A community outreach scheme at Manchester Metropolitan University is training researchers to co-design heart, blood sugar, and muscle-nerve studies with the people who will eventually be affected by those conditions. The problem is straightforward: medical research often excludes the very communities it aims to help—people from underserved backgrounds, those with lived experience of chronic illness, or groups historically mistrustful of science. Without their input, studies can miss real-world needs, recruit poorly, or produce findings that don’t translate into everyday care. ManMet ECHO tackles this gap by embedding public partners—patients, carers, community representatives—directly into the grant-writing process, before a single experiment begins. If the scheme succeeds, it could reshape how cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular research is funded in the UK. Researchers who win support will produce grant applications that are more relevant, more inclusive, and more likely to attract MRC funding. The co-created “How to” guide and legacy resources will spread these practices across the sector, making public involvement a routine part of research design rather than an afterthought. The immediate impact is on the research system itself—how studies are conceived, who gets a say, and whose health priorities get addressed.
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Context ManMet ECHO (Empowering Community and Health Outreach) seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and the wider community by supporting the co-production of inclusive, person-centred research and outreach activities. Aim We aim to expand ManMet ECHO’s public involvement initiative by engaging a wider network of academic and public partners in the co-design, implementation, and evaluation of pre-application activities, supporting high-quality MRC submissions in cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular research. Objective 1: Enhance engagement and outreach for health research We will expand the reach of ManMet ECHO by broadening our connections with academic and public partners, fostering high-quality collaborations, and increasing engagement with underserved communities. Our goal is to ensure that those often excluded from research have meaningful opportunities to be heard, valued, and actively involved. Objective 2: Co-develop pre-application research ideas Through a devolved support scheme, ManMet ECHO will offer tailored guidance and funding to researchers developing MRC proposals. Public partners will help shape these ideas from the outset, ensuring they reflect lived experience and align with real-world needs. Objective 3: Generate mixed-methods data and evidence To evaluate the scheme and inform future development, we will collect and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data. This will help assess the effectiveness of our scheme and public involvement, capture learning from both researchers and public contributors, and provide evidence for MRC reporting requirements. Objective 4: Share learning and create legacy To ensure long-term impact, we will co-create accessible resources that capture key learning, challenges, and successes. Legacy material will be disseminated for academic and public audiences to promote best practice and encourage wider uptake across the sector. Who can apply The scheme is open to any ManMet staff member eligible for MRC funding. We particularly welcome applications from researchers whose work aligns with MRC priorities in cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular health, across all faculties and disciplines. How the scheme will run To enhance engagement and outreach, ManMet ECHO will launch the scheme with a co-developed event in January 2026, aimed at academic, healthcare, and community partners. This will promote inclusive dialogue and provide space for public contributors to share their health research priorities. Ongoing outreach, including targeted social media and press campaigns, will seek engagement from underserved groups. To support the co-development of research ideas, eligible MRC-aligned researchers will submit a short request outlining proposed public involvement activities. Requests will be reviewed for alignment with MRC priorities, with all eligible applicants invited to present to the ManMet ECHO steering group. This group will meet six times during the grant and include academic leads, public partners, and community and clinical representatives. Successful applicants will receive tailored guidance, community connections, and funding to deliver high-quality public involvement activities. Throughout the scheme, mixed-methods evaluation will capture reach, engagement, and impact. Data from events, meetings, and activities will be analysed in collaboration with the steering group to inform scheme delivery. Three co-creation workshops will reflect on learning and produce a “How to” guide to support future practice. Finally, a showcase event in June 2027 will present the scheme’s achievements, alongside the co-produced guide. Legacy outputs, including public-facing and academic resources, will be disseminated through a strategy shaped by public and professional partners, maximising the impact and sustainability of meaningful and inclusive research across the sector.
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