Scientific Advisory Group

The Authority has convened a multidisciplinary Scientific Advisory Group, comprising of key stakeholders, to advise it on the development of guidelines in Health Technology Assessment. This group has been actively involved in guidelines developed to date, and will continue to assist in future activities.

The Scientific Advisory Group has broad representation from key stakeholders and includes methodological experts in HTA. Details of Group membership are provided along with the Terms of Reference of the Group.

Scientific Advisory Group Membership List

The Group has broad representation from key stakeholders.

• Dr Michael Barry, National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, Chairperson
• Kathy Cargill, Irish Medical and Surgical Trade Association (IMSTA)
• Dr Eibhlin Connolly, Department of Health & Children
• Dr Davida de la Harpe, Health Intelligence, Health Service Executive
• John Dowling, Irish Cancer Society Representative
• Prof. Mike Drummond, Professor of Health Economics, University of York
• Shaun Flanagan, Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit, Health Service Executive
• Martin Flattery, Health Information and Quality Authority
• Dr Patricia Harrington, Health Information and Quality Authority
• Dr Loretto Lacey, Janssen Immunotherapy
• Dr Brendan McElroy, Department of Economics, University College Cork.
• Dr Teresa Maguire, Health Research Board
• Stephen McMahon, Irish Patients Association
• Vivienne Hough, Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association
• Prof. Ciarán O'Neill, Department of Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway
• Prof. Mark Sculpher, Professor of Health Economics, University of York
• Dr Linda Sharp, National Cancer Registry of Ireland
• Dr Alan Smith, National Cancer Screening Service
• Dr Máirín Ryan, Health Information and Quality Authority
• Dr Conor Teljeur, Health Information and Quality Authority
• Dr Lesley Tilson, National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics
• Prof. Cathal Walsh, School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin
• Dr Valerie Walshe, Health Economist, Health Service Executive

Terms of reference

Members of the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) will:

• contribute fully to the work, debate and decision-making processes of the Group by providing expert technical and scientific guidance at SAG meetings as appropriate
• be prepared to occasionally provide expert advice on relevant issues outside of SAG meetings, as requested
• support the Authority in the generation of Guidelines to establish quality standards for the conduct of HTA in Ireland
• support the Authority in the development of methodologies for effective HTA in Ireland
• advise the Authority on its proposed HTA Guidelines work plan and on priorities as required
• review the project plan outline and advise on priorities, as required
• review the draft report from the Evaluation Team and recommend amendments as appropriate.
• contribute to the Authority’s development of its approach to HTA by participating in an evaluation of the process on the conclusion of the assessment.

More information

For more information, contact info@hiqa.ie.