Avril Kennan
@avrilkennan.bsky.social
CEO, Health Research Charities Ireland @hrci.bsky.social (views own). PhD in genetics. Ambitious for a better world through collaboration & inclusion. She/Her
🤹♀️ PPI | research impact | health data | evidence-based policy | genomics | rare diseases...
🤹♀️ PPI | research impact | health data | evidence-based policy | genomics | rare diseases...
Pinned
Avril Kennan
@avrilkennan.bsky.social
· Feb 28
Many new accounts added to this starter pack to help you find people who are talking about health research in Ireland. Let me know if you should be included.
#HealthResearchMatters
go.bsky.app/MdNAY9L
#HealthResearchMatters
go.bsky.app/MdNAY9L
Reposted by Avril Kennan
Viktor Orban: "There will be NO Pride events in Hungary!"
Hungarians: "Challenge accepted"
Hungarians: "Challenge accepted"
June 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Viktor Orban: "There will be NO Pride events in Hungary!"
Hungarians: "Challenge accepted"
Hungarians: "Challenge accepted"
Reposted by Avril Kennan
The Last Message of Hossam to be shared after his death:
The will in alt text ⏬️
The will in alt text ⏬️
March 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The Last Message of Hossam to be shared after his death:
The will in alt text ⏬️
The will in alt text ⏬️
At the Irish Health Research Forum, we're discussing the vital role of patient registries. We’ve just shown this powerful video on why they matter. @hrci.bsky.social
#HealthData #PatientRegistries #RareDisease #HealthResearchMatters
m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hKH...
#HealthData #PatientRegistries #RareDisease #HealthResearchMatters
m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hKH...
May 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
At the Irish Health Research Forum, we're discussing the vital role of patient registries. We’ve just shown this powerful video on why they matter. @hrci.bsky.social
#HealthData #PatientRegistries #RareDisease #HealthResearchMatters
m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hKH...
#HealthData #PatientRegistries #RareDisease #HealthResearchMatters
m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hKH...
Great to meet Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, yesterday. We talked about the value of embedding research in the health service & the key role of health research charities. Looking forward to staying in touch.
@hrci.bsky.social
@brianmartinlynch.bsky.social
@roinnslainte.bsky.social
@hrci.bsky.social
@brianmartinlynch.bsky.social
@roinnslainte.bsky.social
May 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Great to meet Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, yesterday. We talked about the value of embedding research in the health service & the key role of health research charities. Looking forward to staying in touch.
@hrci.bsky.social
@brianmartinlynch.bsky.social
@roinnslainte.bsky.social
@hrci.bsky.social
@brianmartinlynch.bsky.social
@roinnslainte.bsky.social
The lovely people in the @rarediseasectn.bsky.social have done a fantastic job of bringing a diverse range of perspectives together for the #RareResearch25 conference. Researchers, clinicians, industry reps, regulators and many patients and advocates in the room.
April 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The lovely people in the @rarediseasectn.bsky.social have done a fantastic job of bringing a diverse range of perspectives together for the #RareResearch25 conference. Researchers, clinicians, industry reps, regulators and many patients and advocates in the room.
A very insightful piece on the current situation and needs in rare disease research in Ireland. Nicely timed for the @rarediseasectn.bsky.social conference happening in @ucddublin.bsky.social today.
Ahead of the Rare Disease Research Conference, we address the urgent need for collaboration, investment, and innovation in clinical trials.
Read below to see how we support education and training, regulatory frameworks, PPI and industry engagement:
www.medicalindependent.ie/in-the-news/...
Read below to see how we support education and training, regulatory frameworks, PPI and industry engagement:
www.medicalindependent.ie/in-the-news/...
Why rare disease research matters - Medical Independent
Ahead of the Rare Disease Research Conference, addressing the urgent need for collaboration, investment, and...
www.medicalindependent.ie
April 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A very insightful piece on the current situation and needs in rare disease research in Ireland. Nicely timed for the @rarediseasectn.bsky.social conference happening in @ucddublin.bsky.social today.
Reposted by Avril Kennan
Anyone looking to Europe for research & interested in chromatin biology then we have opportunities in UCD, Ireland. Welcoming & diverse group & we would love to add thanksgiving to our seasonal celebrations!
