Partners
Eleven universities and ten all-island organisations, coordinated by the Central Office at RCSI. Every partner has a named team you can contact directly about involving the public in research.
THE NETWORK HUB
One Central Office, twenty-one partners
A hub diagram showing the Central Office and all twenty-one partners. The same partners are listed as cards below, in alphabetical order.
PARTNER UNIVERSITIES
Eleven universities delivering PPI support
Each university has an academic co-lead, a PPI co-lead who brings lived experience, and a programme manager. Contact them directly for support with a study, training, or to get involved.
Academic co-lead Prof. Veronica Lambert, PPI co-lead Arthur Templeman-Lilley, programme manager Dr Damian Haslett. Particular focus on children and young people.
Academic co-leads Dr Nicola Mountford and Dr Mark Robinson, working across healthcare management and the immunology of chronic disease.
A five-person team led by Professor Joe Duffy and Professor Claire Kerr, with PPI co-lead Joanne Sansome. Home of the QUB PPI Hub.
Host of the Central Office. Academic co-leads Dr Maria Pertl and Prof. Jennifer Ryan, PPI co-lead Ciarán McCarthy, programme manager Niamh Dillon.
Academic co-leads Dr Laurence Fitzhenry and Dr Martina Gooney, embedding PPI in national and European research programmes.
PPI co-lead Declan Meenagh sits on the Network Steering Group. Team bios and contact details to be supplied.
PPI co-lead Patrick Fitzgerald sits on the Network Steering Group. Team bios and contact details to be supplied.
Dr Fiona Riordan represents UCC research support on the Network Steering Group. Team bios and contact details to be supplied.
Academic co-lead Prof. Thilo Kroll, PPI co-lead Katayoun Bahramian, programme manager Dr Emma Dorris. Focus on inclusive research designs.
Academic co-leads Dr Ruth McMenamin and Dr Natalie Walsh, PPI co-lead Derek C Stewart, programme manager Martha Killilea.
A five-person team including PPI co- leads Martin Quinn and Lora Ruth Wogu, with the Participatory Health Research Unit.
ALL-ISLAND PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
Ten organisations connecting the Network outwards
Charities, funders, regulators and national research programmes that bring PPI into services, policy and practice across the island.
Health Research Charities Ireland
Over 40 national health research charities representing people affected by cancer, rare disease, mental health conditions, dementia, disability and chronic illness.
Dr Avril Kennan
CEO
HSE Research and Development
A national HSE research function providing governance, strategic direction and support for health and social care research across the public health service.
Dr Maria Quinlan
General Manager
IPPOSI
A multi-stakeholder partnership bringing together patients, patient organisations, researchers, clinicians, industry, policymakers and regulators to advance person-centred healthcare.
Laura Brady
CEO
TUSLA Child and Family Agency
Tusla brings expertise in child, youth and family research, social care, and inclusive PPI, with a particular focus on children, young people and marginalised communities.
Dr Edel Tierney
National Research Officer
SPHeRE Programme
Ireland’s national research PhD training programme for population health, policy and health services research. PPI forms part of every Scholar’s PhD project.
Prof Ali Khashan
Programme Co-Director
Economic and Social Research Institute
An independent research institute founded in 1960, providing evidence-based research to inform policy, with growing public and patient involvement across itshealth research.
Dr Sheelah Connolly
Associate Research
Professor
Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland
Ireland’s national competitive research and innovation funding agency, supporting PPI across funded projects and programmes.
Dr Betül Hekimoğlu
Programme Manager
Health Information and Quality Authority
The independent statutory body promoting safety and quality in health and social care, setting standards, regulating services and running the National Care Experience Programme.
Dr MáirÃn Ryan
Deputy CEO
The Royal Irish Academy
Ireland’s all-island body of peer-elected experts, engaging with the Network through its Life and Health Sciences multidisciplinary committee.
Fionnuala Parfrey
Programme Manager
(Sciences)
European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network
Organisation description to be confirmed. Niall Hore is ECRIN’s European Correspondent for Ireland.
Niall Hore
European Correspondent
GOVERNANCE
Steering Group
The Steering Group provides leadership for PPI across the island, develops the strategic direction of the Network and oversees monitoring and governance of Network activities. Its eleven members are drawn from PPI, academic and research support roles across the partner universities.
11
Steering Group members
International Advisory Board
To be confirmed
Reference Forum
To be confirmed
Workplan 2026–2031
Governance and Workplan →