Lay Research Panel Member

How you can shape muscle wasting research to meet all our needs

Joining our Lay Research Panel is a great way to use your lived experience to improve the lives of more people like you. The panel plays a critical role in ensuring that we fund research to meet the needs of our community.  

We meet twice a year over Zoom.  In these meetings we review our grants programme and discuss the research applications we have received. We review every application carefully to assess whether and how it will benefit people with muscle wasting conditions. A scientific advisor is available during these meetings to answer any scientific questions we might have.  

Two members of the Lay Research Panel then provide feedback to our Medical Research Committee, made up of scientific and clinical experts, in a committee meeting. Panel members also have voting rights, so they have a direct influence on deciding which grants are funded. 

Becoming a panel member – what’s involved

You don’t need a scientific background to be a member of the Lay Research Panel. We welcome applications from anyone affected by a muscle wasting or weakening condition – personally or through a family relationship. If this is you, you have an interest in medical research, and you are willing to spend time reading and assessing applications for research funding, we’d love to hear from you.  

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

• Read and assess plain language applications for funding (prepared by researchers)  
• Attend meetings once or twice a year to discuss your views on applications (you will be required to read applications before the meetings)
• Work with the Muscular Dystrophy Research Team to help shape the best way to communicate research to a lay audience

I’m in. How do I apply?

Applying to be a member of the panel is straightforward. Simply fill out the form, and we will contact you about how to make a formal application. We usually consider applications in the Autumn, but you can apply any time, and we will keep your details on file until the next opportunity comes up. 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.