Opportunity to join Citizens Advisory Network at Heriot-Watt University

This month's Digital Citizen Panel Spotlight is Heriott-Watt University's Citizen Advisory Network.

Steven Karlson-Brown – DCP member and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Specialist at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh – is looking for people interested in getting involved in research into health and care technologies.  His role supporting citizens to participate in various research projects is an exciting addition to the team.

In July 2025, Heriot-Watt University launched the Global Research Institute (GRI) for Health and Care Technologies, a major new initiative to create innovative and sustainable solutions for pressing global health challenges.

The Citizen Advisory Network (Link: Citizen Advisory Network) is central to the Global Research Institute’s mission, shaping how research priorities are identified and implemented. These include:

• Engineering the Fight Against Cancer
• Technologies for Healthy Ageing
• Digitising Chronic Disease Management
• One Global Health Innovation
• Digital Mental Health

In keeping with this, the Heriot-Watt Citizen’s Advisory Network (CAN) is a dynamic community of citizens working side-by-side with researchers in the Health and Care Technologies Global Research Institute.

Researchers are developing solutions for many important health and care areas, from redefining non-invasive surgical techniques and tackling frailty using robotics to pioneering revolutionary imaging technologies for early disease detection.

Steven explains that the time is right to expand the network:

“We know that fresh perspectives lead to better ideas. When patients and the public are engaged in research, they bring insights that researchers may not have considered – and it’s helping us in so many different ways”.

“CAN members are getting involved in all sorts of activities by this point – from sitting on steering committees to taking part in interviews and workshops. It’s definitely one of those ‘no two days are the same’ sorts of scenarios – which I like!”

The way the network operates is that members opt-in to whatever suits them when opportunities arise – there’s no long-term time commitment. Training and support are offered to everyone joining the CAN, along with remuneration in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) guidelines. 

There are no specific requirements to have lived experience of any kind, but rather an interest in getting involved in research across broad areas that impact everyone, such as healthy ageing, cancer, and much more.

To learn more or join the network, register your interest by emailing ResearchInvolvement@hw.ac.uk

 GRI video: Ideas that Improve Lives

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