Charity Advisory Board

A consultant endocrinologist for over 30 years, Prof Buckley has extensive experience as a principal investigator in clinical trials and has chaired several Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Boards for large cardio-metabolic and rare disease clinical studies. Brendan is Honorary Clinical Professor at UCC and Adjunct Professor at UCD. He was director of UCC’s European Centre for Clinical Trials in Rare Diseases. He has published about 200 papers and chapters including a key book on clinical trials.  He was a board member of the Irish Medicines Board (now HPRA) and a member of the European Medical Agency (EMA)’s and Scientific Advisory Group for Diabetes and Endocrinology. He was also a member of the EMA Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products from 2000-2003 and a member of the EMA’s panel of experts.  Prof. Buckley previously served as chairman of the Anti-Doping Committee of the Irish Sports Council and is the chairman of the Board of Fighting Blindness.  He was Chief Medical Officer of ICON plc 2011-2017.  He is co-founder and an executive leader or board director of several companies in the biopharma field. 

Orla Dolan is a graduate of University College Cork and University of Limerick’s Kemmy Business School. Originally educated as a Microbiologist, she went on to work in Human Resources specifically in Workforce Development and HR systems in the Social and Health Sectors in the United States. While in Delta-T Group, she developed and enforced standards for the front-end processes of the business in all States. She led the transformation of HR practices for over 1500 employees at 22 sites at VisionQuest and was successful in achieving Joint Commission Health Accreditation for the company in multiple States. On returning to Ireland in 2005 she was appointed Director of External Affairs for Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC). In 2011 she led the launch of Breakthrough Cancer Research and is now this Irish medical research charity’s Chief Executive. She has been a board member of the National Cancer Registry of Ireland since 2013.

Representing the National Breast Cancer Research Institute has given Miriam the opportunity to work with the amazing research team at the Lambe Institute NUI Galway and meet the most incredible fundraisers whose enthusiasm and passion invigorate her daily. The National Breast Cancer Research Institute are honoured to be one of the six Irish cancer charities of Precision Oncology Ireland and Miriam is looking forward to us working together to help achieve a better future for all cancer patients.

Aisling is co-founder and CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland. With over 32 years experience in the world of fundraising, Aisling has raised millions of Euro for causes that are close to her, not least those in higher education, health, community, education and NGO arenas.

Dr. Claire Kilty has a research background in Genetics, having undertaken a degree and PhD in the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin.  Claire has managed numerous large-scale national and international cancer research programmes, including the Irish Cancer Society’s Collaborative Cancer Centre, BREAST-PREDICT from 2015 to 2017. Claire joined the Irish Cancer Society in May 2018, where she works with the research team to manage the Irish Cancer Society research funding portfolio, implement cancer research strategy, and communicate to the public about the research funded by the Society.

Dr Jacinta Kelly was appointed as Chief Executive of the NCRC in June 2015. Jacinta has a BA (Mod) and a PhD in Immunology from TCD, and an MA in Management. Before joining NCRC in 2009, she gained extensive experience in 3rd level education, and in biomedical research. She is currently a Board Member of the Irish Research Charities Group; a member of the steering group of the Irish Health  Research Fourm, and a member of the scientific review committee of St John of God Research Foundation. 

Carmel joined The Oesophageal Cancer Fund as CEO in January 2024 from the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation where she was CEO for over 5 years and Communications Director for 10 years. Her role with OCF marries both the personal and professional for Carmel, as OCF supported her family throughout her husband’s cancer diagnosis and recovery since 2011.  She is committed, with the help of a small dedicated team, to patient support, funding vital research and raising awareness of this cancer through effective collaboration and a patient centred approach at local community level.  She is a graduate of both the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a former president and current fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and has won several awards for excellence in fundraising, communications and good governance.