saturday 13th June
Time: 13:00-18:30
Location: Community Hive, Jesus Green, Cambridge
Link: https://cambridgepride.co.uk/
Since its inception 20 years ago, NIHR has worked ceaselessly to champion a system where people, communities and professionals shape outcomes. As PPI pioneers NIHR ensures that people from all backgrounds and communities actively shape research agendas and priorities.
Three days before our PPI Showcase, we’ll be taking part in this year’s Cambridge Pride, with a stand at the Community Hub on Jesus Green.
