IAP Working group on Regenerative Medicine - call for experts

Regenerative medicine aims at tissue regeneration and repair, though the use of cell and gene therapy and tissue engineering. Enthusiasm about the broad potential of regenerative medicine applications has led to a gap between expectations and the realities of translating technologies into clinical practice. By developing a statement on Regenerative Medicine, the IAP can play a central role in advocacy and research worldwide, in order to promote greater implementation of effective, safe, affordable, and sustainable programmes on this issue globally. The outputs would be expected to have impact with policy makers, the scientific community, regulators and patients/their families.

IAP member academies are invited to nominate one expert to the Working Group, which will review the current version, perhaps adding/requesting additional references, include relevant work in the subject area completed by other academies, and ensure that the scope of the Statement is relevant internationally. This should take no more than 2 months and may require 2 or 3 cycles of inputs as the lead academy adapts the draft.

Considering the broad context of this issue, experts and policymakers from health and research sectors would be appropriate to be drafting members. Experts with an interest in regenerative medicine (one focus will be stem cells but expertise in other approaches to regenerative medicine will also be welcome) are sought in areas including: Clinical research, Regulatory sciences, Bioethics, Health services, Health Technology Assessment, Health Economics, Patient interests and engagement.

To express an interest in being nominated by the Royal Irish Academy, please specify your academic/professional specialisation and submit the following documents to policy@ria.ie by midday on Friday 7 August: a short bioskecth (max 500 words), a statement explaining the reasons you should be nominated (max 250 words), a CV.

This opportunity is publicly advertised by the Royal Irish Academy.

All expressions of interest received will be considered by the Academy’s Policy Oversight Group - the unit tasked with advising upon the initiation and implementation of all of the Academy’s policy and international activities and responsible for overseeing a standardised quality process for all outputs. Chaired by the Academy’s Secretary of Policy and International Relations, the six members of this group are all elected Members of the Royal Irish Academy and come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds in several institutions across the island of Ireland- both north and south of the border. On occasions, the Policy Oversight Group may also consult additional experts to inform their assessments and evaluations.

The Royal Irish Academy values diversity and strives for a culture of equality and inclusion in all of its activities. As outlined in its Strategic Plan 2019-2023, the Academy is committed to ensuring greater gender, disciplinary, institutional and overall diversity in every area of the Academy and its work throughout the island of Ireland.  It particularly welcomes nominations from under-represented groups and communities.