Postdoc: conwaychromatinlab.com/team
PhD (MSc not required): www.coughlan-lab.com/team
Postdoc: conwaychromatinlab.com/team
PhD (MSc not required): www.coughlan-lab.com/team
March 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Anyone looking to Europe for research & interested in chromatin biology then we have opportunities in UCD, Ireland. Welcoming & diverse group & we would love to add thanksgiving to our seasonal celebrations!
Postdoc: conwaychromatinlab.com/team
PhD (MSc not required): www.coughlan-lab.com/team
Postdoc: conwaychromatinlab.com/team
PhD (MSc not required): www.coughlan-lab.com/team
At the annual conference of the SPHeRE Network, Roisín Shortall says there’s never been proper public debate about the kind of health service we should be providing in Ireland. Universal healthcare, free at the point of use, is still not a reality.
Why do we tolerate?
@sphereprogramme.bsky.social
Why do we tolerate?
@sphereprogramme.bsky.social
March 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
At the annual conference of the SPHeRE Network, Roisín Shortall says there’s never been proper public debate about the kind of health service we should be providing in Ireland. Universal healthcare, free at the point of use, is still not a reality.
Why do we tolerate?
@sphereprogramme.bsky.social
Why do we tolerate?
@sphereprogramme.bsky.social
This will series will be very interesting. Great to see @dublincityuni.bsky.social driving conversation on big topics.
How prepared is Ireland for the “next big shock” in emergency policy and public engagement ? A panel of experts including Philip Nolan and Cara Augustenborg discuss lessons learned from Covid-19 and climate change @dcu March 13th. All welcome to this free event www.dcu.ie/communicatio...
School of Communications Spring Series 2025 | School of Communications
DCU School of Communications continues its Public Seminars with a new series of presentations and discussions for Spring 2025. Over four weeks in March, staff will introduce new key issues and topics ...
www.dcu.ie
March 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This will series will be very interesting. Great to see @dublincityuni.bsky.social driving conversation on big topics.
Many new accounts added to this starter pack to help you find people who are talking about health research in Ireland. Let me know if you should be included.
#HealthResearchMatters
go.bsky.app/MdNAY9L
#HealthResearchMatters
go.bsky.app/MdNAY9L
February 28, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Many new accounts added to this starter pack to help you find people who are talking about health research in Ireland. Let me know if you should be included.
#HealthResearchMatters
go.bsky.app/MdNAY9L
#HealthResearchMatters
go.bsky.app/MdNAY9L
Reposted by Avril Kennan
🌍 Today is #RareDiseaseDay 2025!
We stand with the 300 million people worldwide living with rare diseases.
By coming together, we can raise awareness, drive change, and work toward a more inclusive and equitable future!
🔗 Read more: metab.ern-net.eu/rare-disease...
#RareDiseaseDay2025
We stand with the 300 million people worldwide living with rare diseases.
By coming together, we can raise awareness, drive change, and work toward a more inclusive and equitable future!
🔗 Read more: metab.ern-net.eu/rare-disease...
#RareDiseaseDay2025
February 28, 2025 at 7:51 AM
🌍 Today is #RareDiseaseDay 2025!
We stand with the 300 million people worldwide living with rare diseases.
By coming together, we can raise awareness, drive change, and work toward a more inclusive and equitable future!
🔗 Read more: metab.ern-net.eu/rare-disease...
#RareDiseaseDay2025
We stand with the 300 million people worldwide living with rare diseases.
By coming together, we can raise awareness, drive change, and work toward a more inclusive and equitable future!
🔗 Read more: metab.ern-net.eu/rare-disease...
#RareDiseaseDay2025
After years of advocacy from many groups & the dedicated work of the HSE & @roinnslainte.bsky.social, the HSE Health App has been launched.
It's an early version but marks a significant step forward - finally giving people in Ireland access to their own health data.
www2.hse.ie/health-app/
It's an early version but marks a significant step forward - finally giving people in Ireland access to their own health data.
www2.hse.ie/health-app/
HSE Health App
The HSE Health App is a new digital health service from the HSE that gives our patients secure personalised access to their health information, hospital appointments, and more.
www2.hse.ie
February 27, 2025 at 4:33 PM
After years of advocacy from many groups & the dedicated work of the HSE & @roinnslainte.bsky.social, the HSE Health App has been launched.
