Celebrating public engagement in healthcare engineering

The awards, which celebrate the role of researchers, clinicians and community members in fostering meaningful collaboration, showcased a diverse range of projects dedicated to improving public understanding and involvement in healthcare research. 

Recognising impact across five categories 

The IHE Engagement Awards were presented in five categories, highlighting innovative efforts across different areas of engagement: 

PhD and Early-Career Researchers 

Winner: Ewan Soubutts 

Ewan Soubutts, a Research Fellow at the UCL Interaction Centre, led a co-production initiative with low-income older adults in East London. Partnering with AgeUK, he conducted a series of workshops exploring how technology—such as mobile apps and smart speakers—could support the well-being of individuals aged 65 and over.  

The initiative aimed to make digital tools more accessible to underrepresented communities, ensuring their voices influenced technology design. Through co-creation sessions, participants contributed insights into energy, finance, and healthcare technologies, helping shape future research and funding applications. Ewan's work, part of a larger project, "DigiAge – Equity for Older Adults," resulted in significant qualitative data and further collaborations with minority and low-income organisations in London. 

Community engagement and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) 

Winner: The PitCOP Study 

The PitCOP team were recognised for their work fostering community engagement and public involvement in healthcare research. The PitCOP Study, the first international consensus study to identify research priorities in pituitary surgery, involved 250 participants, most of whom were patients, carers, or from charities. The project facilitated direct conversations between researchers and patient communities, ensuring that lived experiences played a central role in shaping research priorities and outcomes. This study has already resulted in valuable information for funding bodies and future research directions. 

Co-production 

Winner: Poppy Smith 

Poppy helped spearhead the Nerve Injury Community Day (NICD), an event hosted by the UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering in November 2023. Bringing together 77 researchers, clinicians, and nerve injury patients, the event aimed to bridge the gap between medical research and patient experience. As the Co-Production Team Leader, Poppy ensured the event was shaped by all stakeholders, with dedicated workshops on nerve repair research, pain management, and personal experiences of nerve injury. The event resulted in significant patient engagement, influencing research priorities and leading to new partnerships. Plans are already underway for future nerve injury events. 

Communicating our research 

Winner: ReSURGE 

The ReSURGE team received the award for their creative science communication efforts, making complex healthcare engineering topics accessible to wider audiences. The ReSURGE Gallery, organised by researchers from the Hawkes Institute, showcased collaborative and artistic approaches to engagement during the UCL Festival of Engineering in July 2024. The exhibition featured a variety of media, including acrylic painting, tapestry, 3D printing, and a VR tour of an IVF clinic. 

Institutional leadership 

Winner: James Cole 

Professor James Cole was recognised for his leadership in driving institutional change towards greater public engagement in healthcare research. He has fostered an environment that encourages researchers to actively involve patients, carers, and the wider public in shaping the future of healthcare innovations.  

James has sponsored the HDRUK Black Internship in 2023, led activities at the Alzheimer’s Research UK London Network Open Day, and is currently organising another community engagement event with the Dementia Research Centre. His efforts have cultivated a team mindset that values public engagement.