Biography
Dr. Robert O’Connor
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
Dr Robert O’Connor is Director of the HRB-funded National Clinical Trials Office where he works to grow impactful clinical research trials in medicines and MedTech for Ireland; connecting patient need, national health research infrastructure and the ambitions of health researchers, start-ups and global medical research organisations.
He has 25+ years' experience spanning research strategy and communication, clinical trials, oncology, life sciences and translational health research; has been a board member of several national health and research organisations and has worked extensively in the NGO sector. He is passionate about using research for practical and economic benefit to improve health outcomes.
Subsequent to his PhD, Robert was one of the first investigators in Ireland to take his laboratory cancer research through early-stage clinical trials and served for many years as an executive chair within ICORG (now Cancer Trials Ireland) helping connect, network and support lab and clinical researchers to grow the nascent field of interdisciplinary translational research.
He was lecturer and researcher in Dublin City University, prior to a distinguished career as the Director of Research for the Irish Cancer Society, where he delivered successful strategies to have research included in national cancer treatment policy, embed patient partnership in research, broaden the expertise base for cancer research investment and provided bespoke funding supports to enable health professionals to be more research active.