Research Office & Clinical Research Facility

Research Office

The Research Office was established in 2021 following the publication of the TUH Research Strategy 2021-2024 and in a response to the changing research landscape in Ireland and to meet the needs of researchers within the Hospital.

The functions of the research Office is laid out in the Organogram below:

1. Research Registration: All research, clinical & non-clinical should be registered with the Research Office through the Registration Form. Registering your research will ensure your research is in compliance with legislation and internal TUH governance procedures. Please see the Research Ethics Committee section for further details.
2. Research Ethics: All research involving the recruitment of staff or patients must receive ethical approval before beginning by applying through the Research Ethics Application Form. Please see the Research Ethics Committee section for further details.
3. Data Protection: All research is subject to the Data Protection Legislation. Please see Research Data Protection page for further details.
4. Clinical Trial and Observational Study Agreement, Material Transfer Agreement, Data Sharing Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, etc, review and execution: The DCEO is the designated signature for the above agreements in TUH. The Clinical Trials and Studies Contracts Officer is responsible for the review of these agreements and organising execution. Please see the Clinical Trial and Observational Study Agreement Sign Off.
5. Staff Training, Development & Support:  Staff Training, Development & Support: The Office will guide researchers to training such as Research Data Protection training and ad hoc research training sessions, e.g. Research Ethics Clinics. Resources such as SPSS and networked laptops with remote access are available through the Library and statistical support and training is also available from Ms Miriam Williams, TUH Librarian. ICH-GCP training may be completed at the following link: https://globalhealthtrainingcentre.tghn.org/ich-gcp-r3/.

Statistics

Miriam Williams is a Medical Librarian in TUH.  In 2024 she completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Statistics and Data Science from Trinity College Dublin.  She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Higher Diploma in Computer Science (both from UCC) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Library & Information Studies from University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Miriam delivers a two day introductory workshop in statistics using SPSS. The course covers: descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, power analysis, regression and correlation.   She also provides statistical support to staff and students working with these methods or using SPSS software.  Any of these topics and in using SPSS software.

The Team

Dr. Sadhbh O'Neill Scanlon joined the Hospital in 2018 as Research & Ethics Manager and was appointed Head of Research in 2022. She provides strategic leadership for research across the organisation, supporting the development, governance, and delivery of high-quality clinical research.

She has extensive experience in research and clinical trials, with a strong background in research governance, ethics, study management, and research data protection in her capacity as the Hospital’s Research Data Protection Officer (DPO). Dr. O’Neill Scanlon works closely with investigators, sponsors, academic partners, and clinical teams to foster a research-active environment and to support the successful delivery of studies across a range of specialties.

As Head of Research, she oversees research strategy, regulatory and ethical compliance, and the continued growth of the CRF in her role as the Operations Manager. She is committed to promoting excellence in research, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that all research conducted within the organisation meets the highest standards of scientific integrity, participant safety, and regulatory compliance.

Prof. Patrick Mitchell is a Respiratory Consultant at TUH, Clinical Lead of the CRF, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. He has extensive experience as a Principal Investigator in respiratory clinical trials and has led and supported numerous studies across a range of respiratory conditions.

As Clinical Lead of the CRF, Prof. Mitchell provides strategic and clinical oversight for research activity within the facility, supporting the delivery of high-quality clinical trials and fostering collaboration between investigators, sponsors, and multidisciplinary teams. His academic and research experience contributes significantly to the development and advancement of clinical research within the organisation

Ms. Saoirse Collins is the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (CNM2) of the CRF and also serves as a Clinical Trial Coordinator. She brings extensive clinical and research experience to the role, having worked for many years as an Intensive Care Unit nurse before moving into clinical research.

Saoirse has significant experience coordinating and managing Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, as well as observational research studies. Her skills include study start-up, participant management, regulatory compliance, and the day-to-day operational delivery of clinical research.

As CNM2, Saoirse is responsible for the daily management of the CRF, ensuring effective research operations and supporting the successful initiation and conduct of studies. She works closely with investigators, sponsors, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that research is delivered efficiently, safely, and in line with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and regulatory requirements.

Ms. Deirdre O'Brien is the Clinical Trials & Studies Contracts Officer for the Research Office. She plays a key role in supporting the efficient start-up of clinical trials and research studies, ensuring clear, timely communication between sponsors and the research site.

Deirdre manages all contractual aspects of study initiation, working closely with sponsors, investigators, and institutional stakeholders to keep research projects moving forward.  She also oversees the collection and coordination of research-related data protection documentation, ensuring that all relevant agreements are collated and submitted for review by the Research DPO. Through her expertise and attention to detail, Deirdre helps ensure that studies are established in full compliance with contractual, regulatory, and data protection requirements, contributing to the successful delivery of high-quality clinical research.

Ms. Caoimhe Murphy is the Administrative Officer & Research Assistant for the CRF, providing essential administrative and operational support to the research team. Her responsibilities include the coordination and management of research data capture, reporting activities, and the organisation of trial participant visits.

Caoimhe plays a key role in supporting study screening and the informed consent processes, helping to ensure that research activities are conducted in accordance with ethical, regulatory, and Good Clinical Practice requirements. Through her strong organisational skills and attention to detail, she contributes to the efficient delivery of clinical research studies and supports a positive experience for all research participants.

Research Human Resources

• All TUH staff conducting research in TUH must create an account to register as research staff through the Research Registration Form
• All non-TUH staff who are entering TUH to undertake Research must have a co-investigator who is staff in TUH and all non-TUH staff must register with HR through the Research Registration page in Registration Form
• In order to conduct research in TUH, the following are required:

- Garda Vetting – If you are TUH staff this was conducted before you began working in TUH
- Insurance and Indemnity are also required – The CIS will cover all staff conducting research however non-staff will not be covered and external insurance is required. An example is TCD staff/students will need to submit a copy of TCDs insurance

Contact Details for Garda Vetting: talent.acquisition@tuh.ie

Contact details for medical staff:  medical.administration@tuh.ie

• In order to conduct research in TUH the following training must be completed:

- Data Protection Training (General training via www.hseland.ie and research specific training via the Research Office, in conjunction with the Centre for Learning and Development (CLD) and via www.hseland.ie)
- ICH-GCP Training – Full Introductory course and Refresher course offered via the Research Office, in conjunction with the CLD and via www.hseland.ie)
- In order to conduct research in TUH the following training may need to be completed depending on the nature of your study. For TUH staff these are mandatory training for employment
- Hand Hygiene (www.hseland.ie)
- An Introduction to Children First (www.hseland.ie)
- Fire Safety
- Manual Handling
- Sharps Education
- Breaking the Chain of Infection
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Basic Life Support training