Lorna Kerin is Manager of Public Patient Involvement (PPI) in Research at RCSI University of Medical and Healthcare Sciences (www.rcsi.com ), and PPI Lead for FutureNeuro SFI Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases (www.futureneuro.ie ).

Lorna is passionate about the power of PPI partnerships and has led a PPI collaboration since 2015 to improve outcomes for people living with the rare genetic disorder 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in Ireland. Key outputs to date have been funded PPI research partnerships, collaborative publications and the co-design of paediatric, transition and adult healthcare services. Currently the PPI team are focused on the co-production of a care pathway for complex disability with patient, families, clinicians and the HSE.

Lorna’s approach to PPI is informed by her qualifications and work in Social Research (BA, UL, 1995), Integrative Psychotherapy (UCC., H.Dip Psych 2001), Expressive Therapies (RMIT University, M.C.A.T., 2005), Mental Health Trialogues (DCU 2010), Civic Engagement (DCU 2014), Leadership for Change (DCU 2015), Co-Production in Research (University of Highlands and Islands 2018) and Research with Children and Young People (QUB 2018).

Prior to joining RCSI University, Lorna led the multi-stakeholder development of the first interagency, evidence-informed county plan to improve child and youth population outcomes and services in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, on behalf of Tusla Child and Family Agency and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (2017-2021). See www.cypsc.ie