Highlights from our Christmas Networking Event

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting a gathering of Ireland's leading clinical trial leaders and operations experts at our End of Year annual meeting. The event, which brought together professionals from across the clinical research spectrum in Ireland, proved to be an invaluable platform for knowledge sharing, networking and strategic planning for the future of clinical trials in Ireland.

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We were honoured to have the meeting by world-renowned clinical triallist and Chair of the NCTO international Advisory Committee, Prof. William Powderly with his insightful opening remarks about the global and national context of trials. The NCTO leadership of Professor Fai Ng of HRB Clinical Research Facility - University College Cork & Robert O'Connor PhD , set the tone for a day of productive discussions.

A highlight of the morning session was Professor Donal Brennan's comprehensive update on the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group's activities, which sparked engaging discussions during the subsequent Q&A session. The networking lunch proved to be an excellent opportunity for attendees to forge new connections and strengthen existing collaborations.

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The afternoon sessions focused on crucial infrastructure updates, with detailed presentations from various key players in our national clinical trials ecosystem. Sandra Galvin, PhD provided a thorough HRB- Trials Methodology Research Network Ireland update, while our own Michele Cunnane offered valuable insights into NCTO feasibility and budgeting working group activities. We then had our Quality and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Dr. Ruben Eavan Keane 's, presentation on pharmacovigilance, quality, and sponsorship which was particularly well-received and shed light on the fantastic work being done by the Working Groups she facilitates.

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We were particularly pleased to include practical case studies and specialized presentations, including Gráinne O'Reilly's ECRIN (European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network) case study on the BOOSTAVAC trial, and informative sessions from NCTO CILO Fiona Ryan on MedTech and NCTO Data Analyst Evelyn Crowley on CRF management. NCTO Comms Officer, Eoghan Cooke , provided a communications update highlighting the importance of effective collaboration and strategic use of Social Media to enhance awareness of the great work being done in Trials in Ireland. Eoghan will be offering training in the use of LinkedIn and social media for trials in Q1 of 2025, email him at [email protected] to learn more.

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The event took an innovative turn with Professor Seamus O'Reilly's presentation on the intersection of climate change and clinical trials, followed by Maeve Kelsey 's fascinating presentation on fostering research nursing at the undergraduate level. Darren Dahly PhD 's presentation on Quality by Design provided engaging and valuable methodological insights for future trial design.

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The day concluded with a dynamic panel discussion lead by Prof. Geraldine Boylan , Prof Fai Ng , Prof. Peter Doran and Prof. William Powderly , on “Growing Our Impact: Preparation and Promotion," where participants engaged in thoughtful dialogue about the future of clinical trials in Ireland. The open forum format encouraged valuable contributions from all attendees, leading to several valuable insights for the upcoming GCP3 and our community at large.

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We extend our sincere gratitude to all speakers, participants, and organizers who made this event possible. The level of engagement and quality of discussion demonstrated the strong commitment within our community to advancing clinical trials infrastructure in Ireland.