The Health Research Board has announced the appointment of Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll as Chief Executive. Previously Director of Research Strategy and Funding at the HRB, Dr O’Driscoll takes up the position in July 2020.

Prof Jane Grimson, Chairperson of the Board, says,

‘I am delighted to welcome Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll as the new CEO of the HRB. Dr O’Driscoll brings to the role a wealth of experience in health research and policy. I am confident that under her leadership, the HRB will adopt an innovative and collaborative approach to implementing our new strategy and ensure that health research is instrumental in improving people’s health and advancing health care and policy. The Board look forward to working with her to achieve this’.

Dr O’Driscoll, Chief Executive at the HRB says;

‘Health research makes a real difference to people’s lives. We’ve seen how the recent pandemic has sparked huge public interest in both health and research. People want to know what works and why.

‘The Health Research Board plays an essential role in advancing research, with positive outcomes for people, our health services and our economy. The public needs to have confidence in research that is used to inform decisions around treatment or changes in policy or practice, and that means building trust, encouraging participation in research, being inclusive and openly sharing findings.

‘I look forward to working with our research community in academic institutions and across health and social care in Ireland to deliver our new strategy which will generate health benefits in Ireland and internationally’.

Previously Mairead has had research and policy roles in the Royal Society in London and Wellcome.  She was also instrumental in developing the South African national research and technology foresight study. Read full bionote.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Gillian Markey – Communications Manager, Health Research Board
Mobile: 087 2288514. Email: gmarkey@hrb.ie