The fourth National Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Festival will take place from 1 – 31 October 2025, celebrating the contribution of the public and patients to health and social care research.

The festival will be launched with a two-day programme hosted by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences on 1 and 2 October. The launch event, which is free and open to all, will set the tone for a month of workshops and activities taking place nationwide.

PPI in research means that members of the public and patients are actively involved in planning, conducting and sharing research. Their perspectives ensure that the research undertaken addresses the needs of those most affected by its outcomes and is conducted in ways that are meaningful and relevant.

The National PPI Festival is an initiative of the PPI Ignite Network, a network of seven Irish universities and a total of over 60 partner organisations, including patient organisations and health research charities, working at both national and local levels which was established in 2021.

Funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) and Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, with co-funding from each of the seven lead universities, the Network is building capacity to embed PPI into health and social care research across Ireland.

Each year, the PPI Festival aims to foster relationships, connect with researchers not yet involved in PPI and increase public awareness of PPI.

Active partnership

This year, the festival tagline ‘Celebrating our history, embracing our future’, recognises the achievements of the PPI Ignite Network since its establishment and looks ahead to expanding and providing more opportunities for public and patients to partner with researchers.

Siobhán Freeney, RCSI Public/Patient Research Partner Excellence Awardee 2025, said: "The value of involving people and patients who are not researchers, in research, using our input to shape and guide it has received a great deal of positive recognition in recent years. Our lived experiences provide unique opportunities for us to have an impact on health and social care research. The PPI Ignite Network helps ensure that our involvement develops into active partnership with researchers.”

This emphasis on lived experience is central to the festival's programme which highlights how PPI enhances the quality, relevance and impact of research.

“We are delighted to be host institution for the PPI Ignite Festival 2025, reflecting our commitment across the University to partnering with patients and the public in all our activities,” said Professor Michelle Flood, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and RCSI PPI Ignite Network Lead.

“I am particularly pleased that several workshops will take place in local community spaces, a reminder that PPI doesn’t just belong in universities, but out in the world, ensuring research is shaped by real lives in real places.”

Professor Deborah McNamara, President of RCSI, added: "People with lived experience of healthcare conditions, family members, and members of the public have unique expertise and perspectives. By bringing together researchers, patients and communities, this festival will help to shape a more responsive and inclusive future for healthcare research.”

Inclusivity and engagement

The two-day launch at RCSI will feature presentations, case studies and workshops focusing on different aspects of PPI in research, such as co-authoring research publications, learning how PPI advisory panels are set up and making PPI more inclusive.

Several RCSI workshops will be hosted in community settings, opening opportunities for wider public engagement. The launch will also feature Clarinda Cerejo and Caitlin Rich, hosts of the award-winning podcast ‘Not Just Patients’, who will speak with three guests about their PPI journeys, offering a great introduction to PPI in practice.

The festival welcomes researchers, university staff, patients, members of the public, students, health charities and patient organisation representatives. Whether completely new to PPI or looking to deepen expertise and partnerships, there are relevant sessions for all interests.

To explore the events taking place for the festival across October, visit the PPI Ignite website. For questions, contact ppi@rcsi.ie.