Let's chat medicine: An innovative PEI cycle in health-related research
Year Awarded
2023
Amount
€110,977
- Organisation:University College Dublin (UCD)
- Format:Non-formal Education
- Location:Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Monaghan, Wicklow, Online
- Topic:STEAM
Project Summary
Personalised Medicine (PM) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. “Let’s Chat Medicine” has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate PM to the public. This programme will use the unique talents and perspectives of young people from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds, tapping into their natural curiosity, energy, and lived experiences to help us create the right messages. Systems Biology Ireland will bring decades of PM research knowledge to the table and engage with these young people to co-create PM stories with impact, using educational tools, digital media, and both traditional and non-traditional arts as methods for communication. It is imperative for the medical community to foster understanding for PM with the public right now, when the world has finally stopped reeling from the last pandemic, and who better to help craft the informational toolkit than the youths who will build our future. The “Let’s Chat Medicine” programme will begin with a focus on “genomics” and grow accordingly, bringing in other common technical PM terms in subsequent cycles. We believe the success of this programme will be in working alongside our young co-creators to show them the value in PM and helping them to feel invested in the message we want to convey. Systems Biology Ireland has a long track record of successful public engagement activities, ranging from large public initiatives such as “Choirs for Cancer” down to more intimate focus groups with non-scientists. The inspiration we have gained from past PE interactions fuels our PM research daily.
Evaluation Findings
Challenges:
Challenge 1: Compressed project timeline
Cause: Funding confirmed in January; launch in early March
Solution: Intensive coordination across recruitment, training, and delivery; all core objectives met, but future iterations will benefit from longer lead-in time
Challenge 2: Transport barriers during bank holiday weekend
Cause: Limited public transport affected national participants
Solution: Regional bus pick-up points and overnight accommodation reimbursements ensured inclusive access
Challenge 3: Overnight supervision issues during residential stay
Cause: Teen participants visiting each other’s rooms during quiet hours
Solution: Increased staff monitoring, reinforced rules, and coordination with accommodation providers to uphold safeguarding
Challenge 4: Cancellation of UCD Festival
Cause: Loss of key dissemination opportunity
Solution: Pivoted to Dundrum Shopping Centre event, achieving strong public engagement and visibility for co-created materials
Findings:
1. LCM significantly improved participants’ understanding of Personalised Medicine terminology and concepts.
2. Comprehension of “genetic mutation” rose from 13% to 86%; “population medicine” from 4% to 90%; “genetic sequencing” from 4% to 57%.
3. Participants valued the creative, art-based approach, which deepened engagement and personal connection to science.
4. Young adults reported increased confidence in sharing knowledge and acting as science communicators.
5. ECRs gained key public engagement skills, with all expressing interest in future involvement.
6. Despite a cancelled festival, alternative events met audience targets and showcased student-led science communication.
7. Inclusion goals were exceeded, with 43% of students from DEIS schools and full funding ensuring access.
8. Dissemination reached diverse groups, including ethnic minorities and those with lived experience of disease.
9. Sustainability is evident: 40% of students joined the 2025 mentorship, and one published a blog locally.
10. Academic outputs and future programme funding [24/DP/13038] are underway, supporting long-term impact.
Learnings:
1. Science + Art = Deeper Understanding
Creative approaches helped young adults grasp complex concepts like genomics and personalised medicine.
2. Curriculum Alignment Boosts Impact
Workshops reinforced school biology content-suggesting value in closer ties with educators.
3. ECRs Need Clearer Onboarding
Early Career Researchers benefited professionally but needed more clarity on roles and time commitments.
4. Tailored Training Matters
Public engagement training should be customised to the programme’s context for maximum relevance.
5. Interactive Engagement Works
Hands-on, participatory elements (e.g. sticky notes) made dissemination events more personal and memorable.