Overview
The Young and Olders Person Advisory Group (YOPAG) co-research model fosters intergenerational collaboration within the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC), aiming to integrate Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) across research themes.
By connecting young – YPAG – and older advisory groups – including PAR (Patients and Research) and PPIOG (Patients and Public Involvement Operations Group) – with researchers, the model promotes meaningful partnerships, skill development, and innovative co-production practices.
Project Aims
- Empower stakeholders: Empower stakeholders by equipping patients, the public, and researchers with skills and tools to foster research-ready communities and community-ready researchers.
- Integrate PPI: Embed PPI across all research stages, addressing traditionally uneven power dynamics within research and promoting equal partnerships.
- Enhance impact: Continuously improve the quality and innovation of PPI activities to ensure meaningful contributions.
- Network and collaborate: Create forums for skill-sharing and expand partnerships with external organisations and community groups.
- Support Sustainability: Identify funding opportunities and provide guidance to ensure long-term success of PPI initiatives.
Key Activities
- Workshops and training programs to build PPI skills.
- Networking events to connect researchers and public contributors.
- Capacity building supported by development of a comprehensive toolkit, glossary, and visual ecosystem map.
- Evaluation and feedback loops to assess and improve PPI impact.
- Public engagement campaigns to raise awareness and recruit diverse participants. .
Achievements
The YOPAG co-research model has successfully identified intergenerational collaboration needs, supported new PPIE initiatives, and enhanced the integration of PPI across OH BRC themes. Notably, the group played a pivotal role in forming the PPI for Molecular Targets, which has since grown into a consistent and well-established PPI group.
Recently, a young group member gave a presentation to the wider BRC community, showcasing the impact and value of intergenerational collaboration.
Additionally, the model can address the gap in transitioning YPAG members to becoming adult advisors, ensuring continuity and growth in their advisory roles. This evolving framework exemplifies how co-research can foster impactful, inclusive and sustainable research environments.
Meeting Frequency
The group convenes regularly, combining scheduled sessions and ad hoc workshops to align with research priorities and ensure sustained progress.
Key Researchers:
Dr Katrin Wilhelm, OH BRC Flourishing and Wellbeing Theme
Dr Lucienne Spencer, NEUROSEC Young People’s Advisory Group Lead
Julia Hamer-Hunt, PPIE Lead and Collaborator in the Flourishing and Wellbeing Theme
