Building PPI Capacity

Impacting PPI knowledge and skills
Supporting PPI in lab-based research
Impacting PPI knowledge and skills
Accredited, quality education
The UCC Digital Badge in Patient and Public Involvement in Research is a free online micro-credential, validated by UCC. The Digital Badge can deepen the knowledge of learners already familiar with PPI, as well as serving as an introduction to beginners. The Badge serves to formalise and validate PPI education and has benefited students and early career researchers through early exposure to high quality PPI in research education. It has laid the foundations for subsequent collaborations across the Network in co-creating an accredited PPI postgraduate module.

Empowering partners and researchers
Sharing knowledge, enhancing progress
Three well-established Network Shared Learning Groups (SLGs) bring together people from different backgrounds, with different perspectives, levels of knowledge and PPI experience to share PPI knowledge, skills and expertise. The regular online meetings create a supportive working environment, where no one form of knowledge is privileged above others and people facing similar challenges can ask questions in a safe space. To date, the SLGs have provided an effective forum for knowledge exchange, impacting the quality of PPI approaches across the national research ecosystem and beyond. The success of these initial SLGs has led to the establishment of more SLGs across the Network.
A Network of networks
Changing culture and fostering excellence
Maynooth University’s (MU) inclusion in the PPI Ignite Network as a national partner has enhanced the growth and development of meaningful PPI in research at this site, as well as establishing and fostering valuable professional connections across the various national partners and Lead Sites. Through knowledge exchange opportunities within the Network, MU has delivered tailored training days to researchers, runs an annual MU-HRCI collaborative PPI Festival event on building relationships and partnerships with charities, and disseminates best-practice in PPI excellence, aiming to embed PPI across MU’s research ecosystem.
Social Capital & Empowerment
Empowering partners & researchers
Seeding change
The UCD PPI Seed Funding Scheme, organised by PPI Ignite Network @ UCD, tested ways of shifting the power balance in PPI contributor/researcher relationships. An investment of €16,000 resulted in an expansion and positive changes to strengthen PPI processes outside of academia. Within a year, the collaboration had exceeded its intended reach and expanded to include people from all across Ireland, demonstrating how small changes in our research processes, like seed funding competitions, can have positive impacts on partnership building.
Read how this seed funding-ignited change was planned and evolved..
Improving quaity of PPI
A consensus on what matters
The PPI Ignite Network Values and Principles Framework provides a means by which people can discuss, plan, assess, and celebrate what is meant by excellent PPI in an Irish context. Developed by PPI Ignite Network @ TCD, with input from PPI contributors, researchers and other stakeholders, and launched during the National PPI Festival 2022, the framework offers guidance on what is considered good quality approaches to PPI.
Since the launch of the framework, there have been positive indicators of change as different partners have begun to adopt the framework to guide their work. By becoming integrated into PPI education and training and practice, the framework is helping to shape how researchers engage with PPI partners.
Improving quaity of PPI
Defining a strong foundation
Building on the initial launch in 2022 of the PPI Ignite Network Values and Principles Framework, the Network’s seven Lead Sites continue to embed the Values & Principles Framework throughout their work in PPI training and education, introducing attendees to the values and principles on which PPI partnerships should be built. Since its launch, the Values & Principles Framework has become a foundational reference point for PPI activity across Ireland. The Network’s Framework for Quality Improvement, published in 2023, is based on the Values and Principles Framework.
Read more about the impact of the Values and Principles Framework’s here.
Policy Change
Changing the ecosystem
Future-proofing quality PPI
The latest RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Strategy 2023-2027 “Innovating for a Healthier Future” was launched in September 2023. RCSI Senior Management consulted with PPI Ignite Network members, PPI contributors, and other key stakeholders in its development, and as a result, PPI in research is strongly embedded in the strategy, with dedicated actions and milestones. This demonstrates institutional commitment to the expansion of PPI in RCSI research across the institution through an emphasis on education, training dissemination, and recognition. This strategic focus ensures that PPI in research is regularly discussed and reviewed at the most senior level within the University.
Read More about embedding PPI into an institutional strategy here.
Public awareness of PPI
Network of networks
Celebrating progress, making connections
The National PPI Festival, hosted annually in October, celebrates PPI progress to date across Ireland and provides a wealth of opportunities to foster new and existing relationships. Connecting many who have not yet been involved in PPI, including research and clinical communities, and members of the public and charities, increasing the overall awareness of PPI in Ireland. The Festival creates a buzz about PPI, strengthening existing relationships, sparking new conversations, and exploring novel ideas and innovations. Read about our first National PPI Festival in 2022 here.Reaching new audiences
Opening the door to PPI
The PPI Ignite Network communications initiative brings PPI to new and existing members of the public and health and social care research. Central to these efforts is this online hub (www.ppinetwork.ie), supported by our monthly newsletter, that offers a wealth of information, increasing and expanding people’s understanding of PPI. It serves as a first ever national repository of practical and reusable PPI resources. Responding to a gap identified by PPI contributors, we launched the PPI Opportunities Noticeboard in April 2023. Our newsletter now reaches over 700 readers (Jan 2025) and the Calendar of Events continues to connect and inform the PPI community.
Growing PPI Ignite Network's International Profile
Building connections
Growing PPI in the lab
The PPI Ignite Network is raising the visability of PPI expertise at a European level. PPI Ignite Network @ UCD, blostered by UCD’s history of PPI in basic and translational lab-based research has raised the profile of Ireland as a leader in this area and led to an extended network of PPI, academic, and SME relationships across Europe and beyond. This includes collaboration or consultation with researchers and organisations from the USA, UK, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Latvia, Croatia, Malta, Greece, and Luxembourg.
Read about one example of our growing international recognition.
GROWING OUR INFLUENCE
Flying the Irish flag abroad
Those outside of Ireland now recognise that there is something different to the approach we are taking here to developing PPI. Attention is rapidly growing from research funders, policymakers, and individuals across the four nations of the UK, in Europe and North America, establishing Ireland as an international leader in PPI. Through our outreach and activities, international recognition of the Network is steadily expanding.
Read about the early days of international recognition as a national Network.
Sharing our story
PPI Ignite Network lands in San Francisco
The PPI Ignite Network supported a delegation of Irish partners to attend the 51st Annual Meeting of NAPCRG, the largest and oldest international primary care research organization, in San Francisco in November 2023. Seven PPI Ignite Network members, representing academic and community partners, presented at 6 well-attended interactive workshops and 3 posters about PPI research. NAPCRG members were very excited by the Irish PPI Ignite model for capacity building and change, as well as both tools and research findings developed within the PPI Ignite Network. Our community partners also had an impact on NAPCRG’s PaCE Council – its PCORI-funded strategic patient-engagement initiative.