AICRIstart Researchers Explore Public and Patient Involvement and Clinical Trial Design in Two-Day Training Workshops
As part of its commitment to preparing the next generation of cancer researchers, the AICRIstart programme delivered a two-day training series on 13th –14th October 2025 that brought together expertise from the PPI Ignite Network @ UCD and Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI). The back-to-back workshops provided participants with a rare, end-to-end view of how early-stage scientific ideas are shaped by public and patient involvement and ultimately translated into clinical studies.
Day One: Embedding the Patient Voice in Early-Stage Research
The first workshop, held at the Museum of Literature Ireland and led by the PPI Ignite Network, focused on introducing AICRIstart researchers to meaningful Public and Patient Involvement (PPI). Although many participants work in laboratory or data-driven environments, the training highlighted how the patient voice can influence every stage of the research process, from priority setting to communication, governance, and ethical decision-making.
Facilitated by Dr Emma Dorris, the session moved beyond theory, offering researchers practical tools for integrating lived experience into preclinical projects. Through interactive group work, participants analysed real-world research vignettes, including biomarker discovery, tumour microenvironment engineering, and rare disease drug repurposing, identifying opportunities where patient partners could guide direction, feasibility, and relevance.
The workshop finished with an activity on active listening which explored the communication skills required to build trust and sustain genuine partnerships with patients and the public. The emphasis was on understanding rather than solving, encouraging researchers to approach engagement with clarity, empathy, and openness.
Day Two: Inside Cancer Clinical Trials with Cancer Trials Ireland
The second day shifted the focus from laboratory research to the clinical environment. Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI) provided an in-depth look at the lifecycle of a cancer clinical trial in Ireland, from the first spark of an idea to protocol development, ethics and regulatory pathways, safety oversight, data infrastructure, and publication.
CTI staff shared case studies from academic trials, illustrating the operational challenges and real-world decision-making that shape clinical research. The workshop also gave AICRIstart researchers the opportunity to present their own projects in short sessions and receive feedback from experienced trial managers and investigators. Prof Seamus O’Reilly – Clinical Lead dialled in via zoom to give his pespective on working on the cancer trials landscape in Ireland and answer some questions from the group.
A final discussion explored opportunities for collaboration and highlighted how early engagement with CTI can support researchers as their work evolves toward translational or clinical stages.
Strengthening the Research Pipeline Across the Island of Ireland
Taken together, the two workshops offered AICRIstart researchers a comprehensive view of research translation, beginning with the perspectives of people affected by cancer and extending all the way to clinical trial delivery. The series underscored the growing importance of patient involvement in shaping scientific priorities and the value of cross-sector training in preparing emerging researchers for the complexities of modern cancer research.
These sessions form part of AICRIstart’s continuing effort to build a connected, skilled, and patient-centred research community across the island of Ireland. A huge thank you to Dr Emma Dorris (Co-lead of PPI-Ignite) and the Cancer Trials Ireland Team: Jacinta Marron (Head of Operations), Prof Seamus O’Reilly (Clinical Lead), Anna Shevlinn (Clinical Trials Programme Manager), Emer Mulvaney (Contracts Manager & PPI Programme Manager), Lucy Murphy (Clinical Project Manager), Aoife Shannon (Radiotherapy Programme Manager), Claire Hopkins (Head of Marketing)
