Staff from CaHRU contributed to the recent East Midlands Research Engaging Patients and the Public Event held on Thursday 23rd March 2017 at Leicester Diabetes Centre by giving a masterclass on patient and public involvement (PPI) in research. The event was designed for researchers and lay people interested in PPI supporting research addressing the needs of underserved and seldom heard communities. The event began with a keynote session 
exploring the regional and local picture of PPI. This was followed by a number of masterclasses.
The masterclass run by staff from CaHRU was given by Dr Jo Middlemass (Research Fellow/Nurse) together with Ms Despina Laparidou (Research Assistant), Mr Viet-Hai Phung (Research Assistant) and Mrs Pauline Mountain, Independent Patient and Public Representative from the Healthier Ageing Patient and Public Involvement (HAPPI) group. The masterclass focussed on PPI with older people and ethnic minority groups. Pauline talked about her involvement in the HAPPI group and connectivity to other carers and related organisations. Viet-Hai spoke about his doctoral study on people from ethnic minority groups from Eastern European countries. Despina discussed reaching carers of people with dementia.
The session was well received by participants and contributed to the overall success of the event. The HAPPI group continue to support studies in primary and prehospital care involving CaHRU and collaborating academic institutions and NHS organisations.
By Jo Middlemass