About Us

To view the structure in graphic form click here

Service Users in Research Structure

At the MHRN Coordinating Centre
• Associate Director for User and Carer Involvement* – Professor George Szmukler
• PPI Manager* – Joanne Ashcroft
• Service Users In Research Coordinator – Dr Thomas Kabir
• PPI Administrator – Lorrain McPherson

*MHRN Executive Member

Service Users in Research Committee
The Committee comprises staff from the MHRN Coordinating Centre (PPI Manager, Service Users in Research Coordinator and PPI Administrator); two service users representatives from each MHRN hub plus service user representatives from CLRNs that do not overlap with the MHRN Hubs.

The Committee is chaired by the PPI Manager; the Associate Director will be invited to attend as appropriate. Meetings take place every two months and move to different locations within England.

The purpose of the Committee is to share ideas, good practice and provide a support network for its members’ activities.

Service User Forum for Research
The Forum will be open to any service user or service user organization with an interest in mental health research. The Forum will provide an opportunity for new ideas concerning Service Users in Research and service user involvement in the MHRN. The forum will meet once a year. The first forum meeting took place in London on 8th March 2010 following the first MHRN PPI Conference.

Service Users in Research – Advisory Board
The external Advisory Board is chaired by Sue Collinson and has members drawn from a range of professional and organization backgrounds.  The aim is for all or most members to be service users.  The Advisory Board will meet twice a year and will help with the strategic questions as well as offering external perspectives on the work of Service Users in Research. The first meeting took place in October 2009.

Join Service Users in Research

If you would like to join Service Users in Research print off and complete our application form and return to

FREEPOST Plus RSAY-JJ2B-BSLG
MHRN Service Users in Research
PO 77
Institute of Psychiatry
16 De Crespigny Park
London SE5 8AF

Or to request a hard copy call 0207 848 0644