Dr Piotr Teodorowski is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, whose work centres on advancing inclusive, equitable research through meaningful Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). His research interests centre on developing an international programme of PPI that strengthens methodological innovation, builds cross‑country comparative insight, and enhances institutional capacity. He is particularly focused on PPIE in cancer research, PPI in data research, and arts‑based participatory approaches that support meaningful qualitative inquiry and maximise research impact.

Piotr recently completed a Cancer Research Transatlantic Development and Skills Enhancement Award (funded by NIHR and MRC), which enabled him to further develop his expertise in public involvement and to build international collaborations with researchers at the National Cancer Institute in the United States. During this award, he also delivered a series of invited talks across leading US research cancer centres, including the National Cancer Institute on best practices for embedding lived experience in cancer research; Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo (New York) on evaluating public engagement in research; and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), where he presented on creative and arts‑based approaches for public engagement in research.

In the UK, since 2023, Piotr has contributed to the Public Engagement in Data Research Initiative (PEDRI) and supported the development of national guidance around PPI in data research and statistics, an evaluation toolkit and training materials.

Piotr’s work also pushes methodological boundaries. He is committed to making research more accessible and reflective of diverse experiences by using arts‑based participatory approaches. These include LEGO® Serious Play, photovoice, photo elicitation, visual minutes and mandala, which allow participants to express their perspectives beyond words and engage more deeply in the research process. These innovative approaches enable richer, more nuanced insights, particularly when working with groups who may face language, cultural, or systemic barriers to traditional forms of research.

Piotr’s work is interdisciplinary, and he has collaborated with colleagues in the United States, Malaysia, Spain, Albania and Ukraine. 

Outside PPIE work. One of his research projects examined the role of warm banks, publicly accessible heated spaces, in supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis. In partnership with South Tyneside Council, he explored how these spaces were used not only for warmth but also as vital sources of social connection and mental health support. His findings highlighted the complex needs of individuals seeking support during the winter months and the importance of designing community interventions. Alongside his health research, Piotr has a strong interest in migration, particularly in how migrant communities integrate in the UK. His earlier work examined the impact of the Brexit vote on the mental health and well-being of European Union citizens in Scotland.

Before entering academia, Piotr was active in community-based roles, including as a Researcher & Community Engagement Officer at the Grampian Regional Equality Council in Aberdeen, where he supported projects with migrants and ethnic minority communities. This community background continues to inform his academic work, ensuring that theory remains relevant to real-world challenges.