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The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has announced the appointment of Professor Donal Brennan as Chair of the Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC).

Donal Brennan is Professor of Gynaecological Oncology in University College Dublin (UCD) and Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Donal 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 CTAC.

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 Professor 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 new appointment, Professor 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 (EOI) campaign conducted by the Department of Health. It will bring together representatives from across the health research ecosystem, including patient representatives, academia, healthcare providers, regulators, industry and Government.

The establishment of the CTAC follows on from the successful work of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG). Last November, the Minister for Health published the Final Report and Recommendations of the NCTOG which sets out a clear plan to strengthen Ireland’s clinical trials ecosystem. A key recommendation was the creation of a dedicated Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC) to drive the implementation of these reforms. Progressing the establishment of the CTAC is another positive milestone in building a more streamlined, coordinated and innovative clinical trials system. The establishment of the Council supports wider Government objectives to strengthen Ireland’s health research infrastructure, support innovation within the health service, and enhance Ireland’s competitiveness as a location for international clinical research activity.

Clinical trials are essential to the development of new medicines, treatments and healthcare interventions and play a key role in improving patient care and health outcomes.