Head of UL’s School of Medicine appointed to new National Science Advice Forum
Professor Colum Dunne, Head of School of Medicine, University of Limerick has been appointed to the new National Science Advice Forum.
The prestigious appointment was made by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.
The new science advice structures across Government were set out in Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.
Professor Dunne is one of 12 members appointed to the Forum, which is the next step in building on the existing Government Science Advisor model.
It is recognised that science advice in policy formation has become more complex and that it is impossible for one individual to have the depth of expertise needed to advise on all scientific matters.
Minister Lawless therefore issued an invitation for expressions of interest in membership of the new Forum from those with internationally recognised scientific expertise in a range of key disciplines.
Announcing the appointments, Minister Lawless said: “I am delighted to appoint the first members of the National Science Advice Forum. The level of interest, and the calibre of those interested, was exceptionally high. I look forward to the contribution of the Forum in the period ahead”.
Professor Dunne is Head of the School of Medicine at University of Limerick, and Foundation Professor and Director of Research. He has published an extensive list of over 275 peer-reviewed articles throughout his academic career to date.
Colum has served as interim director of the HSE Mid-West Intern Network and has also served in two terms of the University’s Governing Authority. He was appointed Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast in 2024. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, London, the Royal Society of Medicine, London, and the Royal Academy of Medicine, Ireland. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy Life and Health Sciences Committee and a trustee and council member of the Healthcare Infection Society, London.
Professor Dunne’s research aims to better understand intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, medical device innovation, microbial colonisation and infection, host response, healthcare-associated infections, prevention and ways to mitigate effects. Further research focuses on medico-legal aspects of vulnerable populations.
