As September came to a close and October began, we immersed ourselves in the realm of Patient and Public Involvement. The HSE Public and Partnership Conference brought together patients, carers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and policy-makers with a shared goal: advancing collaboration in healthcare. In many ways, the conference felt like a glimpse of what is to come this October at the PPI Ignite Festival.

We were delighted to attend the Festival Launch and to learn more about the impact of PPI Ignite over the years: building capacity, strengthening networks, and embedding meaningful patient and public involvement in research.

At UCD Cancer Trials Cluster, our journey toward authentic partnership in clinical care and research is ongoing. These events felt like arriving at a major junction where many paths converged, offering lessons, inspiration, and encouragement to keep moving forward. We were especially struck by two reflections from patient representatives:

• “If I don’t hear you, I just assume.” This reminded us that truly seeing and listening to the individual in front of us is the foundation of meaningful progress. Better relationships, better care, and greater respect all begin with listening.
• And while we may never fully “get there,” the words of a patient urging us to “keep going” were a powerful reminder. That spirit of perseverance—and the commitment to keep striving for better—lies at the very heart of partnership.
  
  

We were proud to contribute to the HSE Public and Partnership Conference by presenting a poster on our ongoing project, FAIR TRIAL: Facilitating Access, Inclusion, and Representation in Clinical Trials. Our aim is to ensure research opportunities are more equitable and truly patient-centered. The feedback we received from colleagues in inclusion health was invaluable, guiding us toward new projects and opening the door to exciting collaborations.

We are equally delighted to be part of the PPI Ignite Festival with Living Stories Behind Cancer Research, a public event designed to demystify cancer research and humanize it by sharing the lived stories and experiences and engaging in conversations with those involved in research.