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 MRCG Advocacy and Communications Group, is a Board Member of COPD Support Ireland and co-founded the Irish Lung Health Alliance.
Jacinta Kelly
Jacinta is Chief Executive of the National Children’s Research Centre
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
Fighting Blindness Ireland
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 is responsible for the development and implementation of the organisational research strategic plan. She works closely with both the clinical and academic community and is responsible for the coordination of all research initiatives, including the national Target 5000 programme, which is focused on the genetic and clinical profiling of individuals in Ireland with an inherited retinal degeneration. In addition, she supports people and families living with vision loss through education and empowerment.
Dr. Bernadette Rock
Since joining ASI in 2017 Bernadette has developed and is implementing ASI’s research strategy 2017-2020 including a research funding strategy. A key focus is developing a Person Public Involvement (PPI) and supporting people with dementia to engage in research activities. Bernadette is facilitating a research prioritisation process with the aim of bringing together people with dementia, carers, researchers and health and social care professionals to identify and prioritise dementia research questions.
Brian Lynch
Brian is responsible for achieving greater public awareness and understanding of arthritis, as well as of the work of Arthritis Ireland as a patient organisation and health research charity. He develops and manages the organisation’s public health and health promotion campaigns, and is the media contact point and organisation spokesperson. He is the patient advocate on the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology, is a member of the Health Products Regulatory Authority patient forum, and is on the executive of the Health Reform Alliance.
