HRB 2025 - Management of Addiction Research Network Ireland services

Description

Establishment and management of Addiction Research Network Ireland THE HEALTH RESEARCH BOARD WISHES TO CONTRACT AN INSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE AN ADDICTION RESEARCH NETWORK. Background The Department of Health have asked the Health Research Board (HRB) to establish a network that will support the development of alcohol and other drugs research in Ireland and contribute to the evidence needed to support the objectives of Ireland’s national drugs strategy (Department of Health, 2017). This network will be called Addiction Research Network Ireland. The network will facilitate partnerships between Irish academic institutions, and between drugs services, policy makers, people with lived experience, including those who use services, and the research community. Through its work in drugs and alcohol monitoring, research and knowledge brokering the HRB is established as a trusted and essential part of the evidence infrastructure supporting policy development and implementation. The HRB has developed strong and enduring links with the community of practitioners, advocates and educators responding to the drugs situation in Ireland. The European dimension is of particular interest as a new European Commission agency, called the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), has been established to develop Europe’s monitoring capacity and support research and innovation as a core part of the response to the drugs situation. Addiction Research Network Ireland will facilitate contacts with European partners and work to enhance the competitiveness of Irish research regarding National and European funding opportunities. Addiction Research Network Ireland plan Addiction Research Network Ireland will take a strategic approach to supporting drug and alcohol research in Ireland. The work of the network will facilitate the creation of knowledge to inform policy and support stakeholders working in drug and alcohol services and advocacy. One of the first tasks of Addiction Research Network Ireland will be to develop an action plan, identifying objectives and related tasks. The action plan will cover the period 2026-28. An outline of the expected structure of the action plan is presented below: Objectives Addiction Research Network Ireland will have four key objectives: 1. Build a resilient substance use research community 2. Identify research priorities on a periodic basis 3. Establish research-based evidence as key component of the decision-making process 4. Work towards funding sustainability to cover the costs of operating the network Three activity strands will support these objectives – 1. Convening 2. Concept development and planning, and 3. Business development.