HSC R&D Division contributes funding to support the work of The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC).
In 2012, the AIIHPC established the Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) to address the need for more collaborative multidisciplinary research in palliative care on the island of Ireland. This network was the first of its kind for palliative care on the island of Ireland.
The aim of AIIHPC’s PCRN is to engage with all relevant stakeholders across the island of Ireland and internationally to promote and advance relevant and innovative research in palliative care, maximise research impact on practice and policy and ensure integrated knowledge translation in line with AIIHPC’s work programmes. HSC R&D Division has co-funded the PCRN since its inception, and most recently committed €250,000 to the Network as part of the HRB’s €1M investment
Over the next five years (2025-2030) the PCRN propose to:
- Strengthen and expand collaboration with knowledge users in PCRN and Early Career Researcher Forum (ECRF) focus areas through research Special Interest Groups and introduction of new PCRN/ECRF members.
- Create an academic-clinical environment to foster innovation with health and social care professionals through a Community of Practice for Clinical Site Research to support clinical-academic multi-site studies.
- Develop palliative care researchers and support career paths through an ECRF Bursary and ECRF/PCRN Fellowship Programme to increase cross-site, cross-border, and international collaborations.
- Involve people with life-limiting conditions, family carers, and communities across research cycle and evaluate the impact through a PPI Impact Evaluation Framework.
- Maximise research impact on practice and policy through a Knowledge Translation Programme involving all stakeholders.