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Within this role as Board Member, Professor Lawler will help support both the operational and governance aspects of the HRB’s activities and its strategic direction as it enters the final year of its current strategy. 

Professor Lawler is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Digital Health Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast. He brings extensive experience in digital health and the use of health data, as Scientific Director of DATA-CAN, the UK’s Health Data Research Hub for Cancer, and Chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership. 

He also leads a number of major international initiatives including Health Data Research UK’s Big Data for Complex Disease Driver Programme and the Lancet Oncology European Groundshot. 

Commenting on this appointment, Professor Lawler said: “I am delighted and honoured to be appointed to the Health Research Board, an organisation I’ve long admired, and l look forward to working with colleagues on the Board to advance health research on the island of Ireland.  

“It is critical that we deliver health care through a research-informed approach and embed a culture of interdisciplinary research and innovation that best addresses both national and global health challenges. I look forward to contributing to the new HRB strategy which will run from 2026-2030.”   

Professor Lawler has been a key driver of the Ireland – Northern Ireland – US National Cancer Institute Consortium and is co-lead of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), and leads two AICRI Higher Education Authority funded North South Research Programmes in precision oncology and digital health.

Commenting on this appointment, Dr Mairéad O'Driscoll, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Research Board said: “I believe Mark’s diverse experience and strategic outlook will provide excellent direction as we navigate new advances in health research and embark on the development of our next strategy.”