Partnering with HRCI

Most of our best achievements happens through partnerships. If you have found your way to this page you might be considering reaching out to us for a partnership, or we might have asked you to have a read of it – either way, we thank you for engaging with us. 

Core to how we operate is bringing people together and we have numerous partnerships, collaborations and associations with other charities, state agencies, researchers, industry, policy makers etc. We believe ourselves to be considerate and respectful partners and we are as careful with the reputations of others as we are with our own.

What we offer partners

• Deep knowledge of health research charities
• Expertise in PPI and engaged research.
• A long track-record in event management
• Strong capability in advocacy
• Skills in communicating to a variety of audiences and established channels to those audiences.

With an ever-increasing focus on PPI and public engagement in health research, and with an increased desire for research to underpin societal change, we get many requests to partner. Due to our very limited resources, we can only say yes to approximately one third of these requests.

What makes it more likely that we will say yes to a partnership?

• If it involves activities that are relevant to health research charities and relate to specifically to research in health, medical or social care.
• If the activities will help us to meet our strategic goals.
• If consideration is given to funding for our time and expertise (this is not always relevant or possible but resourcing is an ever-present concern for us).
• If we are provided with sufficient information to fully understand the plans and the role that each partner will play and if there is an opportunity to shape the plans from the outset.
• If we are given enough time to consider our role and what the commitments will mean for our small team.
• If there is the existence of, or an opportunity to build, a long-term relationship.

We understand that partnerships are complex and that everyone has limitations and restrictions, and so we are always happy to at least have a conversation. Depending on its scale and nature, if we agree to a partnership, we often suggest developing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) early in the discussions. This helps to avoid any misunderstandings or issues as we work together.

Thanks for reading and please get/stay in touch, if you would like to discuss a partnership with us.  You can email HRCI CEO, Dr Avril Kennan (avril@hrci.ie)

Engaging with the healthcare industry

The engagement of health research charities with the healthcare industry has the potential to speed the development and improve the quality of treatments for health conditions. Charities can add much value to pharmaceutical and other healthcare industries, due to their knowledge of the patient experience and the relevant community. Industry often provides valuable financial support to patient organisations, enabling them to undertake their important work.

Good governance for charities engaging with industry

In engaging with industry, it is essential that patient organisations act according to the highest standards of good governance, in order to best represent patients and to protect their independence and reputation. To facilitate health research charities in this regard, we have developed a template Code of Practice for engaging healthcare industry. Most similar codes/guidelines are written from the perspective of industry. This code takes into consideration the governance requirements of industry but has been developed from the charity perspective.

It will hopefully provide patient organisations with a starting point for what they need to consider in their dealings with the healthcare industry and can be adapted according to the situation and needs of individual organisations.

Click here to download the Template Code of Practice for Engaging with the Healthcare Industry