Press Release: Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC) holds its first meeting

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, welcomed the establishment and first meeting of the new Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC) on 27 August 2026, a development that the press release from Cork County PPN described as a milestone in transforming Ireland’s clinical‑trial landscape. The council, which convenes in Co Cork, brings together a broad spectrum of expertise and perspectives from across the country’s clinical‑research ecosystem. Its membership includes patient representatives, healthcare providers, academics, industry stakeholders, and representatives from government departments and agencies, reflecting the collaborative approach deemed essential to strengthen the national clinical‑trial environment.

The CTAC is chaired by Professor Donal Brennan and is tasked with advancing reforms in several priority areas identified in the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group’s final report. These areas include creating agile and responsive systems, enhancing public and patient engagement, promoting value and incentivising activity, supporting strategic workforce development, and encouraging the use of innovative technologies in clinical trials. The council’s remit is to help deliver on the vision set out in the blueprint for implementation that the NCTOG produced.

The inaugural meeting, held on 27 August, was attended by representatives from the various sectors that comprise the council. The Minister highlighted the importance of the council’s role in fostering a more efficient and patient‑centred clinical‑trial framework. She noted that the council’s diverse composition would enable it to address the challenges facing the clinical‑trial sector and to promote best practice across the country.

The press release, issued on Monday 31 August 2026, underscored the council’s potential to transform the clinical‑trial landscape in Ireland. It also linked to the NCTOG final report, which provides a detailed blueprint for implementation. The council’s work is expected to bring about significant improvements in the way clinical trials are conducted, with a focus on agility, engagement, and innovation.

The council’s establishment is part of a broader effort to improve clinical research infrastructure across Ireland. For more details, see the press release on Cork County PPN.

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