The PPI Ignite Network is an All-Island partnership funded by the Health Research Board that brings researchers, universities, organisations, charities, and members of the public together to improve how health and social care research is shaped and carried out. Over the past five years, the PPI Ignite Network has supported researchers and public contributors to work in partnership and helped to change how research is done across Ireland. In this next phase, the Network will grow further reaching more people, building stronger connections, and deepening the culture of public involvement in research at every level on the island of Ireland and beyond. This programme has been co-designed by partners from across the island of Ireland, including representatives from universities, organisations, charities, community organisations, and people with lived experience. Together, we have identified the key areas for our attention over the next five years, such as making training and support more widely available, making involvement more inclusive and working with underrepresented groups, and demonstrating the real difference public involvement makes to research and society. Every year of the programme will focus on one of five priorities, with activity happening all across the island of Ireland. The Network will provide learning opportunities, seed funding for PPI activities and relationship development, and spaces for people to come together to share, reflect, and create change. Public contributors and patient organisations will play central roles in projects and in shaping the direction of the Network, co-leading teams, and participating in decision-making and delivery. Our aim is to build on the success of previous Network phases to make public involvement a normal and expected part of health and social care research on the island of Ireland so research becomes more relevant, more trusted,
and more likely to make a real impact in people’s lives.
