About Us

Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI) is the national umbrella organisation of charities engaged in health, medical and social care research, collectively representing over 2 million people in Ireland. We champion our members’ interests, to enhance the environment for health research in Ireland. We empower them to realise our shared vision of improving lives through impactful research.

We offer our members the potential for matched research funding through the Joint Funding Scheme, run in partnership with the Health Research Board. We also run the Irish Health Research Forum, bringing together all stakeholders to improve health research in Ireland.

Our 45+ member charities invested more than €18 million in research in 2021. Beyond financial investment, they ensure the relevance of research to the communities they represent, communicate its findings and insist that it has impact for people. Together these charities provide a beautiful example of what research means to people and families and how the impact of research reaches every village in Ireland.

HRCI is proud to stand with marginalised commmunities. We support and encourage equality, diversity and inclusion and will continue to explore ways to improve engagement within health, medical and social care research.

Our Vision

Improved lives through a united community of health research charities.

Our Values

We are always guided in our actions by the needs of our member organisations and Irish patients.
We are ambitious in our goals which we achieve through strong leadership.
We are inclusive, transparent and act with integrity in all our dealings.
We are collaborative in our approach and use our resources wisely.

Our Funding

Health Research Charities Ireland is funded through membership fees and levies, the Pobal Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO), and the Health Research Board.

A brief history of HRCI – formerly known as MRCG