UCC named lead site for €10 Million expansion of national PPI Ignite Network

30 Jun 2026

University College Cork (UCC) has been named as one of 11 university lead sites in Phase II of the national PPI Ignite Network.

This €10 million initiative, funded by €7.3 million from the Health Research Board (HRB) and €2.7 million in co-funding from lead sites, aims to significantly strengthen Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in research across the island of Ireland.

PPI is a way of doing research that supports collaboration between people with lived experiences and researchers. People who take part in research might be referred to as participants or subjects. That’s different from PPI, which refers to patients and members of the public actively contributing to and shaping how research is done. PPI means that research is carried out WITH or BY patients or members of the public rather than TO, ABOUT, or FOR them.

The next five-year phase of the network, which officially began on the 1st of March 2026, will be co-lead by Dr Emmy Racine (School of Public Health), Dr Fiona Riordan (OVPRI) and Sarah Barnes Aabo (Lived Experience Co-Lead).

Speaking about the next phase, Dr Emmy Racine, School of Public Health said: "It is fantastic to see funding confirmed for the next phase of the PPI Ignite Network. This is an important time for PPI in Ireland as we build on the progress made to date, not only by supporting researchers to embed meaningful PPI within individual research projects, but also by driving broader change across research systems and culture. The introduction of formal co-leadership with those with lived experience reflects our commitment to embedding public perspectives in research leadership and decision-making."

A perspective of lived experience

Central to UCC’s involvement in the network is Sarah Barnes Aabo, who serves as the Lived Experience Co-Lead. Sarah brings a vital perspective to the program, rooted in her experience as a parent and carer.

"For me personally, being in this role is a privilege, to be able to advocate and be a voice to represent other patients, carers and members of the public", says Sarah. "I always make that distinction that I’m a parent and a carer first and foremost. My interest in being involved in research as a PPI contributor has grown hugely over the past number of years as I believe the best way to improve patient outcomes is by listening to lived experience and patient feedback."

Sarah’s motivation stems from her child’s long and complex medical journey since 2017. She emphasizes that the patient voice is not just an addition to research, but a requirement for high-quality outcomes. "Lived experience is one of the most important aspects of qualitative research", she notes. "Every shared patient contribution builds on evidence-based research in a unique way leading to better outcomes today and in the future."

Strengthening Research through Partnership

This phase will expand the network’s reach, broadening the pool of researchers and types of research that include PPI. Key focus areas will include developing resources to integrate PPI into data science, AI projects, and the reuse of patient data for health research.

To support these efforts, the network has established a ring-fenced "seed funding" budget of €500,000 to enable researchers and members of the public to strengthen their collaborations.

"We promote transparency and equality. The patient perspective plays a vital role in developing research outcomes that can have a real-world impact," Sarah adds. "Researchers will meet you where you are at in terms of sharing your experiences. We should never underestimate the power of the patient voice to create change."

National Network Expansion

The expansion sees the PPI Ignite Network grow from seven to 11 university sites. Alongside UCC, the lead sites include Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Queen's University Belfast, The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (which will host the Central Programme Office), South East Technological University, Trinity College Dublin, Technological University Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Galway, and University of Limerick.

The network is supported by 10 all-island partners including HSE, Taighde Éireann (Research Ireland), and HIQA, and 82 local partners representing community and charity sectors.