Dr Claudio Di Lorito (Research Fellow, Centre for Dementia) has been awarded joint first prize in this year’s INTERDEM Academy publication award competition.

A network of researchers that spans across Europe, INTERDEM exists to bring together the very best minds in dementia research collaborating with people living with dementia to enhance high quality research.

Claudio’s publication, "Adding to the knowledge on Patient and Public Involvement: Reflections from an experience of co-research with carers of people with dementia" was judged as:

“This article is innovative and inspiring for other researchers attempting to include informal caregivers of people with dementia as co-researchers. The fact that the author managed to change the process evaluation of a RCT into a co-creation project shows his engagement the research topic. The article is well written with high levels of transparency and provides clear recommendations.”

The INTERDEM Academy publication awards aim to stimulate communication between junior and senior members of the INTERDEM network and share research results from those members in the early stages of their research careers.

Claudio was delighted with the award recognition:

“I am delighted to be the winner of the first annual publication award of the INTERDEM Academy. I am very grateful to the academy for acknowledging work that values equal collaboration and equitability in research production between academic researchers and members of the public.

“I first learned about Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in research in 2014 whilst working in the PRIDE project with Professor Martin Orrell. Since then, I have strived to raise the bar of PPI in any research project I was involved in. I found fertile ground for further exploration of a particular type of PPI, co-research, in my current role as a Research Fellow in the PrAISED study.

“This winning manuscript is the culmination of an experience of co-research, in which I and two members of the public with lived experience of caring for someone with dementia collaborated as equal partners in all stages of research, from designing the protocol and materials, to collecting and analysing data to disseminating findings. In this paper, the research team reflects on the benefits and challenges of co-research, with the aim of generating transferable practical knowledge for all academics and members of the public interested in pursuing good practice in PPI.

“I owe the success of this paper to the PrAISED team and Professor Rowan Harwood in particular, who has shared and nurtured my vision. I would also like to acknowledge Maureen Godfrey and Marianne Dunlop, my friends and companions in the co-research journey.” 

Photo: Marianne Dunlop (left), Dr Claudio Di Lorito and Maureen Godfrey (right)