SmILE Patient Advisory Board Presents Its Work at the “Shaping Health” Conference in Göttingen

Strengthening the patient perspective in research was at the heart of the SmILE Patient Advisory Board’s participation in the “Shaping Health -Tackling Societal Challenges Together” conference in Göttingen, Germany. Patient involvement is essential for research that responds to people’s real needs and experiences.

But how can meaningful participation be put into practice? The SmILE Patient Advisory Board (PAB) explored this question at the joint conference organised by four professional associations: DEGAM, DGSMP, DGMS, and the EbM Network. The event brought together professionals and stakeholders to discuss how collaboration can help address societal challenges in health.

As part of the Citizens’ Day, the SmILE Patient Advisory Board presented a poster showcasing the establishment and initial activities of the board. Together with two PAB members, the SmILE team shared insights into the process of setting up the advisory board, its experiences to date, and the value of collaboration between researchers and people with lived experience. A key highlight was the active involvement of the two patient advisory board members, who contributed their own perspectives and experiences to both the poster presentation and discussions with participants. Their contributions demonstrated the importance of involving patients not only as recipients of research outcomes, but also as active partners in shaping research processes.

The conference also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with other initiatives, learn from different approaches to patient participation, and gather ideas to support the SmILE Patient Advisory Board’s future activities. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the SmILE project continues to promote a more inclusive, patient-centred approach to research and innovation in healthcare. The insights gained in Göttingen will help strengthen the patient perspective throughout the project and support the development of solutions that better reflect the needs and experiences of the people who will ultimately use them.