Lay Research Panel Member

How you can shape muscle wasting research

As a member of the Lay Research Panel, with a personal or professional connection to muscle wasting conditions, you’ll be part of a process to select the best research application options we receive to develop future treatments and cures for muscle wasting conditions. 

You’ll bring your understanding and insights into what the muscle wasting community value most to the evaluation, helping us to deliver the most impactful research for our community. 

Our panel meets once a year to assess applications. This is usually a one full day commitment, with attendance either in-person at our London office or virtually. The panel also meet at one other time of the year for a couple of hours to discuss grants that have been funded and areas of strategic importance to the charity. 

What’s involved in becoming a panel member?

You don’t need a scientific background.. We welcome applications from anyone affected by a muscle wasting condition – those with live experience, their family or carers. All you need is an interest in the science of muscle wasting conditions and an enthusiasm for reading about new scientific and medical advances. You’ll also need the time to carefully read through and evaluate applications in the run up to the Panel meetings. 

As a member of the Lay Research Panel, you will: 

• Represent the views of people affected directly or indirectly by a muscle wasting condition when setting the priorities for funding research.
• Read and assess plain English language applications prepared by researchers.
• Attend meetings of the Lay Research Panel and discuss your views and those of others about the research applications.
• Assisting in other activities relating to medical research that require representation of people with lived experience from time to time.

How do I apply?

Applying to become a member of the panel is straightforward. Simply fill out the application form and send it to our Research Officer, Lorna Simpson at researchgrants@musculardystrophyuk.org.

The application deadline is 18 November 2026.

Shortlisting will take place at the end of November.

Interviews will take place in early December and will be held via Teams/Zoom.

The panel will consist of existing members of the Lay Research Panel and our charity staff.

You will be notified of the outcome by the end of December 2026.

Please note: we can only accept applications from people based in the United Kingdom.

We’d like our Lay Research Panel to reflect the diversity of our community, so we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.