Our Board of Directors (also known as Trustees)
Suzanne McCormack
Suzanne is CEO of the Irish Thoracic Society (ITS), the national organisation representing respiratory healthcare professionals on the island of Ireland. Since joining the ITS in 2006, Suzanne has developed the Society’s work in leading and advancing the care of people with respiratory disease through advocacy, research and education. Suzanne previously chaired the HRCI Advocacy and Communications Group, is a Board Member of COPD Support Ireland and co-founded the Irish Lung Health Alliance.
Dr Jacinta Kelly
Dr Jacinta Kelly was appointed as Chief Executive of the NCRC in June 2015.
Dr Kelly has PhD in immunology and an MA in management. Dr Kelly joined the NCRC in 2009 as Deputy Director of Research and has had a role in the strategic development and management of the Centre since then. She previously had extensive experience in third level education, lecturing in immunology to biomedical science students in DIT and to medical students, and Master’s degree students in TCD. Her research interest is in immunological processes in the gut, with coeliac disease as a disease model. She additionally has experience in the development delivery, and management of postgraduate taught courses, in DIT and TCD.
She also has international experience in scientific publishing and communication with Elsevier and with Hogrefe and Huber Publishers. Dr Kelly is a member of the ethics committee in the Faculty of Health Sciences, TCD.
Philip Watt
Dr Robert O'Connor
Irish Cancer Society
Geraldine Kelly
Alpha One Foundation
Sinead Hickey
DEBRA Ireland
Sinéad is Research Manager at DEBRA Ireland. DEBRA Ireland is a national charity providing support to people living with the debilitating skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and driving research into treatments and cures for those living with the condition. Sinéad has 15 years’ experience working in skin research. In her role as Research Manager, Sinéad has participated in national research projects as a social impact partner and is establishing a PPI process with Irish and international researchers. She is also coordinating the development of a national and international EB registry.
Michael Walsh
Dr. Laura Brady
With a B.A.(Mod.) degree in Biochemistry and a PhD in Neuroscience, Dr Brady has been in the biomedical research environment for over a decade. She moved from the lab in 2016 to join Fighting Blindness Ireland. In her role as Head of Research, she was responsible for the development and implementation of the organisational research strategic plan. In 2021, she took up the role of Programme Manager at Royal College Surgeons Ireland.
Dr. Bernadette Rock
Brian Lynch
Brian is operations manager for population health at the RCSI, University of Medicine and Health Sciences. He is chair of the HRCI advocacy and communications committee and was previously head of communications and advocacy with Arthritis Ireland.
