Dr Robert O'Connor

Board chair

Robert O’Connor PhD has served on the board of the National Cancer Registry since 2019 and was appointed as Chair in October 2024. 

With over 25 years of experience in clinical trials, oncology, and translational health research he serves, and has served, on multiple national charity, health and research boards. Following his PhD, his Postdoctoral research took laboratory findings into early-stage cancer clinical trials. 

He was an executive chair at ICORG (now Cancer Trials Ireland), fostering connections between laboratory and clinical researchers. 

A lecturer at Dublin City University, Robert later became Director of Research for the Irish Cancer Society, where he delivered the research strategy of the organisation, helped support the inclusion of research into national cancer treatment policy and developed patient partnership initiatives. He went on to become Director of the HRB funded National Clinical Trials Office. 

Throughout his career, Robert has focused on bridging the gap between research and practical healthcare outcomes and supporting health research professionals in research activities.