Professor Anne MacFarlane pictured her IRC award
Monday, 20 January 2025

Professor Anne MacFarlane, Health Research Institute (HRI) Member, co-director of Participatory Health Research Unit (PHR Unit) and a distinguished academic at the University of Limerick (UL), has been highly commended for her exceptional work in advancing public and patient involvement (PPI) in research. She received recognition in the Impact Award category at the 2024 Researcher of the Year Awards, organised by Research Ireland.

Professor MacFarlane, who holds the position of Professor of Primary Healthcare Research at UL’s School of Medicine, was celebrated for her significant contributions to PPI, particularly in general practice and primary healthcare services.

Her work with the World Health Organisation focuses on improving PPI with refugees and migrants, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Good Health and Wellbeing and Reduced Inequalities.

As the Director of UL’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants, and co-director of the Participatory Health Research Unit at UL, she champions inclusive research partnerships involving the public, patients, academics, and healthcare professionals.

Professor MacFarlane is pioneering the use of music and singing as participatory methods in research with migrants, in collaboration with Professor Helen Phelan from UL’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

Professor MacFarlane aims to further promote participatory research to enhance equity of access for migrants, particularly those requiring interpreter support in healthcare settings. She emphasises the need to find solutions to overcome barriers in using trained interpreters, ensuring everyone has a voice in their healthcare.

This recognition underscores the importance of inclusive and collaborative research in improving healthcare services and outcomes for diverse communities.

2024 IRC Legacy Awards Winners and Highly Commended

Impact Award

  • Winner: Dr Jakub Gajewski, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Highly Commended:
    • Professor Anne MacFarlane, University of Limerick
    • Esther Murphy, Trinity College Dublin
    • Professor William Gallagher, University College Dublin

Read the full list of winners and highly commended for Researcher of the Year 2024 (IRC legacy) Awards - Research Ireland