May Professor Fidelma Dunne elected Member of the Royal Irish Academy

Professor Fidelma Dunne, Interim Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at University of Galway, has been elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), the highest academic honour in Ireland.

Professor Dunne was among 28 new members admitted to the Academy by Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, at a special ceremony on Friday May 24^th.

Professor Dunne is a distinguished clinician researcher and Professor of Medicine at University of Galway and has been at the forefront of advancing clinical trials in new medicines and devices, crucial for enhancing global health outcomes. She is the Principal Investigator of the EMERGE randomised controlled trial, funded by the Health Research Board, with ground-breaking results published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) in October 2023 which showed that the drug metformin provided a safe and effective way to treat gestational diabetes.

As the Interim Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at University of Galway, Professor Dune’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Ireland's clinical research landscape and to the advancement of clinical trials.

With a rich background in clinical trials and extensive leadership experience, Professor Dunne has held pivotal roles both nationally and internationally. Her dedication to improving outcomes in diabetes and pregnancy spans over three decades, marked by over 250 peer-reviewed publications and prestigious accolades such as the Norbert Freinkel award from the American Diabetes Association in 2024 and the International Jorgen Pedersen Award in 2021.

Professor Dunne said: "It is a profound honour to be elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. This recognition underscores the importance of collaborative research efforts in addressing critical health challenges, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Ireland's academic and research community.”

President of University of Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: "Professor Dunne's election to the Royal Irish Academy is a testament to her outstanding contributions to medical research and her exemplary leadership in clinical trials. Her dedication to advancing healthcare outcomes reflects our University's commitment to excellence in research and to serving the wider community, particularly in the field of healthcare."

Election to membership of the Royal Irish Academy is the highest academic distinction in Ireland. The Academy has been honouring Ireland’s leading contributors to the world of learning since its establishment in 1785.

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