Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry

What Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry does

Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry (IPPOSI) is a Dublin-based patient-led charity and Company Limited by Guarantee that operates as a multi-stakeholder platform connecting patient organisations, scientists and academics, and the healthcare industry in Ireland. Founded in the mid-1990s and operational since 2008 with first CEO hire following a public grant, IPPOSI describes itself as the largest membership-based network of patient organisations in Ireland, comprising more than 100 patient organisations, over 250 scientists and academics, and 25 healthcare industry members including pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Its core product offering is a portfolio of services rather than a unified software platform: education programmes (Patient Education Programme, Research Ethics Course, Patient Capacity Building Programme, Genomics Public Education Programme), stakeholder engagement services (Citizens' Jury, Joint Advocacy, Patient Matchmaking, Patient Dragons' Den), and project partnership capabilities for national and EU funding calls. Underlying technology is a standard WordPress-based web presence with no proprietary AI, API, or software platform identified.

IPPOSI's business model is a public-private partnership funded through a roughly 50:50 split between public sources and private sources. Approximately 20% of annual budget derives from the Irish Department of Health via the Health Research Board (HRB) on a four-year rolling basis since 2007, restricted to Education Pillar activities. The remaining public and private funding comes from EU and national grants (including the €66.8M Horizon Europe IHI-READI consortium), stratified industry member subscriptions, and event sponsorships. Patient organisations, charities, scientists, and academic partners join free of charge; industry members pay stratified fees. Governance is weighted toward patient organisations, with an 8:6:6 board composition split (patient:science:industry) and Chair and Vice Chair positions always held by patient organisation representatives. The organisation is operationally small — approximately 5 core staff including a CEO, Finance and Operations Manager, Policy & Advocacy Manager, IHI-READI Project Coordinator, and Education & Outreach Coordinator — and is currently scaling activity under new CEO Laura Brady (appointed June 2025) following a decade-long tenure by predecessor Derick Mitchell.

Name

Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry

Legal name

Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry

Website

https://ipposi.ie/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IPPOSI is an Irish patient-led charity that connects 100+ patient organisations, 250+ scientists, and 25 healthcare industry members through education programmes, advocacy, and policy engagement to embed patient voices in health research and innovation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grant: Approximately 20% of annual budget from Irish Department of Health via the Health Research Board (HRB), restricted to Education Pillar activities. Funding has been in place since 2007 on a four-year rolling basis.
2. Industry Member Subscriptions: Stratified membership fees from healthcare industry partners. Industry members include pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers.
3. EU/National Level Public Grants: Leveraged funding from European and national public grant programmes for specific projects and initiatives.
4. Sponsorships: Additional funding from sponsorships for events and programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

IPPOSI is a patient-led membership organisation that convenes patient organisations, scientists/academics, and healthcare industry in Ireland to embed the patient voice in health research, policy, and innovation. It delivers a portfolio of paid and free services including patient education programmes (Patient Education Programme, Research Ethics Course, Patient Capacity Building Programme, Genomics Public Education Programme), stakeholder engagement services (Citizens' Jury, Joint Advocacy, Patient Matchmaking), and innovation feedback (Patient Dragons' Den), funded through government grants, industry member subscriptions, and EU/national project partnerships.