It's an early version but marks a significant step forward - finally giving people in Ireland access to their own health data.
www2.hse.ie/health-app/
It's an early version but marks a significant step forward - finally giving people in Ireland access to their own health data.
www2.hse.ie/health-app/
Good to see a strong focus both on patients and clinical trials at the #IPHAconference2025.
#HealthResearchMatters
#HealthResearchMatters
February 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Good to see a strong focus both on patients and clinical trials at the #IPHAconference2025.
#HealthResearchMatters
#HealthResearchMatters
Reposted by Avril Kennan
Great news from #iphaconference2025! Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill expresses strong support for clinical trials and plans to meet the National Clinical Trials Oversight Committee next week.
A positive step for #CancerResearch, #ClinicalTrials & patients! 👏💙@roinnslainte.bsky.social
A positive step for #CancerResearch, #ClinicalTrials & patients! 👏💙@roinnslainte.bsky.social
February 26, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Great news from #iphaconference2025! Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill expresses strong support for clinical trials and plans to meet the National Clinical Trials Oversight Committee next week.
A positive step for #CancerResearch, #ClinicalTrials & patients! 👏💙@roinnslainte.bsky.social
A positive step for #CancerResearch, #ClinicalTrials & patients! 👏💙@roinnslainte.bsky.social
Reposted by Avril Kennan
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Today, we celebrate the brilliant women and girls pushing the boundaries of discovery, innovation, and progress. Their contributions shape our world in ways both seen and unseen. #HealthResearchMatters
Today, we celebrate the brilliant women and girls pushing the boundaries of discovery, innovation, and progress. Their contributions shape our world in ways both seen and unseen. #HealthResearchMatters
February 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Today, we celebrate the brilliant women and girls pushing the boundaries of discovery, innovation, and progress. Their contributions shape our world in ways both seen and unseen. #HealthResearchMatters
Today, we celebrate the brilliant women and girls pushing the boundaries of discovery, innovation, and progress. Their contributions shape our world in ways both seen and unseen. #HealthResearchMatters
Reposted by Avril Kennan
As a Star Trek fan and a scientist, I love this image, because Dr. Jemison is both a hero *AND* one of the few people for whom we can say "here she is doing her space job" in two totally different contexts. 🧪
February 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
As a Star Trek fan and a scientist, I love this image, because Dr. Jemison is both a hero *AND* one of the few people for whom we can say "here she is doing her space job" in two totally different contexts. 🧪
Reposted by Avril Kennan
Our goal, as reflected in our 2025 Position Paper, is to ensure that a supportive & enabling framework exists in Ireland to facilitate impactful health & social care research. With the Dail resuming tomorrow, we're asking elected reps & policy makers to prioritise 3 asks hrci.ie/hrci-positio...
February 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Our goal, as reflected in our 2025 Position Paper, is to ensure that a supportive & enabling framework exists in Ireland to facilitate impactful health & social care research. With the Dail resuming tomorrow, we're asking elected reps & policy makers to prioritise 3 asks hrci.ie/hrci-positio...
At an @ria.ie symposium on improving the prospects for fundamental biomedical research in Ireland. Inputs by David Henshall of @rcsi.bsky.social and others closely align to our call for more State investment in R&D. hrci.ie/hrci-positio...
#FundamentalResearch #HealthResearchMatters
#FundamentalResearch #HealthResearchMatters
HRCI Position Paper 2025 -
Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI) Position Paper 2025. Contains 3 asks for elected representatives and policy makers in Ireland.
hrci.ie
February 5, 2025 at 11:26 AM
At an @ria.ie symposium on improving the prospects for fundamental biomedical research in Ireland. Inputs by David Henshall of @rcsi.bsky.social and others closely align to our call for more State investment in R&D. hrci.ie/hrci-positio...
#FundamentalResearch #HealthResearchMatters
#FundamentalResearch #HealthResearchMatters
Reposted by Avril Kennan
This is a very important moment for patients and #genomics in #Europe and #Ireland.
Kudos to @rcsi.bsky.social and other collaborators.
Kudos to @rcsi.bsky.social and other collaborators.
This has been a wish for many in the genetics/genomics community in Ireland for a long time. I'm so pleased to see it coming to fruition. #genomics #PersonalisedMedicine #HealthResearchMatters
www.gov.ie/en/press-rel...
www.gov.ie/en/press-rel...
Minister for Health announces the establishment of a Genome of Ireland project to advance disease prediction and prevention
www.gov.ie
February 1, 2025 at 9:21 AM
This is a very important moment for patients and #genomics in #Europe and #Ireland.
