Consisting of the site Study Feasibility and Start-up facilitators at each of the centres and co-chaired by Dr Fionnuala Keane, Director of Operations, RCSI Clinical Research Centre and Michèle Cunnane HRB NCTO Trial Platform Lead (TPL). The mission of the SFSWG is to facilitate cooperation and sharing within the HRB NCTO partnerships with respect to efficient delivery of investigator and site selection and study start-up and first patient first visit timelines.

The HRB NCTO Budget Working Group consists of personnel working in each centre responsible for budgeting and costing of clinical trials. This group is co-chaired by Dr Aideen Doherty, Programme Manager, Clinical Research Facility, University of Galway and Michèle Cunnane HRB NCTO Trial Platform Lead (TPL). The mission of the group is to streamline and standardise the protocol review and budget development process nationally.

The NCTO PvWG consists of Pharmacovigilance representatives from each of the HRB-Clinical Research Facilities/Centres. It is co-chaired by Prof. Pat Murray Clinical Director, UCD Clinical Research Centre and Dr. Ruben E. Keane, NCTO QRM. NCTO PvWG aims to share best practice and experience, avoid duplication and maximise resources in this highly specialised area of Clinical Research. We discuss issues of common interest, the level of Pv Activity across the region, how to implement Pharmacovigilance under new legislation (Clinical Trials Regulation, Medical Device Regulation etc). The group produces an annual report (for HRB) on the level of Pv Activity across the HRB-CRF/Cs.

The Medtech Working Group is co-chaired by Prof Martina Hennessy Director, Clinical Research Facility, St James Hospital and Olive O’Driscoll Clinical Industry Liaison Officer, NCTO. Members include representatives from the Clinical Trial Facilities/Centres, Enterprise Ireland, and Irish Medtech Association, IBEC. The group puts strategies and supports in place to help medtech manufacturers to navigate the Irish clinical investigation ecosystem and support companies to conduct high quality clinical investigations in Ireland.

The QWG consists of the Quality and Regulatory Affairs Managers (QRAMs) across the HRB Clinical Research Facilities/Centres. It is co-chaired by Prof. Paul Burke Director, Clinical Research Support Unit, Limerick and the HRB NCTO QRAM, Dr. Ruben Keane. The mission of the QWG is to facilitate co-operation and sharing within the HRB NCTO CRF/C network with respect to quality, compliance and training, to promote harmonisation, avoid duplication of effort and maximise available resources. We share knowledge and best practice and discuss issues of common interest at our quarterly meetings.