Goal 5
Lead for impact through strategic research partnerships
Driving national, EU and international collaboration to tackle health challenges, promoting ethical practices in research and innovation and enabling successful participation in EU funding programmes
The HRB collaborates nationally and globally to influence policy and tackle shared health and social care challenges that transcend borders. We will take a ‘whole island’ approach in shaping a more integrated, strategic and impactful health research landscape. We will contribute to national policy development and shape an agile research environment that is responsive to current and emerging needs.
We will work with government partners to drive a globally competitive research and innovation ecosystem in Ireland by:
- Working with government departments and agencies to support the delivery of shared goals and to drive key agendas in Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy
- Ensuring that our investments contribute to the advancement of wider government objectives, for example, those included in the Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2005-2035 and the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity
Supporting the development of life sciences strategy in Ireland and working with others such as Research Ireland, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and other agencies to unlock the full potential for patients, the healthcare system and the economy
- Collaborating with the Department of Health and other government agencies to explore the development of an effective and agile national research ethics system for non-regulated and multi-site research, and research areas of national strategic importance, through the advancement of the NREC Bill 2019
- Working with the Department of Health, the Data Protection Commission and other stakeholders to review the Health Research Regulations and other applicable legislative frameworks in order to ensure suitability and future-readiness for researchers, patients and the public.
We will drive all-island collaboration in health research and innovation by:
Working with funders in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to advance an all-island approach to research and innovation, with tangible benefits for patients, communities and healthcare delivery systems
Exploring opportunities with partners in the UK research and innovation system to progress targeted and impactful investments in health research.
We will support the Irish health research community, policy-makers and service delivery counterparts to compete in EU funding programmes by:
Continuing to perform the national delegate role for health within the Horizon Europe programme, working as part of the National Support Network and with delegates from other EU Member States to influence work programmes for health research within the wider Horizon Europe research agenda
Creating awareness and providing support to the Irish research community to participate in the Horizon Europe funding programme, through the National Contact Point role
Raising awareness and providing support to policy-makers, service delivery counterparts and researchers to participate in the EU4Health Programme, through the National Focal Point role.
We will embed international collaboration as a core strategic priority to accelerate and scale research, to build capacity and to tackle shared goals or challenges by:
Participating in and supporting Ireland’s involvement in flagship health-related EU partnerships to advance strategic research and innovation agendas in key areas such as rare diseases, transforming health and care systems, pandemic preparedness, and ‘One Health’
Continuing the HRB’s role as the National Focal Point for the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and its annual contract, supporting research into drug use and related harms, developing an early warning system to prepare for the threat of new and re-emerging psychoactive natural or synthetic drugs in collaboration with other EU Member States
Pursuing opportunities with international partners where collaborations can advance priority research areas, promote reciprocal capacity building and deliver equity and impact
Recognising and exploring opportunities to partner for advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, World Health Organization (WHO) resolutions and other international frameworks, and to ensure coordinated impact.
We will work with our national and EU partners to drive harmonised, best ethical and data protection practices for regulated research, and all health and social care sectors by:
Implementing harmonised EU regulations nationally, for a predictable and effective national ethics system for research on medicines, medical devices and diagnostics, by working with EU Member States and through our participation on MedEthicsEU, and other EU coordination groups
Working collaboratively with European bodies such as the European Network for Research Ethics Committees and National Ethics Councils to develop and share best ethics practices and knowledge across all sectors, beyond health research
Collaborating with HSE Research and Development, the wider research ethics committee system and other networks in Ireland to harmonise and share best ethical practices, including health data protection safeguards.