Increasing patient and public involvement in clinical research

Clinical research is vital for improving human health. However, multiple issues, including research aims misaligned with the needs of patients, non-representative participant recruitment, and a failure to disseminate results effectively, all reduce the impact of research. Patient and public involvement (PPI) can be a powerful tool in ensuring that research focuses on the most pressing needs of a population. Older adults, often underrepresented in clinical research, are a group that can particularly benefit from PPI.