In partnership with Cancer Research UK - City of London Centre

VOICE patient advocacy course

We work with the charity Independent Cancer Patients' Voice to run a course in London for cancer patient advocates that aims to explain the research pipeline: from ideas through experiments to clinical trials.

The Barts Cancer Institute works with the charity Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice to run a course at our laboratories in London titled VOICE (Vision On Information, Confidence and Engagement) Science for Patient Advocates. Patients from anywhere in the world are welcome to come and learn about cancer research, from ideas through experiments to clinical trials.

Patient advocates play a crucial role in putting patients’ perspectives at the centre of cancer research. By participating in funding, ethics and policy committees, they help to improve cancer research and maximise its benefit to patients. However, despite their valuable experience, sometimes a lack of biological and scientific training can put them at a disadvantage in these conversations.

VOICE is the first and currently only patient advocate scheme of its kind in the UK. Participants receive tuition in cancer biology from leading researchers at the BCI and gain hands-on experience in the laboratory. This experience helps them to raise their confidence in discussions around research.

Our 5-day course aims to give participants basic understanding of cancer biology and an introduction to research terminology and practice.

Feedback from previous students

  • “An amazing opportunity which I will probably never get the chance to repeat.”
  • “The best thing about this course was the infectious enthusiasm from the lecturers and mentors.”
  • “I was struck by the conversations with young researchers and their enthusiasm. It gave me an understanding of their different but overlapping research.”
  • “The practical gave a real insight and huge appreciation of the patience and dedication of the scientists who do this work on a daily basis”
  • “It gives me more confidence to interact with the scientific community”

VOICE organising team

Professor John F. Marshall

Professor of Tumour Biology

Professor Louise Jones

Professor of Breast Pathology

Professor Angus Cameron

Professor in Cell Signalling and Cancer Biology

Smiling older man with glasses wearing a light checkered shirt, looking to the side.

Dave Chuter

Chair of ICPV and patient advocate

Person with short gray hair and glasses wearing a purple shirt and a purple lanyard at an event, smiling softly.

Ceri Steele

Co-organiser and patient advocate, ICPV

The VOICE organising team works in partnership to design, plan and deliver the course. BCI academics and ICPV patient advocates bring complementary expertise to its development and delivery, working together to shape the programme and participant experience. BCI organisers contribute their expertise in cancer science and lead teaching through lectures and practical sessions, while ICPV organisers bring their experience as patient advocates to course design and facilitation, including leading participant discussions and feedback. They also oversee recruitment, logistics, finances and administration.

Photos from previous VOICE courses

About Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice

Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice is a patient advocate group, run by patients for patients, bringing the views and experiences of cancer patients (as well as their families and carers) to the wider community and cancer research itself.

They hope to see improvements to clinical research and treatments through a partnership between patients, clinicians and researchers – rather than a view of patients simply as healthcare recipients.

Members of ICPV are actively involved in many areas of research. To facilitate and enhance their role in these activities, members aim to understand the fundamentals of cancer, study design and current areas of controversy and research.

Much of this is gained through experience. However, working with the Barts Cancer Institute, ICPV developed a tailor-made course which provides a week-long intensive training in basic cancer biology, introduction to research terminology and study design, and critical evaluation of research proposals and scientific papers.

ICPV provides cancer patients with information on:

  • Participating in clinical trials/studies
  • Donating tissue for research
  • Opportunities to participate in improving cancer services and research

The ICPV website has more information on becoming a member.

For more information, e-mail: voice@icpv.org.uk

Coverage of previous VOICE courses

Helping cancer patient advocates find their voice

We recently welcomed a group of 16 cancer patient advocates into our labs for the 11th edition of our VOICE science for advocates course, co-run with the charity Independent Cancer Patients' Voice.

Engagement   10 October 2024

Video: Knowledge is power – how our VOICE science course is helping cancer patient advocates to speak out

One of our VOICE participants explains why she travelled half way around the world to take part

Engagement   27 September 2023

VOICE 2018: From bedside to bench

BCI held the 2018 VOICE (Vision On Information, Confidence & Engagement) course- a study week that aims to take patient advocates from bedside to bench by providing an introduction to basic cancer biology, research terminology and study design.

Engagement   12 September 2018