KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Patient roles are shifting from research subjects to publication partners, contributing lived experience to improve the accuracy and relevance of medical research communications.
• ISMPP has played a leading role in patient engagement initiatives, establishing the Patient Engagement Task Force to embed patient involvement across the publishing ecosystem.
• Practical tools and resources, such as a patient-centred lexicon and impact metrics tools, are supporting effective collaboration and meaningful engagement with patient partners.
• The field is moving toward deeper, more equitable collaboration, with growing opportunities for patients to influence authorship, publication strategy, research leadership, and the broader culture of medical publishing.