The problem 

When members of the public, patients and carers are involved in shaping health research, it helps the outcomes of that research to be more focused on the needs of those directly affected by it. However, they are often left out, or included only at the end of research projects.

The project

The PPI Ignite Network is funding people in universities around Ireland specifically to enhance public, patient and carer involvement (PPI) in research culture and embed it in health research.

The outcomes 

  • Seven universities in Ireland now have personnel dedicated to raising awareness of and sharing good practices in PPI
  • Each PPI Ignite site provides training and advice to local researchers
  • Research-performing organisations have started to include PPI in their research and dissemination strategies
  • The PPI Ignite Network plans to hold an annual festival that will, among other things, reach out to people who are not currently involved and allow a creative space for innovation in PPI. The first of these took place in October 2022.

Dr Anne Cody says:

“PPI in planning, doing, and communicating health research has been part of the HRB strategy since 2016. We are committed to create a vibrant culture of PPI at major universities. The PPI Ignite Network is making great strides towards this goal.” 

PPI Ignite Network is made up of:

  • Dublin City University
  • University of Galway
  • RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University College Cork
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Limerick
  • 10 national partners

“Igniting change to involve the public in health research” is part of a wider collection of success stories across four themes from this year’s annual Health Research in Action.

Download Health Research in Action 2021