Product overview

IPPOSI is a patient-led membership organization operating as a platform connecting patient organisations, scientists, and healthcare industry in Ireland. Rather than a unified software product, it offers a portfolio of services including education programmes (Patient Education Programme, Research Ethics Course, Patient Capacity Building Programme, Genomics Education Programme), stakeholder engagement services (Citizens' Jury, Joint Advocacy, Patient Matchmaking), innovation support (Patient Dragons' Den), and project partnership capabilities. The organization focuses on embedding patient voices in health policy, research, and innovation through capacity building, advocacy coordination, and multi-stakeholder dialogue facilitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IPPOSI Patient Education Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 35 patients matched with involvement opportunities including committees, working groups, and research studies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IHI-READI ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research in Europe and Diversity Inclusion public-private partnership co-funded by Horizon Europe Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) with €66.8M funding. IPPOSI leads two major tasks with 72 partners from 18 countries over 6 years, focused on enhancing patient representativeness and inclusion in European clinical research.
• Genomics Data Infrastructure (GDI) IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Project to create Irish data infrastructure linking to European partners for 1+ Million Genomes initiative. IPPOSI is a supporting partner playing major role in establishing meaningful PPI as part of the project.
• National Irish COVID-19 Biobank (NICB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Nationwide project funded by Health Research Board involving hospitals and universities across Ireland. IPPOSI CEO is member of Biobank Executive Committee. Patient members participate as part of PPI activities.
• Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2019Memorandum of Understanding established to maximize offerings from both organisations. Close working relationship in areas of patient engagement and innovation.
• Precision Oncology Ireland (POI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Consortium of 5 Irish Universities, 6 Irish Charities, and 7 industry partners aiming to develop diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised cancer treatment. Part-funded by Science Foundation Ireland. IPPOSI CEO is Governance Committee member.
• Data Saves Lives (#DataSavesLives)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Multi-stakeholder initiative led by European Patients' Forum (EPF) and i~HD. IPPOSI is a founding member and uses it as a trustworthy environment for dialogue about health data across Ireland and Europe.
• CHAMELEONSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017EU Horizon 2020-funded project on doctoral training. Consortium member focused on introducing new European model for PhD training tailored to students' and societies' needs. Project completed.
• Patient-Focused Medicines Development (PFMD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Independent nonprofit global coalition of patient organisations, advocates, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, academics, and authorities. IPPOSI joined as patient organisation member in 2023 and is engaging across aligned priority areas.
• European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012IPPOSI is a founding member and sustaining partner of EUPATI Foundation. Played key role in establishing EUPATI National Platforms in over 23 countries. IPPOSI CEO is a former EUPATI Board member. The Irish EUPATI National Platform is a standing committee of the IPPOSI Board.
• BBMRI-ERIC (Biobanking)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Pan-European distributed research infrastructure of biobanks. From 2009-2011, IPPOSI managed pan-European stakeholder forum of preparatory phase, producing two multi-stakeholder consensus reports. Project completed.
• Health Research Board (HRB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007State Agency under Department of Health that supports health research. IPPOSI reports directly to HRB on 4-year Dept. of Health grant supporting education and training activities. Has successfully applied for HRB grants individually and as part of academic consortia.
• International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Professional society for health economics and outcomes research globally. IPPOSI CEO Derick Mitchell is chairperson of European Patient Representative Round Table. Regularly presents at ISPOR conferences.
• Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPPOSI maintains strong working relationship with HIQA health information division. Participates in advisory boards and focus groups, assisted in developing HIQA initiatives, and regularly responds to public consultations.
• Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHPRA is the medicines and medical devices regulator in Ireland. IPPOSI was instrumental in establishing the HPRA Patient Forum. Partners in delivery of blended learning Module on Medicines & Medical Devices Regulations as part of Patient Education Programme.
• Health Services Executive (HSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPPOSI co-chairs HSE National Patients' and Service User Forum. IPPOSI CEO serves on HSE Technology and Transformation Sub-Committee and Innovation Committee. Participates in Health Regions Implementation Group and Patient Engagement Roadmap Implementation Group.
• PPI Ignite NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork promoting excellence in public and patient involvement in health and social care research in Ireland. Based at seven universities with National Programme Office at NUI Galway. IPPOSI is one of ten national partners and CEO is on Network Steering Committee.
• HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork making trials more efficient, inclusive, and usable. IPPOSI CEO Derick Mitchell is chairperson of International Advisory Board.
• Royal Irish Academy (RIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent all-island learned society. IPPOSI CEO is Member of Life and Health Sciences Committee.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Patients' Forum (EPF): EU-level umbrella patient organisation coalition working across disease areas; shares IPPOSI's patient-led, multi-stakeholder advocacy model and is a partner in the Data Saves Lives initiative alongside IPPOSI.
• EUPATI Foundation: European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation, focused on patient education in medicines R&D; IPPOSI is a founding/sustaining partner and runs the Irish National Platform of this exact network.
• Patient-Focused Medicines Development (PFMD): Global multi-stakeholder coalition advancing patient engagement in medicines development; IPPOSI is a patient organisation member of this coalition and operates in overlapping patient-education and matchmaking work.
• EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe: European rare disease patient alliance representing patient organisations and advocating on access, research and policy; highly comparable multi-stakeholder patient advocacy operating at EU level.
• Genetic Alliance: US-based patient advocacy organisation focused on genetics and rare diseases, providing education and advocacy infrastructure; comparable in mission and education/training delivery to IPPOSI's genomics and education programmes.
• European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC): Europe's largest cancer patient umbrella with similar multi-stakeholder advocacy, education and policy engagement scope, including work with regulators like HPRA equivalents across member states.
• Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI): National umbrella of health research charities in Ireland, of which IPPOSI is closely allied; both organisations operate as charity-led patient advocacy bodies with overlapping membership and Irish government relationships.
• PPI Ignite Network: Irish network promoting public and patient involvement in health research across seven universities, of which IPPOSI is a national partner and the IPPOSI CEO sits on the Steering Committee; directly comparable PPI mission.

Regional players

• National Voices (UK): UK coalition of health and care charities advocating for patient voice in policy and services; comparable patient-led advocacy and capacity-building model, but operating in a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• National Health Council (US): Established US-based umbrella organisation providing patient advocacy training, policy engagement and member services to chronic disease organisations; comparable membership-model advocacy, but broader and US-centric.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ipposi
• Facebookfacebook.com/patientsplatformireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipposi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry