About us

We are a partnership of professional and public members involved in Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in health research and its use in the NHS within the West Midlands. PILAR's members include NIHR and other research-related organisations in the region.

We provide regional leadership and strategic direction for public involvement. With support from INVOLVE, we are committed to improving and promoting effective and meaningful public involvement in research conducted in the region.

PILAR’s three overarching aims are:

1. To encourage patients, the public, researchers and health care professionals to realise the potential of public involvement in research and innovation

2. To ensure that public involvement is embedded in all stages of research and the uptake of innovations from research into practice

3. To share best practice for public involvement across the region.

Our values:

• Fostering a dynamic partnership of the public and researchers shared aspirations for PPIE

• Having a strategic viewpoint to provide leadership for PPIE in the West Midlands

• Promoting best evidence and best practise

• Maximising opportunities and empowering PPIE in research

• Transparency and accountability

• Promoting awareness, sharing knowledge and resources

• Innovation and creativity in the ways PPIE is conducted

• Inclusiveness, accessibility and diversity

• Dignity, respect, and gratitude