Your experience is expertise. Get paid to use it.
Merakoi brings people who live with a condition, and the people who care for them, into projects run by pharma, medtech and health research teams. Every project is paid, you see the details before you say yes, and membership is by application.
Every application is reviewed. Over 18s only.
Patient experts and caregivers in 20+ countries.
Countries with Merakoi patient experts and caregivers, counted from our own records in September 2026. Pictured: Philip, Wales · Gaia, Italy · Jade, United States · Rod, Australia.
Three kinds of work. All online, all paid.
Often an hour or two
Say what it is really like
Interviews, small group discussions and surveys about living with your condition day to day.
Days to months
Shape something before it launches
Review a trial, a support programme or an app with the team building it, and test it at home first.
Hours to weeks
Put it in your own words
Review or co-write brochures, websites and videos so they speak the way people actually talk.
Paid, told what changed, free to say no.
The terms every project runs on, so nothing surprises you later.
| Payment | An hourly rate or a project fee, stated before you say yes, based on local fair-market rates. |
|---|---|
| Paid by | Merakoi, by bank transfer or gift certificate, soon after your part is done. |
| Cost to join | None. No fees, no hidden requirements. |
| Time per project | An hour or two for a discussion. Weeks to months when you help design or test something. |
| Where | Online, from home. |
| Your role | A named consultant on the project team, under a consultancy agreement. Anonymised only in market research projects. |
| Saying no | Always allowed, before a project or during it, for any reason. |
| Afterwards | We tell you what your input changed. |
| Languages | Project materials in English. Our team also speaks German, French, Spanish and Japanese. |
From application to your first project.
Apply on KoiSpace
Your condition, background, languages and interests.
We review it
Every profile is read by our team.
A project fits
We send the goals, the time needed and the pay.
You decide
Yes or no. No obligation either way.
Work, then hear what changed
Online, with other patient experts and a Merakoi facilitator.
What patient experts say about the work.
The project I worked on gave me the autonomy to express my ideas and make my contribution. The Merakoi team was always there for me, giving me instructions and time to work on the tasks. It was really a great growth experience.
GaiaMerakoi patient expert, multiple sclerosis
Being a patient expert is more than putting a spotlight on an issue. It’s working with other catalysts for change to co-create solutions that will have great outcomes and impact.
JadeMerakoi patient expert, ovarian cancer
I am a grateful survivor. Though my journey was long and challenging, I am finally fully restored. Through my experience, I now have the power to support and be the voice of other patients.
PhilipMerakoi patient expert, aortic stenosis
What makes a good patient expert.
We choose carefully, and approve the profiles we can place on real projects.
- Deep lived experience. Your condition, or the one you care for, known inside out.
- Sees beyond their own case. Through a community, an organisation, writing, or people helped.
- Puts it into words. Clearly, honestly, and in English good enough for the materials.
- Works well with a team. On time, prepared, discreet, willing to challenge. Code of Conduct.
- 18 or older. No degree or training required.
What exactly is a patient expert?
Someone who uses their own experience of a health condition to make healthcare better. You might join a small group discussion, review materials written for patients, test an app, or help a company understand what living with your condition involves. You take part as an equal partner, and your input shapes real decisions.
Is everyone accepted?
No. Our team reads every application against the list under "Who we look for" and approves the profiles it can place on real projects. A complete profile helps. Approval can take a little time, and we tell you once you are in.
Can caregivers join?
Yes. Partners, family members and anyone who supports someone with a health condition are welcome. Many projects need both sides: what it is like to manage care, deal with healthcare teams and get through daily life together.
Will the company know who I am?
Usually, yes. Patient experts are not anonymous participants. You work as a named consultant, part of the visible project team, under a consultancy agreement. Market research projects are the exception: there, what you say is anonymised. In every case we collect only what we need to match you with projects, and store it under Swiss and EU data protection law.
Can I say no to a project, or stop once I have started?
Yes, at any time. If your health, your schedule or your comfort level changes, tell us and we will help you pause or step back. Projects are built to be flexible, because some days are harder than others.
How many projects will I get?
It depends on your condition, your language and what teams are asking for. Some members hear from us within weeks, others wait longer. Many take a few projects a year; some do more.
Ready to apply?
A few minutes on KoiSpace, Merakoi's own platform for patient experts.
Merakoi AG, Basel. Questions first? [email protected]
