Member support

Empowering and supporting our member organisations in their health research activities is at the core of our work. We foster a sense of community among our members, where support comes both from us and from peers. We work constantly to build the capacity of our members through meetings and events, including Board meetings which are open to members to attend.

We are responsive to the needs of our members in the context of an ever-changing Irish health research landscape, developing and sharing key resources to support them such as our Research Governance Guide, our Members’ Guide, and the Guide for Charities and Researchers Partnering for Societal Benefit. We also provide one-to-one support for members and in 2023, we responded to over 160 Joint Funding Scheme and other research support queries from our members.

Starting with 6 charities in 1998, our membership has grown to 46 charities active in health research as of 2025. Our members have told us that our support has been extremely valuable and beneficial to them. On our member stories page, our members explain what joining HRCI has meant for their organisations and the impact our work has had on their ability to grow as research funders and facilitators.

In our 2024 membership survey, opportunities for learning and capacity-building, networking and collaboration, and support and assistance were identified as the top three things valued about HRCI, similar to the findings of the 2022 membership survey where collaboration and networking, support and assistance and PPI were reported as the most valued aspects of our work. More specifically, our members gave details in the 2024 survey about the positive impact HRCI has had on their organisation.

PPI was the most frequently identified aspect of HRCI’s work which has a positive impact on respondents’ organisations. HRCI has been instrumental in the establishment of PPI as a sphere of activity in member charities, such as the setting up of PPI panels, and refining members’ practices and procedures for PPI.

“Without HRCI we would not have established a successful PPI panel”

The opportunity for networking and collaboration provided by being a member of HRCI was identified as an impactful aspect of HRCI’s work. Impacts arising from this centred on being able to share experiences and interests with other charities, opportunities for collaboration, and developing a good understanding of the common issues that face all those involved in funding health research.

“The workshops and meetings have allowed for fantastic networking and engagement with other charities who have come across similar situations and been able to share their experience. It has also been a fantastic way to meet similar charities with whom we can collaborate and communicate on shared interests.”

The opportunities offered by the Joint Funding Scheme to allow their organisations to maximise the impact of their available funding for health research was also identified as an important impact of HRB’s work.

“The HRCI/HRB Joint Funding Scheme is very important to us as a charity as it allows us to fund more translational research projects.”

Other HRCI work that has had positive impacts for members include support for research governance, policies and processes, support for engaging in research, building capacity for developing patient registries, and advocacy.

HRCI’s offer of intensive support and capacity-building for charities participating in the Joint Funding Scheme was highlighted as being particularly beneficial by participants in the RIVA study. For example, charities who do not have research staff find the “community knowledge and support” provided by HRCI to them as they participate in the Joint Funding Scheme to be very valuable. Charities who took part in the RIVA study reported that HRCI plays a vital role in encouraging them to participate in the Joint Funding Scheme, and “bringing charities together, and representing the voice of charities when there are difficulties”.

Our members have benefitted from our work hosting the Irish Health Research Forum for over 10 years, with many highlighting the value in bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss and provide constructive feedback on pressing issues. On average, 25% / a quarter of each Irish Health Research Forum audience consists of HRCI members.