Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career to date?
I first got involved in research through an undergraduate summer project in the Movement Neuroscience Lab at the University of Auckland (New Zealand). I found the research to be exciting and it came quite naturally to me. I was lucky enough to then have the opportunity to work as a research assistant on a stroke rehabilitation trial while I did my MSc. This is where I really found my passion for the brain and ways to improve recovery. I then moved to the UK to “spend a year travelling” and never quite left. I did my PhD at King’s College London and then joined the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences in 2017 where I’ve been ever since. I’ve always liked working with patients, hearing their stories, and learning from their experiences. So naturally I became known for my ability to talk with people, and my role in patient/public involvement grew from there.
What does your role as Academic Lead for Patient Involvement and Public Engagement (PPIE) involve?
So far it has been a lot of time trying to understand how all the different groups, committees and strategies for patient/public and community engagement fit together – there’s a lot of new acronyms to learn! Alongside that we’re thinking about where the gaps are in opportunities and support for PPIE across the division and how we might be able to help.
What attracted you to the role of Academic Lead for Patient Involvement and Public Engagement?
If I’m honest a part of it was a desire to understand a bit more about the Medical Sciences Division, and it felt like a great opportunity at this stage in my career to get more involved in strategic thinking as part of a divisional team. I have first-hand knowledge and understanding of the impact that PPIE can have on the research process, but also fully appreciate the difficulties and challenges – particularly for researchers who don’t typically work directly with people. I liked the idea of putting that knowledge to good use.
Why is patient and public involvement so important in medical research today?
People are at the heart of what we do and their lived experiences can teach us so much.
If you could give researchers some quick advice about working with patients and the public, what would it be?
Take it slow – it takes time to build up trust and confidence.
Listen and think – you might not be able to implement everything that gets discussed, but stepping back and thinking about what you can do is vital
Don’t be scared – be honest with people and they will generally support you along the way
What do you like to do to relax when you’re not working?
I love travelling, cycling and eating delicious food
What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
Chocolate!
Read more about Melanie's role as Academic Lead for Patient Involvement and Public Engagement