 It's important to involve patients and caregivers in research because they have a very different perspective. They bring the real-life element into the research project. The research is called HomePAL. It makes perfect sense to bring modern technology into the communications between doctor and patient. In my role as patient caregiver advisor, I come up with sort of out-of-the-box questions from my point of view as a patient and as a caregiver. And along with the other people on this team, we can make the research more relevant to the patients and caregivers. We can help avoid awkward mistakes made at different points along in the administration of the project. Caregivers and patients have a better idea of the timeframe necessary to complete the data collection. They know the schedules of the patients and just practical, pragmatic suggestions that we make. I'm so glad to be given the chance to give back in a small way by being part of this project.