CHI-CRC is one of five clinical research facilities/centres around Ireland receiving funding from the Health Research Board to drive participation in clinical trials. The funding will enable CHI to attract international paediatric clinical trials to Ireland and support Irish paediatric researchers to design and deliver clinical trials in important areas of child health.

Children’s Health Ireland Clinical Research Centre (CHI-CRC) is one of five Clinical Research Facilities/Centres (CRF/Cs) in Ireland to benefit from the HRB investment of €22 million announced today, to further enhance patient-focused clinical research infrastructure in Ireland. The funding will enable CHI to attract international paediatric clinical trials to Ireland and support Irish paediatric researchers to design and deliver clinical trials in important areas of child health. CHI-CRC is located across all CHI hospital sites and is hosted by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The funding for CHI aims to:
- Increase accessibility to trials for Irish children
- Improve the supports available to Irish investigators to drive an increase in investigator-led clinical trials
- Further integrate clinical trials infrastructure and capability within CHI so trials are delivered as part of usual care
- Upgrade CHI-CRC to international standing

Speaking after the announcement, CHI consultant and CRC Centre Director, Paul McNally said; “This award from HRB will enable us to put the necessary structures in place across CHI to allow us to further drive design of, and participation in, important paediatric clinical trials. Clinical trials are a complex but vital part of modern clinical practice and integrating trials into clinical care offers huge benefits for our patients. Having an advanced, integrated clinical trial environment is a key part of our goal of becoming a world class academic teaching hospital for children.”

This new funding will build on the strong foundations and activity in the area of clinical trials for children made possible through significant investments by the Children’s Health Foundation (CHF), CHI’s fundraising partner.