John F. Cryan is Professor & Chair, Dept. of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork and was appointed Vice President for Research & Innovation in 2021. He is also a PI in APC Microbiome Ireland. Prof. Cryan has published over 700 peer-reviewed articles and received numerous awards including from European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), European Behavioural Pharmacology Society(EBPS), British Association of Pharmacology, Physiological Society, American Gastroenterology Association and Neuroscience Ireland and FASEB. He was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Antwerp in 2018 and has been on the Highly Cited Researcher list in 2014 and from 2017 to the present. He was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2017.

Professor Cryan's research seeks to increase our understanding of the interaction between the brain, gut and microbiome, and how it applies to stress, psychiatric and immune-related disorders at key time-windows across the lifespan.

Dr. Emmy Racine is an accomplished health researcher and educator specialising in Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in health and social care research. She is currently a Research Fellow and Programme Manager for the PPI Ignite Network at University College Cork (UCC), where she leads strategic initiatives to embed PPI into research and teaching at both local and national levels. Since 2021, Dr. Racine has organized over 160 education and training events, delivered more than 600 PPI clinics, led the co-development of UCC’s first accredited postgraduate module on PPI, as well as the University’s first PPI Payment Policy, which has transformed the landscape of PPI contributor reimbursement in the University.

Holding a PhD in Medicine and Health from UCC, her doctoral research explored the methods and impact of PPI in clinical trials. She has authored or co-authored 18 peer-reviewed publications and secured over €10 million in research funding as a primary or co-applicant. Her work encompasses capacity building, policy development, and advancing engaged research practices for health and social care researchers, patient and charity organizations, and PPI contributors.

Her teaching areas include PPI, health promotion including community-based health promotion, public health advocacy, participatory research approaches, and community based participatory research, all underpinned by a strong commitment to addressing population-level determinants of health, health inequalities, and the needs of marginalized communities.

Emmy is experienced in qualitative and participatory research methodologies and is passionate about fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Racine has supervised multiple postgraduate and PhD students, and her leadership and scholarship continue to shape the future of participatory health research in Ireland.

Dr Edel Burton is a Clinical Pharmacist at the Bon Secours Hospital Cork and a Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork (UCC). Her research focuses on optimal drug utilization, with expertise in pharmacoepidemiology, stakeholder engagement, and translating research into actionable policies that improve patient care.

Passionate about meaningful Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), Edel founded and now co-ordinates the UCC Clinical Pharmacy and General Practice PPI Partnership. This initiative brings together individuals with diverse lived experiences across various conditions and healthcare settings, offering a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare challenges than condition-specific PPI groups.

By integrating a broad spectrum of perspectives, this approach fosters innovative thinking and ensures that research is inclusive, relevant, and reflective of real-world needs. Through this work, Edel aims to enhance collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, and the public, ultimately shaping research and policies that lead to more effective, patient-centred healthcare solutions.