Festival 2023
PPI Ignite network
National PPI Festival
PPI: Where WE all matter
The second National PPI Festival took place from 1-31 October 2023, showcasing and celebrating the incredible progress in public and patient involvement (PPI) in Irish research.
The Festival is now over. Take a look at this page to view the many fantastic outputs from festival events and read our snapshot of the Festival to learn more about the variety of events, organisers, research areas and attendees this year.
Following the success of the National PPI Festival 2022, the second Festival was launched in the historic Belvedere House in St. Patrick’s Campus, DCU. This event emphasised the dynamics of PPI relationships and paved the way for a month of activities promoting collaborative, public-responsive health research.
A mix of in-person, hybrid, and online events were hosted by universities, patient organizations, public agencies and charities across Ireland. Follow us on social media for photos, live updates, and behind-the-scenes looks from Dublin City University’s launch and other PPI events. Check out event recordings and other resources from the Festival. below.
Here we share a snapshot of the National PPI Festival 2023! Capturing the breadth and variety of events, organisers, research areas and attendees, as well as the enthusiasm, knowledge sharing, innovation and creativity of organisers and attendees.
National PPI Festival
#PPIFestival23 Highlights and Resources
National PPI Festival 2023 Launch
The launch of the second annual National PPI Festival took place in the historic Belvedere House, St Patrick’s Campus DCU, on the 2nd of October 2023.
Our two keynote speakers were Róisín Shortall, TD and Dr. Sarah McLoughlin both of whom are strong believers in improving research and healthcare by embedding patient voice.
Charities & Researchers Partnering for societal benefit
This guidance document developed by Health Research Charities Ireland and the PPI Ignite Network was officially launched during the National PPI Festival 2023.
It offers advice to charities, other civil society organisations, researchers, research institutions and funders, to achieve successful research partnerships.
ignite Insight: PPI in PhD Case Studies
The Ignite Insight series is for PhD scholars, organised by PhD scholars, supported by the Network’s national office.
The first online seminar showcased examples of PPI approaches in PhD research, presented by former and current PhD students and their PPI contributors.
During October, there are three online seminars and in-person events at five Universities in this series.
Researchers' perspectives on PPI In research
Listen to Ann Roddy, a graduate of the MSc in Ageing and Public Policy in the University of Galway, discuss her research findings concerning Irish researchers’ perspectives on PPI in health and social care research.
The seminar also featured stimulating responses to Ann’s presentation from a PPI contributor and a researcher and an open-floor discussion.
Ignite Insight: Embedding PPI in your PhD
The second Ignite Insight webinar hosted by the Shared Learning Group in UCC.
This interactive session introduced the benefits, solutions and challenges of embedding PPI within PhD research and invited attendees to share their experiences.
ignite Insight: PPI A Gateway to an interesting career
The final webinar of the Ignite Insight series created by PhD scholars, for PhD scholars.
This session explored how engaging in PPI in your PhD research leads to invaluable skills and experience for professional development.
Voice & Agency 4 all seminar Series
The Voice & Agency 4 All seminar series focused on research involving homeless service-users in research and a discussion of the associated benefits and challenges. Listen to speakers from Focus Ireland and Dublin Simon Community discuss the benefits and challenges of working with peer researchers. Held in UCD Library as part of the National PPI Festival 2023.
Building PPI relationships
PPI Ignite Network @ UCD worked with patient and community organisations to create tools to reduce the associated burdens these organisations face due to the growth of PPI. This seminar gives an overview of those tools followed by a panel discussion with patients and community organisations who have co-designed and used these resources.
Framework for quality improvement in pPI
Officially launched during the National PPI Festival 2023, this Framework for Quality Improvement in PPI in health and social care research has been developed by the PPI Ignite Office in Trinity College Dublin ‘to build capacity for high-quality PPI.’
PPI For neurodiverse and neurocurious researchers
Neurodiverse and neurocurious postgraduate students and researchers working in any research setting come together in a discussion group held by PPI Ignite Network @ RCSI to reflect on PPI and neurodiversity.
NAPCRG 51st Annual Meeting
Dr Jon Salsberg, UL, led a team of participants at the NAPCRG (North American Primary Care Research Group) Annual Meeting, in San Francisco, USA, disseminating various aspects of Participatory Health Research.
At the workshop “Changing the landscape: Building capacity for patient & community involvement: Experiences from the US & Ireland” The PPI Ignite Network @ UL had the opportunity to embed a participatory activity for the audience to draw a cultural change in their institutions.
PPI and Ethics in Research: Walking the Talk
In conjunction with the tenth annual Global Ethics Day theme, ‘Ethics Emowered’, this webinar hosted by PPI Ignite Network @ UCC saw attendees learn about key considerations in relation to PPI and ethics. This recording will be of particular interest to PPI researchers, contributors, and patient/public organisations involved in PPI.
global Perspectives on PPI in Dementia Research
This Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) webinar explored global perspectives of PPI through the lens and work of Global Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI. Hearing from three fellows, perspectives from Africa, Europe, and South America were discussed collaboration and discussion with current PPI contributors.
Supporting Ukrainian Family Carers in Ireland: A Guide for Volunteers and Staff
Care Alliance Ireland officially launched their latest publication; Supporting Ukrainian Family Carers in Ireland: A Guide for Volunteers and Staff, during the National PPI Festival 2023
The development of this guide was funded from the Community Foundation of Ireland – Ireland for Ukraine programme, using PPI.
Collaborative research with disabled people
This new guidance is a practical resource to support researchers to meaningfully involve people with disabilities throughout the research process.
Although aimed at researchers, the guidance may also be useful for disabled people who are interested in getting involved in research and for organisations who wish to support their members to get involved in research.
Reflecting on the Research Together event:
As part of Research Week 2023 as well as the National PPI Festival month, charities, civil society organisations, researchers and research support staff of Maynooth University and further afield gathered for a common cause: to take the opportunity to better understand each other’s perspectives and explore how to best support each other in building and maintaining relationships well in advance of health-focused funding application deadlines.
education Booklet: Blood clots in pregnancy and Afterbirth
This booklet is soon to be rolled out across national maternity services in Ireland. The booklet was co-created with patient input gathered by Thrombosis Ireland. Officially launched during the National PPI Festival 2023, it details the ‘need to knows’ of blood clot risks in Women’s health.
Co-Production with people living with Dementia
PPI contributors, working in collaboration with their colleagues from Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University discussed how technology and digital platforms are being used to enhance the lives of carers and people living with dementia.
PhD Scholar Insights: A PPI Ignite Network Knowledge Café
During the National PPI Festival 2023, PhD students in the University of Galway gathered to discuss the benefits, challenges and support needs for PhD students hoping to include PPI in our research. See below a summary infographic of their discussion.