The value of the patient and public contribution to cancer research UK’s review of covid-19 impact on its clinical research portfolio

BACKGROUND: In July 2020 Cancer Research UK undertook a rapid review of the studies in its clinical research portfolio to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The review examined over 160 research studies funded by the charity, and in keeping with its usual practice, the charity involved patient/public contributors in the review process. MAIN BODY: Cancer Research UK (CRUK) spends over £450 million pa on research, including clinical trials, tissue collections, laboratory science and biomarker studies. It has involved patient/public contributors in clinical research funding decisions for ten years, recruiting volunteers from the National Cancer Research Institute’s (NCRI) Consumer Forum. The NCRI is a partnership of funders, including the 4 UK governments and major charities such as CRUK. Its Consumer Forum is a group of volunteers with personal experience of cancer as patients or carers, who are trained for and experienced in working on national strategic bodies as well as on individual research studies. The CRUK whole-portfolio review was held over a two-week period in a series of online meetings. A pair from the team of patient/public contributors was included in each meeting, and they made comments on every application reviewed as well as participating in reaching decisions. CONCLUSIONS: The process not only demonstrated CRUK’s continued commitment to involving patient/public contributors in their funding decisions, but also provided an opportunity for these contributors to take a holistic view of processes to inform future patient/public contribution in the charity’s work, as well as to influence the decisions about the individual studies being reviewed.