Molecular Medicine Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Marie Mellody as Coordinator of the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ICRIN) with responsibility for leading the development of ICRIN as a national coordinating centre for clinical research in Ireland and representing Ireland in the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network.

Marie comes to the post with a formidable track record in the conduct and coordination of clinical research comprising over 20 years experience in all phases of clinical development in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and contract research industry.

A science graduate of NUI Galway, Marie has held operations management positions in Hoechst Marion Roussel, Abbott and Serono International S.A. and has service provider experience at the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, ClinTrials and ICON. Since 2004, Marie has developed an innovative, pan European clinical research network with the objective of identifying a more streamlined and fit for purpose approach to clinical operation and clinical trials. For the past three years, she has provided consultancy services to in the UK non-commercial and academic sector to improve the organisation of their clinical studies and to coordinate regulatory compliance.

Dr Ruth Barrington CEO of MMI said how pleased she was that Marie had taken up the post at this time. “The benefits of a national infrastructure for clinical research, linking existing and planned facilities, tapping into the expertise in all facilities and promoting a harmonised approach to clinical studies are becoming apparent to more and more people. Marie will bring her extensive experience of organising clinical research to the task of developing ICRIN - for the benefit of patients, to enhance the research capacity of our academic institutions and to support the Government’s innovation agenda in the life sciences. “

Marie Mellody took up her post on 17 August 2009. She can be contacted at: Marie.Mellody@MolecularMedicineIreland.ie