ICRIN is pleased to announce the appointment of Fionnuala Gibbons as Clinical Trial Liaison Officer, with responsibility for the development of clinical research process knowledge and awareness among indigenous and multi-national pharmaceutical, medical device, nutriceutical, food and biotechnology companies. Fionnuala brings to the position a wealth of experience in clinical research across the pharmaceutical industry. She initially began her career as a nurse, finishing as a theatre and anaesthetic sister in Charing Cross Hospital, London. Fionnuala's transition to a career in clinical research was as a research co-ordinator in the Thrombosis Research Centre in Kings College Hospital before moving to PPD Contract Research Organisation in Cambridge. On returning to Dublin in 1998, she took up a position as Clinical Research Associate with Bristol-Myers Squibb. During that time the key objective was to establish the medical department in Ireland and also to attract a number of pivotal clinical trials to Ireland across a variety of therapeutic areas including cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, endocrinology, psychiatry, HIV and haematology. Prior to joining MMI, Fionnuala held the position of Oncology Scientific Advisor for Sanofi-Aventis. Fionnuala is currently undertaking an MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine in the Centre for Advanced Clinical Therapeutics, St James’s Hospital, Dublin.

Clinical Trial Liaison Officer
The role of Clinical Trial Liaison Officer is part of the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ICRIN), which is hosted by Molecular Medicine Ireland (MMI). This role has been established to facilitate the development of knowledge and awareness of clinical research processes among indigenous and multi-national pharmaceutical, medical device, nutriceutical, food and biotechnology companies with innovative products that they wish to bring to market. This post is being funded by Enterprise Ireland for a period of two years.

The key challenge in translating innovative potential therapies into medicines, foods and devices for patients is a lack of knowledge how to plan a clinical development programme. The lack of knowledge of clinical research legislation, regulatory and ethical requirements can seriously impinge the development of these innovative potential therapies and the ultimate success of such ventures. Clinical development is extremely costly and therefore careful planning and execution of clinical research is essential in order to overcome the major obstacles.
For further information contact Fionnuala Gibbons at fionnuala.gibbons@molecularmedicineireland.ie