Help shape our research

Work in partnership with researchers to help shape their work by sharing experiences of diagnosis, treatment and care

Our Research Involvement Network is a group of people who each have a personal connection to pancreatic cancer, including patients, carers, loved ones and survivors. They help shape Pancreatic Cancer UK’s work and the work of researchers by getting involved in a variety of different opportunities ranging from commenting on lay summaries before funding applications are submitted, reviewing applications, attending focus groups, reviewing patient information sheets and sitting on committees for different clinical trials.

The group has a diverse range of views and experiences and their insight helps to ensure that only the highest quality research is being conducted.

Why is your involvement important?

By involving people affected by pancreatic cancer at all stages of the research process, we’re able to increase our understanding of pancreatic cancer and ensure that the research being conducted is relevant to the needs of people affected by pancreatic cancer. This means moving beyond thinking of patients  as participants in a study, but as partners in setting research priorities, selecting the research that should be funded and guiding researchers with their work. No research background is required to be a member of the Network.

What can you expect from being part of the group?

Through monthly bulletins, we keep the network up to date on the latest research involvement opportunities, events and news.

Members can choose how, when and to what extent they want to contribute and can be involved as much or as little as they like.

Quotemarks Created with Sketch.
Quotemarks Created with Sketch.

I can't tell you how much this is helping me. It's now been 8 years since losing my sister Lorraine, and the experience was so devastating it is still raw. If we (I'm including Lorraine here) can help others affected by pancreatic cancer then it wasn't all for nothing.

Jackie Edgeller, Member of the Research Involvement Network

How can I get involved?

If you’re looking to join the Research Involvement Network, please fill in the application form below. You can also contact us via research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk.

If you’re a researcher and would like to find out how you can involve people affected by pancreatic cancer in your research, please visit our lay involvement page

Join the Research Involvement Network

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Take a look at some of this month’s opportunities for members of the Research Involvement Network


 

Review a project summary: Integrating computational and experimental approaches to improve treatment strategies for people with pancreatic cancer

Dr Xiao Fu and Professor Jen Morton at the CRUK Scotland Institute are applying for a Pancreatic Cancer UK Interdisciplinary Treatment Grant to fund their research. They are looking for feedback on their project summary which aims to integrate computational and experimental approaches to improve their understanding of treatment resistance mechanisms and identify more effective strategies to better treat pancreatic cancer.

Find out more

Review a project summary: Developing and testing a new miniature device to monitor Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Dr Anguraj Sadanandam at the Institute of Cancer Research, Dr Burak Temelkuran and Dr Salzitsa Anastasova at Imperial College London are looking to apply for a Pancreatic Cancer UK Interdisciplinary Treatment Grant to fund their research. They are looking for feedback on their project summary which aims to develop a tiny device to help doctors track how pancreatic cancer cells respond to treatment, and potentially improve patient care and reduce unnecessary side effects.

Find out more

Review a project summary: Using mathematics to find potent yet safe drug combinations for pancreatic cancer

Dr Siang Boon Koh and Dr Aaron Lim at the University of Bristol and Professor Philip Maini at the University of Oxford are applying for a Pancreatic Cancer UK Interdisciplinary Treatment Grant to fund their research. They are looking for feedback on their project summary which aims to use mathematics to predict pancreatic cancer cell growth so that they can use them as a tool to develop more effective yet kinder drug combinations.

Find out more