The PPI Ignite Network aims to provide a shared voice for PPI, fostering collaboration across people with lived experiences, educators and researchers, leading to the realisation of genuine societal benefits.

Originally set up in 2017, the PPI Ignite Network is now entering a further phase of investment having received €7.3 million funding from the Health Research Board (HRB), and €2.7 million co-funding from lead sites.

A former national partner in the Network, Queen’s is now one of 11 university lead sites that are designing and delivering training, encouraging innovation, and driving excellence in PPI in research and education practices.

The four co-applicants from Queen’s brought a wealth of education, research, lived experience and policy knowledge to Queen’s application. The core team includes Professor Joe Duffy, Emeritus and Honorary Professor of Social Work and Inclusion, Dr. Claire Kerr, Reader in Rehabilitation from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s, Joanne Sansome, Campaigner, Educator, Disability Activist and Social Researcher and Dr. Maelíosa McCrudden, Research Impact Manager and Queen’s PPI Network Coordinator.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, said:

“Queen’s recognises the crucial role that PPI plays in research and education and prioritises it as part of a wider commitment to civic engagement. This commitment was exemplified through the creation of the Queen’s PPI Network in 2020 and is reinforced throughout our institutional strategic initiatives, which are designed to foster a more inclusive, collaborative, and ultimately successful research culture.

“This substantial investment in the PPI Ignite Network by the HRB and partners is much welcome and Queen’s looks forward to contributing meaningfully to this effort and supporting the impact it will deliver.”

This phase of investment will offer the opportunity to broaden the pools of researchers and PPI contributors working together, and the types of research that include PPI.  It will also see the network develop resources and support for researchers and contributors to meaningfully integrate PPI in the emerging digital landscape.

Dr Gráinne Gorman, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board (HRB), says: “We are proud to invest in a further five-year phase of the PPI Ignite Network. Public and patient involvement is critical to making research more relevant, impactful and inclusive. The HRB is committed to championing initiatives that embed PPI into the research system, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience are heard and drive meaningful and lasting change.”

HRB’s PPI Lead, Dr Anne Cody added: “This next stage of funding is particularly exciting as for the first time there is formal co-leadership by members of the public, embedded across all levels of decision making and governance. 

“We are also addressing a recognised barrier to PPI, the limited availability of seed funding, with a ring-fenced budget of €500,000 for this purpose. This will enable researchers and PPI partners to support new and existing partnerships and to strengthen PPI approaches in the development of future research.”

Media

For media enquiries, please contact Grace White g.white@qub.ac.uk