Overview

Engaging patients, the public, and stakeholders meaningfully is vital for equitable and effective cancer policies. Initiatives like CBIG-SCREEN and ECHoS demonstrate participatory approaches that build trust, legitimacy, and sustainable solutions, particularly for marginalised groups. Barriers to engagement remain including geographic, economic, and institutional constraints, as well as mistrust and power imbalances. Therefore, tailored strategies are essential for addressing these challenges. This article examines how Collaborative User Boards work to overcome contextual challenges and ensure diverse representation within participatory cancer research. It also highlights why overcoming hierarchies is necessary for co-design to work and flourish.