Step 2. Finding collaborators and involving the public in research design

A valuable step is to discuss your informed idea with others who have similar areas of interest and might help further refine your idea and collaborate with you.

This could include colleagues, academics who have published in this area, other local and national networks such as the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research (NCPHWR) who have a network of over 75 researchers across multiple academic centres in Wales. For larger European projects there is the Participant Portal that you can join to search for potential collaborators.

If you work in the NHS you can always ask for help from your local R&D office who should be able to provide you with some useful contacts who are either clinicians or researchers. You may also wish to contact your local Research Design and Conduct Service (RDCS) for advice (regional centres are listed below)

• South East Wales
• North Wales and Mid Wales
• West Wales

You can contact Health and Care Research Wales should you wish to discuss collaborative opportunities with industry.

Early engagement with members of the public, or patients, will also help develop your research ideas and ensure maximum benefit to those who may be affected. This is commonly referred to as patient or public involvement (PPI) and there are useful links on the Public Involvement and Engagement Page.

Two examples of PPI groups that you may wish to contact are the Involving People Network (organised by Health and Care Research Wales) or the INVOLVE advisory group (funded by the National Institute for Health Research).

You should also be aware that some research funding streams (Step 4. External funding) require evidence of PPI when you submit a research proposal/grant application.