DCU Ignite to kickstart public and patient involvement in health and social care research
A new three year project led by Dublin City University is encouraging the public to get involved in health and social care research.
Funding of over €350,000 has been provided by the Health Research Board (HRB) and Irish Research Council for the PPI (Public and Patient Involvement) Ignite Project which aims to involve members of the public and patients in research projects in an active and collaborative manner.
Led by Associate Professor Veronica Lambert from DCU’s School of Nursing and Human Sciences, PPI Ignite will build and promote capacity for high quality public and patient involvement in DCU and within the wider community. DCU is one of five higher education institutions including UCD, TCD, NUIG and UL, funded under the initiative.
Speaking at the official launch President of Dublin City University Professor Brian MacCraith said:
“The DCU Ignite Project is an exciting new initiative reflecting transformative research and engagement within and beyond the DCU community. It places the public and patients very much at the heart of the research process and will create the optimum conditions for this to occur.”
Key elements of DCU PPI Ignite include:
- Collaboration with researchers and patients and public to show how PPI can benefit a study
- Demonstration of how appropriate PPI contributors can be found
- Design development and facilitation of training to researchers and patients/public about how to be involved
- Integration of PPI into organisational strategy and policies
Associate Professor Veronica Lambert said:
‘Today’s launch is the start of a programme of work to promote, grow, support, monitor and sustainably embed meaningful active involvement of patients, carers, the public and patient and public representatives in all health and social care research within DCU, and beyond.
We are delighted to be partnering with a number of organisations including Epilepsy Ireland, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, the Medical Research Charities Group, the Irish Advocacy Network and the International Network towards Alternatives and Recovery.”
Dr. Anne Cody from the Health Research Board said:
“The Health Research Board, alongside many international funding bodies, is moving towards the active involvement of the public and patients as peer reviewers and the inclusion of PPI as a critical evaluation criterion for the successful funding of health and social care research in the future.
PPI Ignite awards, such as the DCU HRB PPI Ignite award, will build capacity for PPI in health research in Ireland, improve the quality of PPI approaches and promote interactions that are seen as fruitful and beneficial by researchers as well as the public and patients.”
International expert on PPI and guest Speaker on the day Dr. Carole Mockford from the University of Warwick noted how “PPI is now a strategic priority for research funders; however there are organisational challenges to be overcome which the organisational level focus of the DCU HRB PPI Ignite project can look to address.”
The importance of PPI was echoed by the public representative guest speaker, Olive O’Connor:
“Health and social care research ultimately benefits and impacts on patients and the public so it is only right that they play a key role in all aspects of health and social care research from suggesting ideas for research to design research studies to disseminating and implementing findings. The public and patients have vital and unique experiences and knowledge to share and contribute to health and social care research.”