23 September, 2026
The second ASPIRE consortium meeting took place in Milan on 17–18 September 2026. The meeting opened with a workshop focused on the Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB).
Researchers and experts by experience joined the session to discuss lived experience involvement in mental health research. Together, they shared ideas, experiences and priorities. In addition, they explored how ASPIRE can strengthen this involvement throughout the project.
Developing a roadmap for lived experience involvement
Erik Van der Eycken from GAMIAN-Europe and Fanni-Laura Mäntylä facilitated the workshop. The session encouraged open discussion and collaboration between researchers and people with lived experience.
Importantly, a key focus was the development of a roadmap for lived experience involvement within ASPIRE. This roadmap will help guide the project over the coming years. Moreover, it will support a more structured approach to involving people with lived experience in research activities.
Lived experience involvement goes beyond simply asking people for feedback. Instead, it creates opportunities for people to contribute their knowledge and perspectives throughout the research process. For example, this can include discussions about research priorities, communication, implementation and future project activities.
Bringing lived experience into mental health research
GAMIAN-Europe supports the ASPIRE Lived Experience Advisory Board and promotes meaningful patient involvement across the project. Through this work, GAMIAN-Europe helps ensure that the perspectives of people affected by mental health conditions are included in research discussions and decision-making.
The workshop also allowed participants to reflect on what meaningful involvement should look like in practice. As a result, the group could identify both opportunities and challenges for the next stages of the project.
At the same time, bringing together researchers and experts with experience can help build stronger collaboration. It can also support research that responds more closely to the priorities of people directly affected by mental health conditions.
About the ASPIRE project
ASPIRE is a five-year research project funded by the Wellcome Trust. The project explores the relationship between inflammation and depression. Ultimately, it aims to improve understanding of depression and contribute to more personalised approaches to treatment.
For GAMIAN-Europe, the Milan workshop was another important step towards strengthening lived experience involvement in mental health research. By working closely with researchers, people with lived experience can help shape research that better reflects their needs, priorities and experiences.
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