21st January 2025
Taking part in research then and directly helping shape research now
Have you ever looked around your doctor’s office, reception area or bulletin boards and noticed posters inviting you to take part in research? Or maybe you walked through a university building and have been asked to fill in a survey? Research is all around us and opportunities to engage with it are everywhere, if we take a moment to notice them.
Georgina Ferguson-Glover, 26, lives with 26 diagnosed medical conditions, causing severe joint pain and daily dislocations. Despite the challenges posed by her diagnosis Georgina has found time to take part in research, at first just getting approached by university students to take part in their dissertation research. Now she is an experienced public involvement advisor.
Taking part in research
Georgina’s first experience with research happened during university when she took part in various projects students were conducting and she would even go out of her way to find more opportunities to fill in surveys. Georgina felt empowered by taking part in research and wanted to take it further. Since then she has taken part in a collaborative study investigating children’s experiences with chronic pain and shared her lived experiences of a rare disease with researchers.
It’s a wonderful feeling. Being able to take part in various research studies, it feels like something positive is coming from my condition.”
Helping shape research
Georgina has since joined the Health and Care Research Wales public involvement community where she shares her lived experiences with researchers to shape new research studies. By commenting on patient information guides, giving feedback on the format of a study, like the timings of appointments or what language to use for different people, Georgina and other members of the public are ensuring people’s voices are heard and the research truly reflects the needs and perspectives of those it aims to benefit. Georgina said:
“Research is powerful but it’s better if the people it aims to help are placed at the heart of it.
“I am excited to provide support on studies in this way. I hope by sharing my lived experiences with researchers, I’ll get to help people like me.”
Visit Be Part of Research for more information on how you can start taking part in research and to find studies to participate in.