Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has announced the appointment of Prof Donal Brennan as Chair of the Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC).
Prof Brennan is Professor of Gynaecological Oncology in University College Dublin and Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin. He was previously the Chair of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG), providing strategic leadership in developing the group’s final report, Transforming Ireland’s Clinical Trials Landscape: A Blueprint for Implementation, including the recommendations to be implemented by the CTAC.
According to the Department of Health: “This appointment marks a significant step in the process to establish the Clinical Trials Advisory Council and reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening Ireland’s clinical trials environment, ensuring that patients in Ireland have improved access to innovative treatments, therapies and healthcare technologies through participation in high-quality clinical research.”
“This step forward in enhancing clinical trials in Ireland, aligns with Ireland’s work at EU level in leading negotiations on the EU Biotech Act and the National Life Sciences Strategy. As Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council begins, one of the priorities for the health agenda is to support progress of the EU Biotech Act, to strengthen the biotechnology and manufacturing sectors in the EU, particularly in health. At the national level, the work of CTAC also aligns with the new National Life Science Strategy, which is currently being developed, and which will help ensure that Ireland’s life sciences sector remains globally competitive, supports innovation, and continues to drive high value jobs and investment into the future.”
Announcing the appointment of Prof Brennan, Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “Establishing the Clinical Trials Advisory Council represents an important milestone in driving Ireland’s ambition to become a leader across the international clinical trials landscape. I am delighted that Donal has agreed to take the helm in steering the process to implement in full the recommendations brought forward by NCTOG.
“The work of CTAC aligns with our current leadership role at EU level in leading negotiations on the Biotech Act and will ultimately drive improvements across Ireland’s clinical trials landscape to achieve better health outcomes for patients, enhance Ireland’s reputation and support the wider economy. I look forward to working with Donal and the wider Council in achieving these objectives.”
Commenting on his appointment, Prof Brennan said: “I am very grateful to the Minister for this opportunity, and it will be a privilege to be involved again in continuing the important process we have begun in transforming Ireland’s clinical trials landscape. I very much look forward to working with the new Council, the Minister and the Department in ensuring that the recommendations of the Blueprint for Implementation are translated into meaningful and measurable improvements across the clinical trials landscape with the ultimate objective of achieving better health outcomes.”
The full membership of the Clinical Trials Advisory Council will be finalised in the coming weeks and follows an extensive ‘expression of interest’ campaign conducted by the Department. It will bring together representatives from across the health research ecosystem, including patient representatives, academia, healthcare providers, regulators, industry, and Government.
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