Meet The Teams

  • Core Study Team

    • MD – Lead PI

      Paul McNally

      Paul is a consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine and Director of Research and Innovation at Children’s Health Ireland. He is an associate Professor of Paediatrics at RCSI in Dublin . Paul’s main research interest is early CF lung disease and response to CF modulator therapies. Paul is lead investigator for the RECOVER study.

    • MD – Co-PI

      Jane Davies

      Jane is a Professor in Paediatric Respirology & Experimental Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute and an Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. She co-leads the site at the European CF Society Clinical Trials Network and has personal research programmes in infection, lung physiology and imaging.

    • PhD – Project Manager

      Karen Lester

      Karen is the RECOVER Project Manager who plays a key role in the planning, coordination and execution of the study, working alongside the Lead Investigator (Paul McNally), Co-PI, site PI’s, study management team and clinical research coordinators/research nurses to ensure all endpoints and timelines are met. Karen completed her PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2017 specialising in Ophthalmology and joined the NCRC in July 2020 as a Clinical Research Coordinator. Prior to this, Karen worked as a Research Officer for an NGO facilitating genetic testing for individuals living with rare eye disease, and assisting with the collection of real-world evidence for use in Health Technology Assessments.

    • Sponsor Contact

      Maurice Dowling

    • RECOVER Monitor

      Rachel Cregan

      Rachel took on the RECOVER monitoring role in May 2022. Prior to this role, she worked as a Senior CRC on the RECOVER study for 18months. Rachel previously worked as a Pharmacovigilance Operations Specialist Manager in a leading global Clinical Research Organisation. Her time spent there has given her experience in a wide range of areas in clinical trials and post marketing research.

    • Adherence Lead

      Sharon Sutton

      Sharon holds a first class honours Masters of Pharmacy degree at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Pharmacology at University College Dublin. She is undertaking a PhD as part of the RECOVER study and is the lead on the Adherence subsection of the research. Sharon has worked as a Clinical Pharmacist in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin Hospital since 2014.

    • MD – Sinus Disease Lead

      Gavin Stone

      Gavin is undertaking sub-specialist training in paediatric respiratory medicine. He has worked as part of the CF teams in all three CHI sites and University Hospital Limerick. Currently he is working as a clinical lecturer with the RCSI in Dublin. He is the lead on the sinus and nasal disease subsection of RECOVER.

    • Psychology Lead

      Robyn Mulligan

      Robyn is completing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and French from TCD as well as an MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) from UCC. Robyn’s doctoral research is based on understanding the experiences and expectations of adolescents with CF who have commenced Kaftrio. Robyn has worked clinically in a range of adult and child HSE mental health services as well as voluntary sector disability services. She joined the RECOVER research team in May 2021.

    • Psychology Lead

      Carla Simone Engel

      Carla is completing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. She holds an undergraduate degree in French and Spanish from TCD as well as an MSC in Psychology from the University of Nottingham and MA in Applied Psychology from University College Cork. Carla’s doctoral research is based on understanding the health beliefs of children with CF who have commenced Kaftrio, and their caregivers. Carla has worked clinically in both child and adult HSE community and mental health services. She joined the RECOVER research team in September 2021.

    • CFRI Representative

      Laura Kirwan

      Laura Kirwan is the Head of Research at CFRI. She holds a PhD in Statistics and worked as the CFRI Research Statistician before commencing her role as Head of Research in September 2020. She has had a varied career as a statistician working in Environmental Science, Health and Nutrition, before moving to CFRI in 2016. She also lectures in Statistical Programming and Research Methods in UCD.

    • PPI Team

      Carolyn Thornton

      Carolyn has a degree in Biochemistry and Masters in Food Science. She teaches Science and Biology in St. David’s Holy Faith. Most importantly she is a Mother of a 16-year-old boy with Cystic Fibrosis.

    • PPI Team

      Caroline Heffernan

      Caroline started working for CF Ireland in September 2007 as Patient Advocate on the Member’s Services Team. In her role as advocate she supports members from diagnosis through teenage years and into adult life. In addition to member advocacy, Caroline organises the annual conference and is involved with fundraising and raising awareness by visiting schools, colleges and medical institutes informing the public and future medical staff about aspects of living with CF. Previously Caroline worked for over 20 years as a liaison tutor for children with learning difficulties.

    • PPI Team

      Benat Broderick

      Benat aged 19 is from Dublin, Ireland. Benat lives with cystic fibrosis and has always had a keen interest in CF research. He is heavily involved in the CF community through his role as a Cystic Fibrosis Ireland Patient Ambassador.

    Meet The Teams

    • Belfast City Hospital

    • Children’s Health Ireland – Crumlin

    • Children’s Health Ireland – Tallaght

    • Children’s Health Ireland – Temple Street

    • Core Study Team

    • Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Kids

    • Royal Brompton Hospital – London

    • University Hospital Limerick