The group has been recognised for its sustained model of embedding people with lived experience across their musculoskeletal research.
The Aberdeen Centre for Research Excellence in Musculoskeletal Health (formerly ACAMH) Epidemiology Group PPIE Team, has been awarded the Principal's Prize for Public, Patient and Community Involvement and Engagement at the University of Aberdeen Excellence Awards 2026.
The team were delighted to receive the award at a dinner in Elphinstone Hall, Old Aberdeen, on 23 April 2026. Attending on behalf of the group were Dr Rosemary Hollick, Mrs Laura Moir, Dr Karen Keenan, Mr Stuart Anderson, and Dr Rebecca Parr, also representing in absentia Dr Elaine Wainwright and Mrs Claire Hunter.
In recognising the award, the judging panel noted that the team had created a sustained partnership model embedding people with lived experience across the musculoskeletal research lifecycle, and cited studies including VOICES, PACFiND, and a dedicated national PPIE group as evidence of genuine co-production, methodological innovation, and meaningful impact on research, resources, and healthcare delivery.
This approach to PPIE combines ongoing partnerships with flexible, study-specific involvement. A small core group of people with lived experience works closely with the team across multiple projects, providing continuity, insight, and challenge. Alongside this, a wider UK-based network of contributors enables broader engagement in targeted activities, while individual studies are supported by tailored PPIE groups.
Together, this supports meaningful involvement across the full research lifecycle, from pre-grant co-design through to doctoral research, dissemination, and real-world impact - areas where PPIE is often more limited. Since 2021, this has grown to include 12 core members and a wider network of over 130 contributors, with the recently funded LIFT initiative further extending this work through the group’s co-leadership of its devolved nations programme, contributing to UK-wide infrastructure for inclusive engagement.
Dr Rosemary Hollick said, “PPIE is central to how we approach research. This award reflects the commitment of our patient partners, who work with us to shape the questions we ask, how we answer them, and how findings are translated into practice. Building sustained relationships over time allows us to ensure our research remains grounded in what matters to people living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions.”
The team wish to thank all our patient partners, and particularly the members of the Core Group, who have contributed their time, expertise, and lived experience since 2021.
Further information about the group’s PPIE activities can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/epippi.