Research User Group Newsletter Keele University RUG Spring / Summer edition | Page 3

Haywood Hospital Recruitment  W ith several new project areas coming up at the Research Institute, PPIE Projects Coordinator Adele Higginbottom and PPIE Knowledge Broker Laura Campbell held a RUG recruitment event at the PIER (Patient Information and Education Resource centre) inside the Haywood Hospital in November. Dementia, shoulder pain, low libido and chronic pain are amongst the areas set to be researched at Keele and so we now need new RUG members who are able to lend us their expertise in these areas. The day was a great success, with several new members signing up to be a part of the RUG and plenty more passers by taking an interest in what we do. If you or anyone you know are interested in taking part in advisory groups for the above projects, please do get in touch with us. As usual your medical information will be kept strictly confidential. For more information, email: [email protected] or [email protected] Database Meeting  For Hip Fractures PPIE Team News A dele and RUG member Ruth Haines attended the National Hip Fracture database meeting at the Royal College of Physicians in London on 2nd March.  The meeting took place with patients with osteoporosis from all over the UK.  The group spoke to researchers, geriatricians and an orthopaedic surgeon regarding the national audits for fragility fractures. There was also a discussion on producing a patient website.  News from the Research Design Service T he NIHR Research Design Service continues to facilitate public involvement to develop new grant applications from research teams across the West Midlands, including the Research Institute at Keele. As the RDS lead adviser for public involvement in research, Dr Steven Blackburn supports and guides teams and public members from the RUG and other patient groups  to work together on new research ideas. The Research Design Service work closely with NIHR INVOLVE to promote and share best practice throughout the region.  With input from the RUG Steering Group, Steven has recently developed new guidance on how to involve lay members as co-applicants on grant applications. PPIE NEWS 3