In this video, Martin Christlieb, from the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, speaks on the interaction between patients and researchers, with respect to the initiatives being taken up by his own research group to relay complex science to patient and consumer groups. Dr Christlieb describes the relationship, suggesting its synergistic nature. This video was recorded at the 2018 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference, held in Glagow, UK.