The Groupe de reflexion avec les associations de malades (GRAM)-a joint scientist/association think tank at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)has reflected, on the basis of internal surveys and the experiences of its members, on focus points concerning good practice to help partners involved in participatory research projects. In this article, we list these focus points and highlight the need to afford partners opportunities for dialogue, in order to give good chances of success to participatory research projects, in both the interest of associations and researchers.