Prof Anne MacFarlane

Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research and founder of the PPI Research Unit at the School of Medicine, University of Limerick. She is Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research which is hosted in the Unit, and is a member of the PPI Ignite Network @ UL Operations Team.

Anne is a social scientist with more than 25 years’ experience using qualitative research methods in health services research. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, particularly in relation to migrant health. She established PPI as a theme in the UL Health Research Institute to build capacity in the health research community for partnered research across topics and disciplines.

Anne is involved with international collaborations in Europe and North America to advance the evidence base about best practice for PPI and participatory health research. She is active in projects with WHO Europe, the International Collaboration for Participatory Health Research and the North American Primary Care Research Group. Her current research interests include the sociological concept of space and how this can enhance understanding of participatory spaces in health.