This is an exciting time for patient and public involvement (PPI) in health and social care research internationally. PPI is a rapidly growing, important global movement aspiring to produce better and more relevant research resulting in services and treatments that patients and the public need. With this growing movement comes an opportunity to change the face of research across the world for good. There are institutions, associations and individuals, whose purpose is to advance and promote public involvement in research. The new network, formally launched in November 2017, will enable the sharing of expertise and evidence-base good practice. For organisations starting to develop public involvement in their own country, it would offer a powerful network of support to enable faster progress. Moreover, through collaboration, our movement would be empowered to influence international and regional health and research organisations. The aims, objectives, priorities and structures of the international network are presently being developed, with a commitment to doing this in partnership with patients and the public and through an open process of dialogue, consensus meetings and surveys, involving colleagues and partners across the world.

This workshop will provide consumers and other delegates with an opportunity to learn about and shape the work of a new international network for public involvement in health and social care research. Launched in November 2017 with consumers, public involvement leads and researchers from around the world, the network (#ppiglobalnetwork) aims to support and empower consumers and organisations to advance and promote public involvement in their country with relevant tools, advice, good practice and peer support. This session will be co-produced and co-delivered with consumers in keeping with our values and principles.

The aims of this interactive workshop are:

• To introduce the International PPI Network
• To share the results of discussions and surveys about the network’s aims, objectives and priorities
• To explore the challenges and opportunities that the network will offer
• To seek input from the network’s stakeholders (patients/consumers, health and social care research and development organisations, funders of research

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

This interactive workshop is an introduction to the new international network for public involvement in health and social care research (International PPI Network), which aims to support and empower consumers and organisations to advance and promote public involvement in their countries. Patients/consumers will be able to learn about and contribute to shaping the objectives of the network.