The National Office for Research Ethics Committees is pleased to announce the appointment of 17 new National Research Ethics Committee (NREC) members. The new members were appointed by the Minister for Health Mr Stephen Donnelly following an expression of interest campaign which ran from 24 February to 25 March 2022. The NRECs for Clinical Trials (NREC-CT A and B) have welcomed ten new members, while the NREC for Medical Devices (NREC-MD) has welcomed seven members.
The work of the NRECs in their first year of operation has provided insight into the expertise and experiences required to review research ethics applications under their respective remits. The most recent expression of interest campaign therefore targeted specific areas of expertise and experiences to broaden the capacity of the existing NRECs, seeking greater involvement of lay individuals and experts in fields ranging from biomedical sciences, to gene therapy, oncology and radiology.
Moreover, the remit of NREC-MD has expanded as of 26 May: in addition to the review of the studies which fall under the Medical Devices Regulation EU 2017/475, the Committee will now also review research ethics applications for the performance studies of in vitro diagnostic medical devices (EU Regulation 2017/746). An increase in the number of committee members and a broadening of the expertise will support this expanded remit.
“The response to the membership campaign has been significant, and the National Office team were delighted to see such enthusiasm from applicant members wishing to offer their expertise and lived experiences to further complement the work of the Committees,” comments Dr Emily Vereker, Acting Head of the National Office. “This display of engagement is a hugely positive sign for Irish clinical research and demonstrates continued support for a robust national ethics decision-making process, to safeguard the safety, dignity and well-being of research participants”
The NREC-CTs are welcoming the following new members:
NREC-CT A
Mrs Erica Bennett
Senior Clinical Research Radiation Therapist, Bon Secours Radiotherapy, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, Cork
Prof. Donal Brennan
Professor of Gynaecological Oncology, University College Dublin and Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
Prof. Austin Duffy
Consultant Medical Oncologist Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin and Associate Professor of Translational Oncology Medicine and Medical Specialities, University College Dublin, Dublin
Mr Gerard Eastwood
Retired, Founder of Fighting Blindness and Engineer and academic lecturer, Dublin
Ms Evelyn O’Shea
Quality, Risk and Patient Safety Manager, Naas General Hospital, Naas
NREC-CT B
Prof Andrew Green
Consultant in Medical Genetics, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and Temple Street, Professor of Medical Genetics, University College Dublin and Principal Investigator, Conway Institute University College Dublin, Dublin.
Ms Susan Kelly
National Maternal and Newborn-Clinical Management System Training Manager, Health System Executive, Monahan
Ms Deirdre Mac Loughlin
Retired, Advocate for public involvement in health research, IT manager, Galway
Prof Seamus O’Reilly
Consultant Medical Oncologist, Cork University, Mercy University and South Infirmary Victoria Hospitals, Associate Professor of Medicine, University College Cork, Vice Clinical Lead, Cancer Trials Ireland and Co-National Specialty Director Medical Oncology, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Cork
Dr Christina Skourou
Senior Medical Physicist, St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network and Guest Lecturer, National University of Ireland Galway, Dublin
The NREC-MD are welcoming the following new members:
Dr Mireille Crampe
Molecular Diagnostics Workstream Lead Medical Laboratory Information System National Project Team, Health System Executive, Dublin
Dr Ruth Davis
Barrister and Independent Law Consultant, Dublin
Dr Gloria Kirwan
Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Healthcare Management, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin
Dr Sarah McLoughlin
Patient Advocate, Dublin
Prof. Tom Melvin
Associate Professor of Medical Device Regulation, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin
Dr Declan O’Callaghan
Retired, Medical Doctor and Specialist in Pharmaceutical Medicine, Dublin
Dr Clare O’Connor
Retired, Molecular Medicine Researcher and Lecturer, Wicklow
Dr Emily Vereker concludes: “The National Office team would like to congratulate the new members on their appointment, and together with the Committee Chairs and existing members we look forward to working together to shape Ireland’s research ethics landscape for the benefit of patients and the public.”
Visit the NREC-CT section of our website for more information on the Committee’s work and full list of members.
Visit the NREC-MD section of our website for more information on the Committee’s work and full list of members.