Kudos to @rcsi.bsky.social and other collaborators.
Kudos to @rcsi.bsky.social and other collaborators.
This has been a wish for many in the genetics/genomics community in Ireland for a long time. I'm so pleased to see it coming to fruition. #genomics #PersonalisedMedicine #HealthResearchMatters
www.gov.ie/en/press-rel...
www.gov.ie/en/press-rel...
Minister for Health announces the establishment of a Genome of Ireland project to advance disease prediction and prevention
www.gov.ie
January 31, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This has been a wish for many in the genetics/genomics community in Ireland for a long time. I'm so pleased to see it coming to fruition. #genomics #PersonalisedMedicine #HealthResearchMatters
www.gov.ie/en/press-rel...
www.gov.ie/en/press-rel...
"Here’s where projects like Bluesky come in. Yes, at first glance, it looks like just another Twitter clone. But that’s just there to make users comfortable using it. Beneath that familiar surface lies something revolutionary: actual user control."
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/27/e...
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/27/e...
Empowering Users, Not Overlords: Overcoming Digital Helplessness
Disclosure: I’m on the board of Bluesky, so feel free to take as many grains of salt as you want in reading it, though all of it applies equally to other decentralized social media ecosys…
www.techdirt.com
January 31, 2025 at 8:33 AM
"Here’s where projects like Bluesky come in. Yes, at first glance, it looks like just another Twitter clone. But that’s just there to make users comfortable using it. Beneath that familiar surface lies something revolutionary: actual user control."
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/27/e...
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/27/e...
Reposted by Avril Kennan
Our latest HRCI blog post examines the Programme for Government and what it means for health research. Many of the commitments are broad, leaving scope for engagement with the health research community towards practical and innovative approaches. hrci.ie/news/blog-ne... #HealthResearchMatters
January 21, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Our latest HRCI blog post examines the Programme for Government and what it means for health research. Many of the commitments are broad, leaving scope for engagement with the health research community towards practical and innovative approaches. hrci.ie/news/blog-ne... #HealthResearchMatters
I spent some time going through the new Programme for Government in Ireland and share my thoughts here for anyone interested in health research, clinical trials, life sciences and the importance of it all for improving health and social care.
hrci.ie/news/blog-ne...
hrci.ie/news/blog-ne...
HRCI Blog, News & Media - HRCI Blog, News & Media
A round up of HRCI news, media and blog posts written by HRCI CEO Dr Avril Kennan, HRCI staff and invited contributors.
hrci.ie
January 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I spent some time going through the new Programme for Government in Ireland and share my thoughts here for anyone interested in health research, clinical trials, life sciences and the importance of it all for improving health and social care.
hrci.ie/news/blog-ne...
hrci.ie/news/blog-ne...
God I just love that people are getting to do this stuff!
Shark Ecologist Job - The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands is recruiting a Shark Movement Ecologist to join our shark research team and strengthen the ongoing long-term research on shark population ecology and conservation. 🦑🌎🐟🧪🦈 www.darwinfoundation.org/en/documents...
December 19, 2024 at 4:17 PM
God I just love that people are getting to do this stuff!
🎉 Was great to award Prof. Mary McCarron, @tcddublin.bsky.social as winner of the @hrci.bsky.social Research Impact Award, for her work improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities & dementia.
Research was funded by @alzheimersocirl.bsky.social & the HRB.
👉 hrci.ie/hrci-hrb-joi...
Research was funded by @alzheimersocirl.bsky.social & the HRB.
👉 hrci.ie/hrci-hrb-joi...
HRCI/HRB Joint Funding Scheme Celebration -
Announcing the winner of the 2024 HRCI Research Impact Award and celebrating the successful projects in the 2204 HRCI/HRB Joint Funding Scheme
hrci.ie
December 16, 2024 at 12:30 PM
🎉 Was great to award Prof. Mary McCarron, @tcddublin.bsky.social as winner of the @hrci.bsky.social Research Impact Award, for her work improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities & dementia.
Research was funded by @alzheimersocirl.bsky.social & the HRB.
👉 hrci.ie/hrci-hrb-joi...
Research was funded by @alzheimersocirl.bsky.social & the HRB.
👉 hrci.ie/hrci-hrb-joi...