VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2021
SPEAKERS BIOS

MONDAY 1ST MARCH

Professor Flora Peyvandi, University of Milan, Italy.

​Flora Peyvandi is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Milan, Italy. She is the Director of the Internal Medicine – Hemostasis and Thrombosis Unit of the IRCCS Maggiore Hospital and Director of the Angelo Bianchi Bonomi, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center of Milan, Italy. Her research has been focused on the investigation of molecular mechanisms of coagulation disorders and on the immunogenicity of coagulation products. Her additional research work is focused on the prevalence and mechanism of coagulation disorders aims at developing cost-effective treatment for the widespread treatment of patients. She is President-elect of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), President of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD), Member of the VWD & Rare Bleeding Disorders and of the Coagulation Product Safety, Supply and Access (CPSSA) Committees of the  World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), Member and Chairperson of the Medical Advisory Group of the European Hemophilia Consortium (EHC). She is also member of the Technical Health Committee of the Italian Ministry of Health. She is ad hoc Reviewer for several international journals and Associate Editor of “Journal of Thrombosis and Hemostasis” and “Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases”. Prof. Peyvandi has authored and co-authored more than 500 scientific publications (IF: 2462,050 (1996-2020), Google Scholar H-index: 74).

Professor David Lillicrap, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada

​David Lillicrap is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. He is the recipient of a Senior Canada Research Chair in Molecular Hemostasis. In 2013, he was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Lillicrap is a past member of the World Federation of Hemophilia’s (WFH) Medical Advisory Board and a past Chair of the WFH’s Research Committee. He is a past  Chairman of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis’ (ISTH) Scientific and Standardization Committee and a current member of the Council of ISTH. Between 2008-20014 he served as an Associate Editor of Blood and is currently Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Dr. Lillicrap’s research interests are centered on molecular aspects of the hemostatic system, with a particular emphasis on the potential of molecular genetics and molecular biology to address questions relating to pathological hemostasis. The main foci of interest of his research group are the investigation of the immune response to FVIII, the development and evaluation of novel therapies for hemophilia A, and characterization of the biology and pathobiology of von Willebrand factor.

TUESDAY 2ND MARCH

Dr. Cillian De Gascun, Consultant Virologist & Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory

​Cillian De Gascun is a consultant virologist who graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1998.  He undertook his basic medical training in Dublin and Brisbane, returning to Dublin in 2002, and completed his specialist virology training in the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) at University College Dublin (UCD) and Bart’s & The London NHS Foundation Trust in London.  He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FRCPI), a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in the UK (FRCPath) in Virology, and a Fellow of the Faculty of Pathology of the RCPI.  His MD was awarded in 2011 by UCD for work carried out in the NVRL under the supervision of Professors William Hall and Colm Bergin.  The primary focus of the MD was to describe the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Ireland, but the work also documented the prevalence of antiretroviral transmitted drug resistance in Ireland over a five-year period (2004 – 2008).  Following two years spent as a consultant virologist with Surrey Pathology Services in the UK, Cillian was appointed Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory and returned to Ireland permanently in 2013.  His main research interests continue to be in the area of the molecular epidemiology of viruses, antiviral resistance, vaccine-preventable infections, and the utilisation of these data to inform national health policy.  In January 2020, Cillian was asked to Chair the SARS-CoV-2 Expert Advisory Group, a subgroup of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Feargal Mc Groarty, Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

Feargal has worked in public sector healthcare for over 20 years in both medical laboratory and project management roles and as a leader in change management. A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by profession Feargal holds a Fellowship in Laboratory Haematology from the Academy of Laboratory Science and Clinical Medicine along with a post graduate Diploma in Management and Employee Relations from the National College of Ireland (NCI). Feargal now works as a project manager in St. James’s Hospital. In his present role one of his responsibilities is managing a multi-faceted initiative that combines a number of strands including the use of bar code technology, an Electronic Health Record (EHR) along with a cold chain delivery service and smartphone technology to provide an integrated patient information and medication management processes which is the first of its kind.

Dr. Niamh O'Connell, M.B., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.I., F.R.C.Path., Director and Consultant Haematologist, The National Coagulation Centre, St James’s Hospital, Dublin.

​Dr Niamh O’Connell is a Consultant Haematologist at the National Coagulation Centre (NCC), St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland and has taken on the role of National Haemophilia Director since early 2018. The NCC is the lead comprehensive care centre for adults in Ireland and provides a hub of clinical services, research, training and education on a national basis.  The NCC, in partnership with the Irish Haemophilia Society, is committed to delivering high quality and safe healthcare and to promoting healthy and successful living for people and their families living with Haemophilia and other coagulation disorders.   Research interests include clinical trials in novel therapies for Haemophilia, clinical outcomes in Haemophilia and application of information technology solutions in the management of Haemophilia.

Dr. Alison Dougall, Director of Special Care Dentistry Doctorate Programme, Trinity College, Dublin

​Dr. Alison Dougall has been the dental lead at the National Coagulation Centre in Dublin for the past 15 years and is a Consultant in Medically Complex Patients at Dublin Dental Hospital and Director of Special Care Dentistry Doctorate Programme at Trinity College Dublin. She is a recognised international leader regarding oral health and dental care for people with bleeding disorders and her team have published widely on this subject. She was voted the HMI Health Leader of Ireland in 2017 for designing integrated oral health care pathways for people with haemophilia within Ireland and she was the dental expert on the 2020 World Federation Haemophilia Guidelines Group. She is currently on the Advisory Board of the EHC and is the President of the International Association for Disability and Oral Health. 

