As I reach the end of my time as Chief Executive of the HRB, which coincides with the development of a new five-year strategy, it is timely to revisit the road we have travelled since 2020.

Over the past five years, we have significantly expanded our scale, ambition, and collaborations, investing over €250 million in health research projects and clinical trials infrastructure. This investment leveraged an additional €264 million from other sources and supported more than 600 research posts across Ireland.

Research and evidence

During this period, we saw research integrated into national policies and strategies in key areas including mental health, cancer, palliative care, genomics, rare diseases, and substance use.

HRB research from our Evidence Centre directly influenced major public health legislation, including the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, and the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023.

We have also led nationally in research governance over the past five years, developing the scale of Ireland’s consent and ethics architecture through the National Office for Research Ethics Committees, and the Secretariat for the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee (HRCDC).

Our leadership in research integrity, open research and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles also reinforce our commitment to setting the bar high.

Public and patient involvement (PPI) in research was also actively promoted, ensuring that lived experience informed research priorities and design. A second phase of the PPI Ignite scheme was launched in 2020, expanding the network to new national partners beyond universities, and establishing a National Programme Office at the University of Galway.

Health information systems

While the value of our funding is easily seen, our stewardship of four national health information systems is of equal importance to our mission. From psychiatric admissions and disability to drug and alcohol treatment and deaths, our datasets are used by Government departments, State agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental organisations to inform policy, allocate resources, and evaluate and develop services.

Our health information systems are not just technical records, they are transformational, supporting research that aids long-term service planning grounded in evidence.

Collaboration and consultation

Another key measure of our effectiveness is the number of funding projects we are involved in that have real-life effects.

Our partnership with Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI) is a prime example. Together, our Joint Funding Scheme has resulted in 165 awards across 27 charities, representing a total investment of over €28 million over the past five years.

The scheme is internationally unique, supporting impactful, patient-focused research in areas such as rare diseases, cancer, epilepsy, arthritis, and brain tumours. It also pioneered the inclusion of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) reviewers in the grant assessment process, ensuring that funded research is both scientifically robust and socially relevant.

Our commitment to building research capacity among health professionals continues to grow across all stages of the research career pathway.

European stage

At EU level, we played a central role in advancing the European Health Data Space Regulation (EHDSR). In that respect, we supported the Department of Health, collaborating with Health Information Quality Authority, in developing the Health Information Bill.

A key aspect of this was informing the ongoing design of a Health Data Access Body needed at national level to meet the requirements of the EHDSR.

Our trusted data services enabled research to meet high standards of governance and quality, supporting the implementation of the European Open Science Cloud using FAIR data principles aimed at creating an accessible, open and trusted environment for managing and sharing research data across Europe.

Building foundations

When the HRB was established in 1986, it was born out of clear necessity. At the time, we lagged behind many of our European peers in both health outcomes and public policy.

Compared to countries like Denmark or the Netherlands, Ireland’s public services and health research infrastructure were under-resourced and fragmented.

During this period, bodies like the HRB laid the groundwork for the country we live in today.

The health and social care research we have funded or conducted provided the evidence needed to ensure science and public demand translated into better health outcomes, stronger services, and smarter policy.

Public health indicators

Nearly four decades later, that work is evident. While there is always room for improvement, the fact is, key public health indicators have been going in the right direction for 40 years.

Our life expectancy is now seventh highest in the EU at 83 years, up from 72 in the 80s. We now have longitudinal data sets that will better inform how we plan and shape services given the growth of our older population and clearer data on the staffing skills mix needed.

Over the same period, infant mortality halved, and mortality rates for cancer, cardio-vascular and respiratory disease have all fallen by double digits.

This is just some of the evidence that demonstrates the work of the HRB, and the many partners we work alongside nationally and internationally, is making a difference.

I leave my post as CEO, confident that under the leadership of Professor Gráinne Gorman, the HRB will continue to develop the many strands of our work which ultimately support better health for everyone.

The HRB is succeeding.