Let's Co! The how‐to of working within a co‐production framework to devise, design and execute collaborative multisite clinical trials

Objectives To document the steps undertaken in a full collaborative co‐production design process undertaken between a group of lived experience, clinical and research collaborators to determine the selection and design of three large‐scale, multisite, clinically focused studies (including two clinical trials) targeting eating disorders. This work formed part of a grant supporting the development of a National Centre for Research and Translation in Eating Disorders (AEDRTC) funded by the Australian Government. We highlight the phases and activities, principles and values that informed practice – as has been called for recently within the scientific community, in addition to emerging themes and lessons learnt. The paper aimed to contribute to the limited body of published literature on practical approaches to co‐production in large‐scale research studies and teams. Methods We undertook a 1‐year full co‐production process to collaboratively ideate, choose and design the research studies to be funded and conducted by a nationally‐funded centre for research in eating disorders. Results and Conclusion This manuscript documents all the key stages of the co‐production process for the shared agenda setting, choice and design of the three complex research studies, including the establishment of governance and structure, novel IP clauses, processes and principles of shared ideation and collaborative design. We also discuss natural push and pull factors creating tension in a co‐production process, reflecting on themes and learnings.