Management Team

Prof Jonathan Jackson

Director

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Professor Jonathan Jackson

Director

Dr Jackson is an award winning Optometry graduate (1st)  from Glasgow College of Technology (1981) with a PhD in Corneal Physiology from Queens University Belfast (1993). After completing a Pre Registration year in Moorfields Eye Hospital London (1982) he returned to Belfast to establish a Hospital Optometry Dept in the Dept of Ophthalmology at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Since qualifying he has been awarded Fellowships from both the American Academy of Optometry and the British Contact Lens Association and holds Diploma level qualifications in independent therapeutic prescribing and Low Vision Research.

In 2007-2008 Dr Jackson completed an R&D funded Fellowship at University College Berkley (California) and from 2011 to 2014 he headed up clinical optometry services at the Australian College of Optometry in Melbourne Australia. He has co-authored over 125 peer reviewed papers, many of which have focused on visual disability, corneal disease, blindness and low vision. He has also supervised, either as lead supervisor or main clinical supervisor, 5 PhDs and 4 MPhil higher degrees, and examined 6 higher clinical research degrees and acted as peer reviewer for multiple journals and research granting organisations. Over a 30 year period he has successfully led research grant applications worth more than £1m and contributed, as a named co-applicant, to a similarly funded number of shared successful applications.

Dr Jackson {BSc (Hon 1st) PhD MCOptom (DipTp IP) FAAO (LV Dip Res) FBCLA } has been a co-lead for the Clinical Research Network (Vision) since 2015.

 

Contact email: jonathan.jackson@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Dr Paul Biagioni

Senior Operational 

Manager 

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Dr Paul Biagioni

Dr Paul Biagioni

Senior Manager

Dr Biagioni {BSc (Hon) PhD } has been the senior manager of the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network since its establishment in 2008. Following completion of his PhD in 2002 at Queens University of Belfast, he has been directly involved in a developmental and managerial role for R&D supporting infrastructure within Health and Social care in NI.

His involvement was integral to the establishment of infrastructural units supporting the challenging changes to the research environment falling out of the implementation of the EU Clinical Trials Directive back in 2004. In 2008 he was brought into the NICRN management role and has led its development from an embryonic loose collective of independent principal investigators across a range of clinical specialities to it now being Northern Ireland single largest R&D enabling infrastructure accounting for almost 20% of the regional Research budget.

 

Mr Shane Jackson

Senior Portfolio

 Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Shane Jackson

Portfolio Manager

Shane Jackson graduated in 1991 with a BMus (hons) degree from Ulster University and then went on to obtain a MSc in Music Technology from the University of York – so where did it all go wrong?  Having returned to his native Northern Ireland with wife and child 1 in tow he decided it was time to get a real job as a data processor working on the roll out of the Health and Care number in NI.  Shortly thereafter in 2008 he moved into clinical research taking up the role of Data Manager for what was to become the NICTU.  He then joined the burgeoning NI Clinical Research Network in 2012 as a research portfolio coordinator.  In the intervening period he has led on the development of regional portfolio management services for Northern Ireland, including the interfacing and links between local portfolio management systems and the NIHR’s CPMS / ODP systems.

 

Ms Sonia McKenna

Senior Staff 

Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Sonia McKenna

Senior Staff Manager

Sonia McKenna RN, RM, BSc (Hons), PGDip is the Senior Staff Manager of the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network. Throughout a 35-year nursing and midwifery career, Sonia has gained extensive clinical skills and knowledge throughout numerous clinical areas. Sonia’s research career has seen her co-author several peer reviewed research papers. Sonia has continued to avail of opportunities for postgrad education, including completing the ILM Level 7 Leadership and Management Certificate.

As the Lead Research Nurse / Midwife, Sonia is a working Group Member on the United Kingdom and Ireland Clinical Research Nurse and Midwife Census Group. Currently representing Northern Ireland on several national platforms including the Royal College of Nursing, Research Society Subcommittee and AUKLRN (Association of UK Lead Research Nurses). Membership of these committees equips Sonia with experience in valuable research leadership and expertise. With a focus on research workforce, strategies and structures to support clinical research Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals, this experience allows more staff to have capacity, capability and confidence to lead and conduct research for patient benefit.

 

Ms Emma McConnell

Vision Staff

Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Emma McConnell

Vision Staff Manager

 

Ms Lia McNamee

Clinical Scientist

Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Lia McNamee

Clinical Scientist Manager

Lia McNamee is the new clinical scientist research manager for the network. She graduated with a Masters in Physician Associate (PA) studies from Wake Forest University in the USA in 2008. Following graduation, she worked in vascular surgery in Washington D.C. before spending a year in Melbourne, Australia working in orthopaedic surgery.  After making the move to Northern Ireland in 2011, Lia began working as a NICRN research PA in critical care until the first clinical physician associate post was created in 2016 in the Royal Victoria ED department in Belfast where she has been ever since. She has co-authored many publications over the years, primarily in the fields of respiratory failure and was the one of the UK national coordinators for the LUNG-SAFE respiratory study.

Lia has been a keen advocate for the physician associate profession in NI and has taken on many leadership roles to support PAs in the UK, most recently as the vice president for the Faculty of Physician Associates in the Royal College of Medicine. She has also supported Ulster Universities’ PA programme by examining at OSCEs and participating in teaching days. Lia rejoins the NICRN in an exciting new role aimed at building up research capacity, encouraging involvement and supporting all allied health professionals on their research journey, ultimately improving and enhancing patient care through evidence based medicine.

Contact email: Lia.McNamee@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Mr Michael McAlinden

Staff Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Michael McAlinden

Staff Manager

Ms Samantha LaRoche

Staff Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Samantha LaRoche

Staff Manager

 

Ms Charlotte Quinn

Staff Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Charlotte Quinn

Staff Manager

 

Ms Kathryn Ward 

Staff Manager

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Professor Jonathan Jackson

Kathryn Ward

Staff Manager

 

Admin Team

Ciara McKenna

Study Support Coordinator

Chris Wright

Senior Research Administrator

Louise Scullion

Senior Research Administrator

Vacant

Senior Research Administrator

Roisin Adams

Research Administrator

Fionnuala White

Research Administrator

Ciara Forsythe

Research Administrator

 

Dermot Ryder

Research Administrator

Andrew Sloane

Research Administrator

Rahim Byrne

Portfolio Administrator