PATIENT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT (PPIE)
The engagement and involvement of patients and the public is vital to the Accelerator project, helping enhance our research and our interactions with external stakeholders. We are working closely with dedicated Patient Advocates and cancer patient groups to organise public outreach and engagement activities.
What I find interesting about this project is that it is using new technology to tackle questions which are fundamental to both understanding how cancer develops and which also should lead to improved drug development for chemotherapy and other treatments. This might save the lives of patients affected by a very difficult to treat form of cancer. The technology of this new approach to 3D microscopy and imaging is very interesting and could enable investigations which reveal aspects of cancer biology which are so far unknown.
Taking tissue samples and imaging technology to see what is happening during treatment is a great idea that could also lead to better and more effective treatment. When I went through extensive, high doses of chemo treatment I kept asking myself what are the other numerous reactions that were taking place, hence numerous side effects, even to day after 4 years.
As a lay person myself I believe PPI to be extremely important and definitely the way forward. By putting oneself forward and serving on committees, steering groups etc and sharing experiences it makes research all the easier as it allows for individual experiences to be shared and discussed. This can be done either in person or with the use of technology where suitable. Treatment will differ from person to person and in some cases consultations may be carried out with the use of on line facilities or phone thus saving a journey which may not always be necessary. Personally I believe PPI to be invaluable if progress in research is to progress.
If you would like to learn more about our PPIE activities, please contact us at [email protected]
PAST EVENTS
Francis Crick Curiosity Space
In August 2023 we took part in the “Curiosity Space” event at the Francis Crick Institute in London. The event was a fun-filled activity day for families in the local area. and was an excellent opportunity to engage with kids of all ages, and their parents, regarding microscopy.
Penrice Academy Outreach
In February 2023 our team traveled to Penrice Academy in St Austell, Cornwall to participate in a series of activities to promote studying STEM at university. We provided workshops with GCSE students to teach them about microscopy using Foldscopes and a talk regarding how scientistsfrom different diciplines work together to study cancer. Participants also prepared samples at home and shared their images with us.
MACH3CANCER Patient Advocate Day
In June 2022 we held a PPIE day for out patient advicate and other patients to engage with researchers to discuss the importance of PPIE in cancer research.
Imperial Science Cafe
On May 5th 2022 we participated in the Imperial Science Cafe in collobaoration with Maggie’s Centre, West London and CRUK Imperial Centre. The Maggie’s Centre provides support to cancer patients and their friends, families and carers. Our cancer bioloigst, Edwin Garcia and image technologist Liuba Dvinskikh provided presentations to an audience of cancer patients and laypeople regarding the importance of imaging cancer cells in 3D and how the instruments being developed by the MACH3CANCER team will be able to enhnace our understanding of why cancer cells develop resistance to medication.
MACH3CANCER Webinar: Imaging Technology to Fight Drug Resistance
On June 24th 2021 owe held a live webinar for patients and the public to discuss the challenges of drug resistence as well as how the MACH3CANCER project is utilising 3D cell cultures in the drug discovery process. Speakers included co-investigators across the consortium, as well as our patient advicates who highlighted the impact patient engagement has on cancer research.
White City Half Term Activity
On June 2nd 2021 our PhD students Dan and Billy collaborated with the White City to proved a half-term activity introducing the concept of microscopes.
MACH3CANCER is an Accelerator project supported by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC). CRUK Accelerator Awards are ambitious, multidisciplinary projects intended to enable progress in translational cancer research through the development of tools, platforms and skills that form the foundations of such research.
Click the logos to learn more about about CRUK and AECC.
