Health Research Charities Ireland (formerly MRCG) to put State of Health Research in Ireland Under the Microscope

Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI), the new name for the Medical Research Charities Group, is inviting clinicians, researchers, academics and patient advocates, to attend its forthcoming conference “The MRCG at 21: Looking to the Future of Health Research” taking place in the Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, on Wednesday September 18 from 1.30pm.

The conference, which marks 21 years since the founding of the Medical Research Charities Group, will provide an opportunity to reflect on the state of health research in Ireland today and, more importantly, on where it needs to be over the coming years.

A series of high-priority actions to advance the development of health research in Ireland will be announced at the event by Dr Avril Kennan, CEO of HRCI. The HRCI is a dauntless advocate for health research that will impact patients’ lives, as well as for the need to ring-fence research time for doctors and nurses in our hospitals. Dr Kennan will set out details of the top five key areas that have been identified by members for action, if health research is to prosper in Ireland for the benefit of all.

Political Perspectives
The event will host a number of interactive panel discussions, including one featuring cross-party members of the Oireachtas with an interest in health research on the topic of “Health Research in Ireland – Challenges and Solutions”. Attendees will have an opportunity to highlight their priorities with the politicians, as well as hear from them as to their perspectives. Among those in attendance will be Michael Harty TD (Ind), Stephen Donnelly TD (FF), Louise O’Reilly TD (SF), Róisín Shortall TD (SD) and Senator Colm Burke (FG).

A separate panel discussion on the topic of “Learning from the Past and Looking to the Future” features four current and former chairs of the organisation, including Michael Griffith, one of the organisation’s founders, John McCormack, former CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, Philip Watt, CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, and Suzanne McCormack, the CEO of the Irish Thoracic Society. The event will also feature case studies from a number of health research charities.

Research Driving Patient Care Advances
For Dr Avril Kennan, CEO Health Research Charities Ireland, research is the driving force behind improving patient outcomes and needs to be fully supported:
“We have many of the most eminent voices in the Irish research community coming together at this conference which I believe reflects the vital importance they attach to our focus on the future of health research. Our members have been driving forward research into health conditions which affect the Irish population for many years. It’s time that we celebrated their incredible work and, with them, use this opportunity to share patient-focused perspectives with other thought-leaders, including members of the Oireachtas.

“This year, as the representative group for leading medical and health research charities in Ireland, we are delighted to celebrate 21 years of offering a strong and unified voice in advocating for a world-class research environment. We know that research drives improved patient care and we look forward to setting out our top priorities for a participative, dynamic and successful research scene over the coming years.”