Inflammatory bowel disease, cannabis, and new treatments – lived experience collaboration
Introduction
Research Area:
Inflammatory bowel disease
What is the research about?
We will be hosting an in-person introductory meeting on Wednesday 22nd April for lived experience partners and researchers. Find out more below.
My research aims to reduce gut inflammation in IBD by strengthening the body’s own immune “brakes,” so fewer harmful immune cells reach the gut.
The endocannabinoid system is a natural control system in the body that helps regulate gut pain, bowel function, and the immune system – all of which are important in IBD. Cannabis interacts with our endocannabinoid system, and although it can sometimes ease symptoms, long-term cannabis use actually makes IBD worse.
My lab is developing treatments that interact with the endocannabinoid system for safer treatments of this condition.
This communication is part of a project funded by UCD STEM Challenge Fund called “Threads of Discovery: Weaving Patients into Biomedical Research” driven by the Patient Voice in Health Research network in UCD Conway Institute. As part of this initiative, we are looking for partners with a lived experience of different disease areas to collaborate with researchers within UCD Conway Institute.
We will be hosting an introductory meeting on 22nd April for lived experience partners and researchers. This will be in person, and will be a day to get to know each other, to learn a bit about public and patient involvement (PPI), to set expectations, and to have a chat.
We hope through this initiative that long-term partnerships will be established. However, if at the end of the day you think this isn’t for you, that is absolutely fine. You won’t be locked into something you don’t want to be involved in! This is all exploratory.
Opportunity for:
Involvement Opportunity Details
Time
Time commitment:
2 x two-hour meetings a year.
Contact between meetings:
Occasional emails.
Length of involvement:
up to two years
Start date for involvement:
22/04/2026
Logistics
Where?
If online, explain how:
Flexible to suit the needs of the PPI partner
If in person, explain where:
Flexible to suit the needs of the PPI partner
Other ways of communicating:
N/A
Funding available for:
If no funding available, explain why:
Travel expenses and time for the event on 22nd April will be reimbursed.
No budget is available for follow-on meetings but we will ensure to incorporate funding into future projects.
Other Information
Stage of the research study/ programme:
Research started
Is this opportunity for PPI in a PhD:
No
Closing date to contact researchers:
22/04/2026
Research Team
Contact person:
Colm Collins
University/organisation:
UCD Conway Institute
Contact email:
patientvoice@ucd.ie
Researcher background:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Researcher
Research funder:
UCD Ad Astra
Photo:
Interested in this PPI Opportunity?
Please complete this form and click SUBMIT