Patient Involvement

We developed in collaboration with a Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) organised by the McPin Foundation.

The panel bring lived experience of Bipolar to the team. They advise on appropriate use of language and comment on the relevance of this research. The LEAP have reviewed the study protocol, and support the study regarding its conduct, management and dissemination of results.

One of the co-applicants for the study, Thomas Kabir, is a patient representative. He helped develop and design the study. He joins regular Trial Management Group meetings.

There is also a patient carer representative on the Trial Steering Committee to represent interests of the patient population.

What is a Lived Experience Advisory Panel? 

LEAP member Keith explaining why he became involved in supporting mental health research.

Senior Service User Researcher -John Gibson explaining explaining the importance of lived experience on the ASCEnD Trial

Meet the Lived Experience Advisory Panel

John Gibson, Senior Service User Researcher at the McPin Foundation for the ASCEnD bipolar depression clinical trial.

John Gibson

Senior Service User Researcher

Keith Thompson, LEAP member contributing lived experience expertise to the ASCEnD bipolar depression clinical trial.

Keith Thompson

LEAP member

Fiona Turnbull, LEAP member contributing lived experience expertise to the ASCEnD bipolar depression clinical trial.

Fiona Turnbull

LEAP member

Caroline Kemp, LEAP member contributing lived experience expertise to the ASCEnD bipolar depression clinical trial.

Caroline Kemp

LEAP member

  • “At least 1 in 4 people experience mental health difficulties and even more people are carers. Research plays a huge part in making improvements and reducing stigma, offering hope and recovery.”

  • “It is very rewarding and allows you to develop your life skills.”

  • “Research isn’t something that happens in a dingy laboratory, it is something which we can all get involved in. Being a part of research can help to make an impact on people and policy. Results are acted upon and inform decisions.”