Letsgetvocal

02/10/2025

28/08/2025

In this , Natasha shares her experience of living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – from when she was diagnosed, to enrolling to a scuba diving course.

Read it here: https://zurl.co/OVxzF

Dodgy days and a love of sharks

25/08/2025

As part of Cancer & Us: Community Conversations, Rita visited a laboratory to talk with cancer researchers supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research and see what they’ve been working on.

She wanted to find out how research helps patients get the treatment that is best suited for them. Watch the film below to see what she discovered. 👇

What would you ask a cancer researcher?

18/08/2025

“We're ordinary people and we've come through this and we're using this creative side of us to share our experience.”

Julie and Farida both got diagnosed with cancer and had radiotherapy. Watch this film to find out more about their experience and how it led to a comedy double act.

📚 Find out more about this project here: https://zurl.co/GKZle

14/08/2025

📣 Are you interested in having your say in research but unsure if it’s for you?

Khumbo, who took part in , shares how it was opportunity for learning.

Find opportunities to have your say here: https://zurl.co/C89dV

11/08/2025

“How do you think it feels to be me, apart from you, covered up in the heat?”

Did you know that there’s a type of eczema that is triggered or made worse by sunlight?

NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre researcher Kirsty Rutter is working to understand more about the cause and find new treatments.

Read this blog to find out what people affected want you to know about living with this condition: https://zurl.co/Xz7Be

07/08/2025

📣 How does laboratory research help people with asthma?

Simon, from Socio-Economic Regeneration CIC, met with NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre supported researcher Hannah Durrington to explore this question.

Watch this film to find the answer and let us know what you think!

04/08/2025

📣 How do we talk inclusively about health research?

Members of the Black and Asian Research Advisory Group worked with us to co-develop a series of principles for inclusive communication – which we’re using in our work.

Read them here: https://zurl.co/kPxoY

Communicating effectively about research is crucial to make it more accessible to everyone.

30/07/2025

📣 “I feel like I’m giving something back to the community”

Unsure about if having a say in research is for you?

Find about Russ' experience in this video!

Visit our opportunities page to find how you can have your say in research: https://zurl.co/gfghS

28/07/2025

📣 "I felt dehumanised as a patient and sharing my story allowed me to be human again and be more than my condition" - Participant

Creative projects like help build relationships between people and research.

Read more:
https://zurl.co/YSyhp

Find out more about how we work creatively with people

08/07/2025

10/06/2025

📣 "As a member of the public I want to help keep the focus on the aspirational aspect of clinical research, what is the research helping to change?"

Grace is a Freelance Consultant and Director of a local community organisation. She is also a member of the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Executive Committee, chaired by Professor Ben Parker, the newly appointed Manchester CRF Director. The Committee ensures that the NIHR Manchester CRF is meeting strategic objectives.

Read this blog to find out about her experience and why she thinks people should be involved in governance roles in health research 👇

🔗 https://wearevocal.org/wlrs/listen-up/advising-as-a-public-partner-in-governance

Find out about Grace's experience as a public partner in a governance role