Chair of the NICRCF
Meet Aidan McCormick, Chair of the NICRCF
Aidan is Chairperson of NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum (NICRCF) and a Member of Queens University Belfast PPI Network. He is an Executive Committee Member of NI Cancer Trials Network (NICTN) and Patient Advocate Member of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI). Aidan is also a Member of the Cancer Consortium Implementation Group.
Until his retirement in 2019, Aidan McCormick was employed by the Northern Ireland Education Authority. Previously he was a teacher of science and careers education at post primary level and a Governor of the Southern Regional College. He has been a blood cancer patient for over twelve years.
Aidan explains why he got involved in the NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum.
I was introduced to the Cancer Forum by my Sister-in-law whose husband was a Prostate Cancer Patient. The Forum I discovered was a body of like-minded people, from all walks of life, consisting of patients and carers all with an experience of cancer and involved in supporting the work of cancer researchers and clinicians. For me it was an ideal opportunity to give back to the community that cares for me and allows me to add my patient’s voice. Patient and public involvement (PPI) empowers us, it builds our confidence and gives us hope in challenging times. We can help improve the quality and relevance of a research project as we bring a different perspective, a patient’s or carer’s prospective. As patient advocates we can inform all parts of the research cycle and help improve outcomes for patients.