Mark McGowan, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Haemophilia, National Coagulation Centre

​Mark McGowan is a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in the National Coagulation Centre in St. James's Hospital. Mark received a BSc in Physiotherapy from Trinity College Dublin in 2008 a MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy from University College Dublin in 2018 and is experienced in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Mark specialises in Haemophilia physiotherapy for 2 years to date and has a particular interested in exercise and its role in rehabilitation and a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Michelle Lavin, Consultant Haematologist, National Coagulation Centre

​Dr. Michelle Lavin is a Consultant Haematologist in the National Coagulation Centre, St. James’ Hospital, Dublin and a Principal Investigator in the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Dr. Lavin’s PhD and postdoctoral research examined the pathophysiology and clinical impact of bleeding disorders, in particular Low von Willebrand Factor (vWF). Her current research focuses on optimising diagnosis and management for people with bleeding disorders. Dr. Lavin is the Chair of the World Federation of Haemophilia von Willebrand Disease (vWD) and Rare Bleeding Disorder Committee. She also serves as a Co-Chair on the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) VWF Scientific Subcommittee (SSC) and on the European Association of Haemophilia and Allied Disorder (EAHAD) Women’s Health Working Group. She is a steering committee member of the Women’s Health Initiative, seeking to improve health of women globally. Dr. Lavin participated in the recent ASH/ISTH/NHF/WFH VWD management guidelines, the EAHAD Principles of Care for Women with Bleeding Disorders and the ISTH guidance on heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescents. 

Donal McCann, a person with von Willebrand’s Disorder

​Donal McCann lives in Co. Meath and works in the agriculture machinery sector. Donal has been involved with the Irish Haemophilia Society for many years, volunteering for our children’s programmes and is currently a member of the Irish Haemophilia Society executive board. Donal has type 2 von Willebrand’s Disorder. 

Breda Quealy, a person with von Willebrand’s Disorder

​Breda lives in Ballincollig, Cork, is a widow, a mother and a grandmother. Breda has type 2 von Willebrand’s Disorder and became aware of this in 1996. Breda has attended many enjoyable and informative conferences over the years. Guest speakers and meeting other people with vWD at conferences have made her understanding of and living with vWD so manageable. The I.H.S. is a huge support to me with vWD, the staff are so committed and helpful. I really enjoy the publications and continuous updates on development of treatments.   

WEDNESDAY 3RD MARCH

Professor James O’Donnell, Professor of Vascular Biology, RCSI

​Professor O’Donnell received his medical degree from Trinity College in Dublin. He completed haematology training in the Hammersmith and Royal Free Hospitals in London. He is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and the Royal College of Pathologists (UK). Professor O’Donnell is currently Professor of Vascular Biology in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Director of the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology. The Haemostasis Research laboratory led by Professor O'Donnell has focussed on basic research related to different aspects of vascular biology in relation to clinical bleeding and thrombosis. He has published more than 150 publications in high impact peer reviewed journals.

Dr. Patricia Byrne, Principal Specialist Clinical Psychologist

​Patricia currently holds the post of Principal Specialist Clinical Psychologist in the Psychological Medicine Service at St James Hospital in Dublin.  She completed her professional training as a Clinical Psychologist at University College Dublin, St John of God Mental Health Services, and the Institute of Psychiatry in London.  Within her post in St James, she has a special remit to the patients of the National Coagulation Centre.  In addition to her professional training, she is a practitioner in Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT) and holds practitioner status as a Clinical Neuropsychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland.  Her main areas of interest are the psychological processes inherent in living with a long-term health condition, how attachment experiences influence health behaviors; trauma related disorders; and the promotion of hospital-based psychology services in Ireland.

Declan Noone, a person with haemophilia and President of the EHC

​Declan Noone is the President of the European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC). He was elected in 2019. Declan has extensive experience as a patient advocate at national, European and international level. Before being elected President, he worked with the EHC as Project consultant on the PARTNERS Programme, an initiative to raise access to treatment in countries with a low standard of treatment. During his time with EHC he also coordinated projects on data collection and novel therapies.  For eight years, he worked with the Irish Haemophilia Society (IHS) as Data and Public Policy Specialist. Declan has severe haemophilia A. 

Brian O’Mahony, Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society

​Brian O’Mahony has been the Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society since 2006. He represents the society on the statutory National Haemophilia Council, the statutory Hepatitis C Consultative Council and he is the Vice Chair of the Tender Commission established by the Irish Government for the Procurement of Factor Concentrates and haemophilia medications. He is a member of the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. He previously served as Chair of the Irish Haemophilia Society for 17 years from 1987 to 2003. He served as President of the European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) for 8 years from 2011 to 2019 and as President of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) for 10 years from 1994 to 2004. He is currently a member of the Coagulation Product Safety Supply and Access (CPSSA) committee of the WFH and of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Group (MASAG) of the EHC. His publications for WFH include Monographs on Advocacy, Developing Haemophilia Organisations, Economics and Health Technology Assessments and A Guidebook on National Tender Systems. He is the author or co-author of more than 60 peer reviewed journal articles, and he is an ad-hoc reviewer for the journal Haemophilia. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine (Ireland) and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (UK). He has post graduate qualifications in Management and in Occupational Health and Safety and is currently an assistant adjunct Professor in Health Service Management in Trinity College, Dublin.
 
Brian O’Mahony has severe Haemophilia B.