Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has been selected as a lead site in the second phase of the PPI Ignite Network, a major initiative aimed at transforming health and social care research through meaningful public and patient involvement (PPI). This announcement marks a significant step forward in ensuring that research reflects the priorities and lived experiences of communities across Ireland.
Expanding the Reach of Inclusive Research
The Health Research Board (HRB) has announced a €10 million investment in the PPI Ignite Network, with €7.3 million from the HRB and €2.7 million in co-funding from lead sites. This funding will expand the network from seven to eleven university sites across the island of Ireland, with TU Dublin among the new lead institutions.
Dr Gráinne Gorman, Chief Executive at the HRB, emphasized the importance of this investment: “Public and patient involvement is critical to making research more relevant, impactful and inclusive. The HRB is committed to championing initiatives that embed PPI into the research system, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience are heard and drive meaningful and lasting change.”
TU Dublin’s Commitment to Community-Connected Research
TU Dublin has received €499,994.14 in funding, bringing the total project value to €750,655.14. The university will work with ten local partner community organizations to develop training, resources, and new initiatives that support PPI in research.
Dr Dympna O’Sullivan, Vice President of Research and Innovation at TU Dublin, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity: “This investment builds on our strong track record in engaged, community-connected research and our growing expertise in meaningful Public and Patient Involvement across health and social care. Over many years, our researchers have worked closely with patients, service users and community partners to co-design research that responds to real-world needs and delivers tangible impact.”
Building a More Inclusive Research Network
TU Dublin researchers, including Professor Fiona Lyng, Dr Catherine Bates, and Dr Emma Murphy, will lead the project alongside partners from St John of God Research Foundation. Their aim is to make public involvement a normal and expected part of health and social care research on the island of Ireland.
The university will also jointly coordinate one of five network-wide themes with colleagues from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Limerick, and TUSLA. This theme, “Strengthening and Expanding a More Inclusive and Internationally Connected Network,” focuses on removing barriers to involvement, developing inclusive approaches, and building international collaborations.
Local Partnerships and Community Impact
TU Dublin’s local PPI partner organizations include Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, Enable Ireland, Irish Platform for Patients’ Organisations, Science & Industry (IPPOSI), The Liberties Community Project, Dementia Research Network Ireland, Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), Fighting Blindness, St John of God Community Services, and the Coeliac Society of Ireland.
Dr Anne Cody, HRB’s PPI Lead, highlighted the innovative aspects of this phase: “This next stage of funding is particularly exciting as for the first time there is formal co-leadership by members of the public, embedded across all levels of decision making and governance. We are also addressing a recognised barrier to PPI, the limited availability of seed funding, with a ring-fenced budget of €500,000 for this purpose.”
The Future of Inclusive Health Research
The PPI Ignite Network represents an all-island partnership bringing together researchers, universities, organizations, charities, and members of the public to improve how health and social care research is designed and delivered. Building on the achievements of the first phase, the network will now grow its reach, strengthen connections with underrepresented communities, and deepen a culture of public involvement across the research system.
This initiative positions TU Dublin at the forefront of inclusive health research, ensuring that the university’s research not only advances scientific knowledge but also directly benefits the communities it serves. By embedding public and patient voices in the research process, TU Dublin is helping to create a more responsive, relevant, and impactful health research ecosystem for Ireland.
