Dr Gráinne Gorman is to become the new Chief Executive at the Health Research Board. She previously served as Professor of Neurology and Director of the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial disease* Research at Newcastle University, and as a Consultant Neurologist Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals). A clinician-scientist and health leader, she has a strong record of cross-sector collaboration and patient-centred innovation.

Having completed her professional training in Ireland, Dr Gorman will return to take up the Chief Executive position on 1 October 2025.

Announcing the appointment, Dr Tracy Cunningham, Chairperson of the Board, says,

“Dr Gorman brings a rare combination of innovation in science and strategic leadership skills. She has a proven track record of turning research into clinical practice and embedding patient perspectives into decision-making. Her experience in multidisciplinary work and stewardship of complex research portfolios, together with a commitment to continuous learning positions her well to lead an organisation of HRBs calibre.”

“I am confident that under her direction, the HRB will advance research that has a positive impact on people’s health and patient care, as well as informing robust policy and practice decision-making. The Board look forward to working with her to achieve this.”

Dr Gráinne Gorman, incoming Chief Executive at the HRB, says,

“My vision is to support research that will lead to positive change that lasts. I look forward to bringing my experience in leading high-impact strategies that translated evidence into system-wide change to Ireland and I am committed to fostering inclusive partnerships across research, policy, and lived experience.

“I am honoured to return to the Irish system that shaped my early career in medicine and research. Under my leadership, I will work closely with the professional team at the HRB to ensure we deliver research, data and evidence that shapes better health and care, informs policy, fosters innovation and elevates Irelands global standing in health research.”

 Key career achievements

Throughout her career, Dr Gorman has made major contributions to research, education, policy and clinical practice including:

  • Cross-sector leadership. Alumna of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences’ FLIER (Future Leaders in Innovation, Enterprise and Research) programme, applying system leadership across research, services, industry and policy to accelerate delivery.
  • Mitochondrial research leadership and service innovation. Directed a Wellcome-funded centre and co-led the Neuromuscular, Rare Diseases and Mitochondrial Dysfunction theme within the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre to connect discovery with clinical need. This included specialist reproductive counselling and care as well as a highly specialised mitochondrial diabetes clinic, pioneering service models now emulated in other settings and informing practice internationally.
  • Telehealth in rare disease. Developed early telehealth approaches to widen access and provide scalable, patient-centred models now used in routine services and informing adoption in other systems.
  • Clinical trials and trial readiness. Designed and delivered UK mitochondrial disease trials with emphasis on fit-for-purpose outcome measures, operational readiness and translation into care, publishing widely to underpin guidelines and pathways.
  • Regulatory and evidence standards. Worked with international regulators and national health technology assessors on outcomes, benefit–risk and evidence standards to support access and consistent care.
  • National trial infrastructure. Built trial capability and access pathways for mitochondrial disease, aligning study delivery with patient and service needs.
  • Independent reviews and governance. Served on national and international research funders and charitable boards; undertook external reviews of national/international centres and programmes; contributed to doctoral assessment internationally.
  • Public and stakeholder engagement. Worked with parliamentarians and patient communities to advance equity and evidence-informed care across rare disease and translational medicine.
  • Education and workforce. Extensive track record in supporting clinical academics and early-career scientists; committed to evidence-informed training and mentorship to build a research-literate workforce.

Bionote

Neurologist by training specialising in mitochondrial disease. At Newcastle University, she served as Professor of Neurology, Director of the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, and Theme Co-Lead within the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. She is an alumna of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences’ FLIER (Future Leaders in Innovation, Enterprise and Research) programme and a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

She completed undergraduate and postgraduate training in Ireland, attaining specialist certification in Neurology before moving to the UK to join Newcastle University, where her work has focused on clinical trials and translating mitochondrial research into innovative, co-designed care with patients and communities.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Gillian Markey – Communications Manager, Health Research Board

Mobile: 087 2288514                   Email: gmarkey@hrb.ie

NOTE TO EDITORS

*Mitochondrial disease refers to a group of rare, inherited conditions that affect how your cells produce energy and often require coordinated, multidisciplinary care.

The Health Research Board (HRB) is Ireland’s lead funding agency supporting innovative health research and delivering data and evidence that improves people’s health and patient care. We are committed to putting people first, and ensuring data and evidence are used in policy and practice to overcome health challenges, advance health systems, and benefit society and the economy.