PPI Ignite Network at UCC
PARTNER UNIVERSITY
University College Cork
Contact this team
- ppi@ucc.ie
- University PPI page ↗
- LinkedIn ↗
THE TEAM
Who to talk to at UCC
Dr Emmy Racine
Academic Co-Lead
Dr Emmy Racine is the Programme Manager of PPI Ignite Network@ UCC. She co-leads work package 2 which is focussed on embedding PPI scholarship into undergraduate and postgraduate education. She also contributes to work package 1 (building PPI capacity across communities) and work package 5 (building a strong national network). She is an active member of the Network Impact Working Group and the Network Communications Working Group.
At site level, she plays a key role in supporting and building capacity for high-quality PPI within UCC and amongst wider society, and embedding PPI into institutional policies and practices. She organises and coordinates the work of the PPI Ignite Network@ UCC Steering Committee, Local Partner Committee, Public Advisory Panel and UCC Working Group which is comprised of over 40 individuals from across the University who share an interest in PPI in research. Emmy has extensive experience in conducting, researching, and promoting Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) and has in-depth knowledge of PPI theory and practice.
Her research interests include Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) approaches and impact, participatory and engaged research processes and patient experience research. She completed her PhD in 2020 which was entitled: ‘It’s a nice thing to do but…’: Exploring the methods and impact of PPI in trials. This research explored PPI contributors’ experiences and contributions at the design, conduct and dissemination stages of trials.
Sarah Barnes Aabø
PPI Co-Lead
Sarah Barnes Aabø is the PPI Co-lead for the PPI Ignite Network @ UCC. Sarah is a parent, carer & PPI Contributor with extensive experience of paediatric complex care, childhood cancer and long term illness from a carer’s perspective. She was appointed as a PPI Representative on the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee ( HRCDC) in 2025 & is a HRB Research Application Reviewer.
She is an active PPI contributor on a number of research projects both in University and with Patient Organisations & Charities. Sarah is a graduate of University College Cork where she completed her Undergraduate Degree & Master’s Degree in Modern English Literature.
Dr Fiona Riordan
Research Support Co-Lead
Dr Fiona Riordan, BSc, MPH, PhD. EU Research Officer, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), UCC. fiona.riordan@ucc.ie. Fiona is the Research Support Co-Lead for UCC. As part of the EU Funding Support team, she provides pre-award support to researchers across the university.
Before joining the research office, she worked for 10 years as a health services researcher and engaged with PPI contributors as part of two HRB-funded projects: IDEAS and CUSTOMISE. She previously participated in the workshop series (2021-2023) to develop the PPI Ignite Network Values and Principles Framework during PPI Ignite Phase II.
Heather Morgan
Programme Manager
Heather’s educational background is in Midwifery, Public Health and Epidemiology, with professional experience across clinical practice, research, and social care. Prior to joining PPI Ignite, UCC as Programme Manager, Heather worked as a PPI Coordinator. Through this role, she collaborated with public contributors, researchers, and community partners and found that embedding a PPI approach addressed many research challenges including equity, inclusion, and power-sharing.
Her additional areas of interest include survey development, data analysis, facilitation, supporting students, and strengthening and building meaningful partnerships in health and social care research.