Additionally, we invited a wide range of stakeholders to participate in focus groups including; research funders and policy makers, research leadership from the higher education institutes, HRB-funded researchers, public and patient representatives, medical research charities, the voluntary sector and the Department of Health.

The outputs from all of these sessions are being consolidated and will form one of the inputs to the briefing material for the International Expert Advisory Panel (IEAP) who will meet from 9-11 October.

This panel brings together international experts from across areas of health and social care research relevant to the HRB. Marian Harkin, a former MEP will Chair the 12 person committee.

The IEAP will be asked to consider and deliver findings based around three questions:

  • To what extent has the HRB achieved its current strategic objectives
  • What are the key global environmental factors and trends that the HRB should consider in establishing its next strategic plan, including those at the margins of current thinking and planning.
  • Based on today’s learnings in an Irish and global context – most notably the outputs of an extensive stakeholder engagement process – what potential future strategic directions should the HRB be considering?

The findings of the IEAP will be captured in a review report and will serve as key input to the HRB’s strategic plan development deliberations with its Board and the Department of Health. Outputs from this report will be shared at a later point, following Board approval.

The HRB is extremely grateful for all of the contributions from the community to date. We look forward to ongoing consultation over the coming months.