PPI Ignite Network at RCSI
Partner University
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
THE TEAM
Who to talk to at RCSI
Dr Maria Pertl
Academic Co-Lead
Maria is RCSI’s Academic Lead for the PPI Ignite Network. She is a Chartered Health Psychologist, Principal Investigator, and Lecturer in RCSI’s School of Population Health. She co-leads the undergraduate Lifestyle Medicine curriculum and teaches Health Psychology, Communication Skills for Brief Interventions and Motivational Interviewing to medical, pharmacy and physiotherapy students. 
Maria’s research explores the psychological and social impact of chronic health conditions on patients, their families, and caregivers. A central focus of her work is psycho-oncology where she addresses challenges of cancer-related fatigue, depression, and anxiety, aiming to improve quality of life and psychological wellbeing among people with cancer.Â
Prof. Jennifer Ryan
Academic Co-Lead
Jennifer is Academic Co-Lead for RCSI. She is an Associate Professor of Cerebral Palsy in the School of Physiotherapy and Director of Cerebral Palsy Lifespan Health and Well-being (CP-Life) Research Centre. She researches cerebral palsy and disability, collaborating with adults, young people and children to investigate long-term conditions, health services and physical activity. She teaches physiotherapy students about Evidence-based Health and supervises Masters and PhD students.
Jennifer is on the editorial board of Mac Keith Press which publishes the leading paediatric journal Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. She is also a Trustee of “Up – the Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement”.
Ciarán McCarthy
PPI Co-Lead
Ciarán is PPI Co-Lead for RCSI. In 2019, he joined a PPI advisory panel for a spinal cord repair research project. Through this panel, he brings invaluable personal insights of living with a spinal cord injury after being seriously injured playing rugby in 2002. He has co-authored research publications about PPI in preclinical research and has been a member of RCSI’s PPI in Research committee since 2020.
Ciarán was RCSI’s PPI Co-Applicant for the PPI Ignite Network grant 2026-2031. Outside of his RCSI role, he works as an administrator in the Four Courts with a publishing company.
Niamh Dillon
Research Support Co-Lead and Programme Manager
Niamh Dillon is RCSI’s PPI Ignite Network Programme Manager and Research Support Co-Lead. A registered pharmacist, she worked in hospitals for ten years and has experience in other healthcare settings, research, and teaching. Alongside Dr Maria Pertl, Professor Jennifer Ryan, and Ciarán McCarthy, she is responsible for supporting and strengthening PPI across RCSI and the wider Network. Niamh collaborates closely with RCSI’s PPI in Research Committee and Local Partner organisations. She is part of a research team investigating PPI in healthcare profession regulation, led by Professor Michelle Flood, and is undertaking a part-time PhD exploring PPI in data-intensive research.