NEW for 2026!

The Lived Experience Award recognises regulatory affairs professionals who have demonstrated excellent engagement and involvement of patients and/or the public in their work.  This might be through involving patients, or their loved ones, who are directly affected, or the wider public in regulatory activities. This may include engagement that informs regulatory decision-making, policy development, safety monitoring, and/or the design of regulatory processes.

Examples of meaningful engagement activities contributing to the safe delivery of medicines, medical devices or veterinary medicines, are eligible. This includes approaches that ensure patient and public perspectives are appropriately considered and reflected in regulatory activities. The effective use of inclusive and accessible engagement methods is also celebrated by this award.

This award category is open to individuals, teams or organisations.

Nominations may be for a person, team or organisation who has:
1. Demonstrated meaningful and inclusive engagement with patients or the public in regulatory activities.
2. Ensured that patient or public perspectives were considered in regulatory thinking or decision-making.
3. Overcome barriers or have identified innovative solutions to ensure effective engagement and demonstrated a commitment to transparency and accessibility.
4. Provided evidence of the outcomes or impact of the engagement activity.

Nominations may cover any or all of the following:
1. The development of a strategy, innovation, idea, or practice which strengthens patient or public involvement in regulatory affairs.
2. A project or activity that successfully incorporated patient or public perspectives into regulatory work or decision making.
3. The use of methods or tools that improved accessibility or inclusivity of patient/public feedback.
4. An initiative that improved understanding or trust between regulators and patients or the public, leading to improved approaches and/or outcomes.

Please note: any individual, team or organisation nominating themselves will be required to submit a supporting statement.