Dr Lucy Whiston

Dr Lucy Whiston is Programme Manager of the PPI Ignite Network at DCU. Dr Whiston co-leads work package 1, focused on building capacity for PPI across communities, and contributes to work packages 2, 3 and 5. Alongside this she supports all members of research teams across DCU in developing and implementing PPI. She has been involved with PPI Ignite since 2018 as Programme Manager for DCU PPI Ignite (2018-2021) and DCU Programme Manager for the development of the PPI Ignite Network. Dr Whiston’s background is in social policy. She has a Masters in Applied Social Research. Her PhD, funded by the Irish Research Council and the Adelaide Health Foundation and completed in Trinity College, Dublin, was on patient and family participation in health care design and delivery. She has expertise in developing, delivering and evaluating PPI training on PPI to a broad range of audiences including patients, the public, researchers, research support staff, clinicians, undergraduate and postgraduate students. As Programme Manager Dr Whiston has been instrumental in the development of PPI for projects across a range of topics and cohorts in DCU over the past 4 years. She has training and experience in a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Other areas of interest include health policy and health services research, particularly chronic disease management and addiction. Lucy Whiston is currently on maternity leave, with Steven Byrne covering her role as programme manager at PPI Ignite Network @ DCU.