Become a public committee member

Our NIHR committees recommend which health and social care research projects we should fund or prioritise.

A range of professionals and public members sit on our committees. These groups assess research proposals and briefs that describe a potential area of research. The proposals can cover a wide range of health and social care issues and challenges. They all aim to benefit patients and improve services.

People who join our committees as public members have the key task of bringing a patient and public perspective to the discussions.

Apply to join a committee today

We have a very unique perspective on the issues that are being discussed and I think involving members of the public, patients, carers enables the research to more grounded in the reality of people's lives.

Rosemary, NIHR Committee Member

Why should I join an NIHR committee?

Being part of research is exciting. It is thought provoking and it allows you to use skills that you might not have realised you had. It can lead you into new experiences or opportunities that you didn’t expect.

NIHR committees give you the opportunity to:

have a say in research funding decisions
learn more about research
engage in thought-leading discussions
represent people and patients

We are keen to involve patients, carers and members of the public who have a broad interest in and knowledge of health, social care and/or actions to improve public health and address health inequalities.

You do not need to have a scientific background to help shape research! We are looking for people who are able to use their own experiences to improve the research we wish to fund.

How often are committees recruited?

NIHR runs an annual recruitment campaign, typically in the spring.

You can find out more about the application process in our information pack.

How research committees work

Are public committee members paid?

We offer public members an attendance fee for their involvement in the committee. The amount will depend on the nature and volume of work involved. The fee will always be clarified ahead of the meeting and will involve preparation work.

Public members can also claim reasonable expenses in connection with their attendance at committee meetings, for example:

travel, food and drink
accommodation
childcare and carer costs
personal assistant costs
postage and printing costs

What training is available for committee members?

We work with our members to support them in the best way we can throughout their time with us.

We provide a free online course for new and experienced public committee members.

The course includes:

an overview of the NIHR with an introduction to patient and public involvement
skills training such as providing constructive feedback and approaching complex documents

You can browse for more guidance and training on Learning for Involvement.

Public committee member responsibilities

Committees generally have 20 members including public members, subject matter experts and academics. All members have an equal footing.

Responsibilities for a member of the public sitting on an NIHR committee include:

attending meetings up to four times a year for one or two days
contributing to the discussions and decision-making that take place during meetings
preparing for committee meetings by reviewing research proposals and noting down your comments
recommending which research should receive funding or priority