Welcome interview with Dr Philippa Pristerà
Philippa joined the CRUK CoL Radiation Research Centre at the beginning of May as our Patient Public Involvement Coordinator.
Welcome! Tell us a bit about your professional background.
Over the past 18 or so years I’ve straddled the worlds of research (both academic and pharma), public engagement and healthcare communications. I come from a science background but my love of visual arts and its role in public health and science engagement has been a constant influence throughout my life.
I gained my Ph.D. in 2011 at Imperial College London looking into the mechanisms behind nerve-damage from HIV. I then returned to the College in 2017 as a post-doctoral researcher with the Patient Experience Research Centre. It was here that I gained my understanding of Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), which I studied alongside exploring expectations and experiences of cure among people living with hepatitis C. Of course, come March 2020, all efforts were diverted to supporting the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which really put our PPIE skills to the test. We had little time to plan or prepare. But, like so often is true, it’s amazing what can be achieved when you come together.
Beyond the research side, I’ve also spent a large part of my career focussed on healthcare communications; something I’m particularly passionate about. Having worked as a copywriter and strategist across healthcare advertising, exhibitions and most recently medical education and clinical trials, I’ve come to realise just how important it is to create (or better still, co-create) clear, trusted and user-friendly materials, whether they’re for the public, patients or even researchers and healthcare professionals.
This is a new role for the Radiation Research Centre. What would you like people to know?
My main aim is to amplify the great engagement activity that’s already in motion, and to expand the breadth and depth of patient involvement across the Centre’s world-class radiation research and therapeutic advances.
More people are becoming aware of the term patient involvement, and some people are already doing some fantastic work in this space. But we often wish we could do more. There may also be those who are less familiar or experienced about what it means. I’m here to help everyone embed the value that people with lived experience can bring to their work, whatever the type or stage of their research.
I’m also hugely passionate about EDI so key priorities will be around creating clear communications and inclusive opportunities to enable more people from any background to play a role in how research is designed, developed or delivered.
And finally, you will always find an understanding ear with me. I’ve been there myself. I’ve led patient/public involvement in my own research, so I know and understand the challenges that you often face. But whatever the challenge, there’s usually a solution and I’m here to help.
If any of this resonates with you or you’re interested to learn more about involving or engaging patients, please do get in touch: p.pristera@ucl.ac.uk. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I have two young girls aged seven and two who keep me and my husband on our toes. We live in a small village called Shepreth just south of Cambridge. It doesn’t have a shop, but it does have a wildlife park, so you’ll often find us there looking at the animals (sometimes) or monkeying around in the soft play area (most times).
We’re also about to embark on a house renovation project so much of my ‘other’ time is focused on that. It taps into my childhood dream of being an architect though, so I secretly love it.
Beyond that, I may be found tending to our unwieldy garden and continuing my attempt to learn Italian so I can communicate better with my husband’s side of the family.
