Expertise and Innovation Combined

Consultant Histopathologist, Head of the Histopathology Department, and Director of the Histopathology Cancer Biobank at St. James’s Hospital. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin. Dr. Flavin qualified from University College Cork in 1999, completed higher professional training in Dublin, and worked at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston before taking up his current role in 2012. He holds a Medical Doctorate and PhD from Trinity College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

He serves as Hematopathology Lead for the National Cancer Control Programme and the Lymphoma Forum of Ireland and is a member of key national and international hematopathology organizations

Co-founder of Biobank Ireland Trust (2004) alongside Ciaran Flanagan and founder of the St. James’s Hospital Histopathology Cancer Biobank (2008) with Blanaid Mee. A former Associate Professor of Histopathology at Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Gaffney has research expertise in apoptosis and cancer biobanking and has published 90 papers.

Biobank Ireland Trust aims to establish a national network of hospital biobanks, facilitating the sharing of frozen and FFPE samples, standardised consent forms, a shared database, a web portal, and a sample access policy to support cancer research collaborations.

Prof. Gaffney plays a key role in funding, collaborations, public awareness, stakeholder communication, and administration. He is a former Chair of the Marble Arch Working Group for International Biomedical Biobanking and represents Biobank Ireland Trust in ISBER.

Co-founder of Biobank Ireland Trust in 2004 alongside Professor Eoin Gaffney, Ciaran Flanagan has been instrumental in advancing the development of Biobanking and research in Ireland. He is the founder of the international brand and digital agency Idea and currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at Velico Medical, Inc.

In addition to his role at Biobank Ireland Trust, Ciaran sits on the National Irish COVID-19 Biobank International Scientific Advisory Board and the Trinity St. James’s Campus Biobank Steering Committee. He holds a BSc in Business Management from Technological University Dublin and an MA from Trinity College Dublin.

Through his leadership and dedication, Ciaran has significantly contributed to the establishment of a national cancer biobank network, facilitating the collection and sharing of biological samples to support cancer research and improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Hynes focuses on leveraging digital pathology, including image analysis and algorithm development, to address critical questions in cancer and chronic disease, particularly colorectal, breast, lung cancers, cancer of unknown primary, and cardiovascular disease. By utilizing advanced techniques such as multiplex immunohistochemistry, next-generation sequencing, and digital pathology alongside ethically curated biobank samples, their work enhances diagnostics, prognostication, and therapy response predictions, driving precision medicine forward.

Prof. Hynes collaborates extensively with research groups to explore virtual biomarkers, and the stromal changes associated with metastatic cancer progression and healing, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes in cancer and cardiovascular disease.
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Professor in Pathology, University of Galway
Consultant Histopathologist at University Hospital Galway, Chair of the Saolta Precision Medicine Group

Eddie Mullin is a very active speaker in the area of Patient and public involvement, he plays a key role in the area of fundraising and runs and organises a very successful fundraising campaign involving the Biobank Classic Golf tournament at Malahide GC.

Professor of Pathology at University College Cork (UCC) and Consultant Histopathologist at Cork University Hospital. She is the immediate Past Dean of the Faculty of Pathology, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Prof. Burke specialises in Thoracic Histopathology, leading Cork University Hospital’s service and heading the Academic Department of Pathology at UCC. Her work focuses on advancing molecular diagnostics, digital pathology, biobanking, and fostering collaboration between clinical, academic, and research activities. She is also an active European Councillor for the Pulmonary Pathology Society and a member of the Association of Pulmonary Pathologists.

Professor Fabre is a Consultant Histopathologist at St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin and a Full Clinical Professor at UCD School of Medicine, specialising in Thoracic Pathology. After graduating from Trinity College Dublin, she trained in Histopathology in Paris and London, earning an MRCPath and later completing a PhD in lung fibrosis and a Fellowship in Thoracic Pathology.

Her expertise includes interstitial lung diseases, heart and lung transplant pathology, lung cancer, and adult sudden cardiac death. She collaborates with key national organisations, including the Irish Heart Foundation and the C.R.Y. clinic, and lead research in digital pathology, immunohistochemistry, and translational tissue studies as Director of the Research Pathology Core at UCD Conway Institute, while also teaching respiratory and cardiovascular pathology, contribute to Continuous Medical Education, and serve as President of the Irish Society for Surgical Pathology.

Professor of Pathology at Queen’s University Belfast, Co-Director of the QUB Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence, and Consultant Pathologist with the Northern Ireland Regional Molecular Diagnostic Service.

As Director of the Northern Ireland Biobank (NIB) since its inception in 2010, Prof. James has been pivotal in its development. Originally focused on cancer, she has expanded NIB’s scope to support research across various diseases. Her leadership ensures the release of high-quality bio samples linked with comprehensive clinical and pathological data, including digital images, to researchers globally.

Gerry Fitsimons is, together with Eddie Mullin, a key member of the BIT fundraising committee as well as a director of Biobank Ireland, he has helped the organisation with large fundraising events and activities, he is also a PPI representative on the Board of Directors.