The Board
Our Board of Directors provides independent leadership, governance and oversight to the running of organisation and promotes the achievement of excellence in cancer research. Current Board members are:
Deirdre Somers, Chair
Deirdre Somers is Chair of the board of Cancer Trials Ireland since 2021 having served on as a director from 2019. Ms Somers is an independent non executive director with a portfolio of board positions, mainly on public companies. She currently serves on the boards of BlackRock iShares EMEA, Kenmare Resources plc, Enfusion Inc, Aquis plc and Episode plc. From 2007-2018, Ms Somers was CEO and executive director of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) which she joined in 1995 from KPMG where she trained as an international tax accountant. She had various management positions in the ISE before assuming the CEO role.
Prof Seamus O'Reilly, Clinical Lead
Prof Seamus O’Reilly is a Consultant Medical Oncologist in Cork University Hospital, Professor at University College Cork, co-National Director in Medical Oncology at the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland.
Prof Gerry Hanna, Vice Clinical Lead
Prof Gerry Hanna is the Marie Curie Chair of Clinical Oncology at Trinity College Dublin and a Consultant in Radiation Oncology at the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network and the Trinity St James Cancer Institute.
Rory Montgomery
Rory Montgomery is a former Irish diplomat who served as Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador to France and Second Secretary General at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Patrick Kivlehan, Patient Advocate
Patrick is the Chair of the Cancer Trials Ireland’s Patient Consultation Committee (PCC) and is a member of the Lymph and Haem DSSG.
Prof John Kennedy
Prof Kennedy is Clinical Professor of Medicine in Trinity College Dublin and Co-director of the Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute.
Michael Daughton
Michael is the Partner in charge of the Risk and Regulatory Consulting practice in KPMG Ireland where he advises clients on the risks and controls within IT and business processes. He is responsible for a wide range of services including governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, IT assurance, design and implementation of internal control frameworks and internal audit.
Paul Egan
Paul Egan SC is a senior consultant with Mason Hayes & Curran LLP, Chair of the statutory Company Law Review Group, and a member of the Council of the Law Society of Ireland.
Prof Leonie Young
Prof Leonie Young leads the Endocrine Oncology Research Group in the Royal college of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). She is also Translational Research Co-Chair of the Cancer Trials Ireland Breast DSSG (Disease-Specific Study Group).
Tom Brennan
Tom Brennan has a background in the life sciences industry being a founder investor of Irish healthcare companies; EirGen Pharma (acquired in 2015), Q1 Scientific (acquired 2022), TriviumVet and Shorla Oncology.
Prof Risteárd Ó Laoide
Prof Risteárd Ó Laoide is Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). He is a Consultant Radiologist at St. Vincent’s University Hospital and Clinical Professor of Radiology at University College Dublin.
Jennifer Owens
Jennifer is a highly experienced leader with over 20 years as a qualified accountant and more than 13 years serving on executive teams and boards in the not-for-profit sector. Currently the Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the Irish Cancer Society, she brings a wealth of expertise in risk, governance, financial management, and strategic thinking.
Eibhlín Mulroe, CEO
Eibhlín Mulroe has been working with Cancer Trials Ireland since 2015. In that time she has overseen an organisation whose staff has doubled in size, established a new biometrics division, and moved to a multi-annual funding model for the first time, in 2022. She is a driving force for bringing new trials to Ireland, particularly in the area of pancreatic cancer. Eibhlín previously worked in political and patient advocacy roles.
David Donovan, Financial Controller & Company Secretary
David Donovan joined Cancer Trials Ireland in 2021 to head up the finance team, and assume the role of company secretary. David has held similar roles in previous organisations, including Weatherbys Scientific, Baxter Healthcare and European Rugby Cup, the tournament organisers of the Heineken Cup. David oversees Cancer Trials Ireland’s revenue streams while also providing support to the Cancer Trials Ireland Board and CEO.
Committees of the Board
There are a number of Sub Committees of the Board
The Audit Committee provides oversight of the organisation’s finances. The Nominations & Governance Committee oversees Board membership and governance.
The Clinical Executive Committee is responsible for discussing, agreeing and making recommendations to the Board on important issues related to clinical and operational aspects of cancer care delivery relevant to cancer clinical trial execution and has the authority to represent and make recommendations to the Board on behalf of the Cancer Trials Research Units.
The Patient Consultants Committee (PCC) brings together people affected by cancer to influence cancer trials and contribute a consumer perspective to trial activity in Ireland. The work of the PCC also includes networking and planning. The PCC will provide a visible focus of Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) in cancer trials in Ireland.
The Scientific Management Group (SMG) is responsible for the planning and development of scientific research priorities and the resourcing of these priorities within the allocated Cancer Trials Ireland funding. This involves setting the strategy in terms of under-served disease areas, ratio of academic versus industry studies, and the balance of studies across disease areas. The SMG reports to the Board through the Clinical Executive Committee.
The Disease Specific Sub Groups (DSSGs). There is a DSSG representing each relevant disease area. Each group is responsible for discussing potential new studies and/or collaborations. Once a study has been approved by a DSSG and has undergone peer review (if applicable), the study is submitted to the SMG for approval.
The External Advisory Board. Consultations are currently underway in relation to the role of this Board to clarify and maximise its input.
Director’s Reports
Director’s Reports (i.e. auditor’s reports) for Cancer Trials Ireland, dating back to 2018, can be found on this page.