Press Release: Friday 25 September 2026
Chief Medical Officer Launches the Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Security
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan, today officially launched the Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Security Ireland (ESHSI), a new national initiative designed to strengthen Ireland’s capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from emerging and future health threats.
The Hub has been established to provide timely, robust and policy-relevant evidence synthesis to support health security policy development and decision-making in the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and across Government. By bringing together national and international expertise in evidence synthesis, the Hub will help ensure that decisions are informed by the best available scientific evidence.
The Hub will support preparedness planning, horizon scanning, rapid evidence reviews and knowledge translation activities, helping policymakers and the HSE respond effectively to complex and evolving risks. Its work will contribute to Ireland’s readiness for infectious disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and other emerging risks to public health.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan, said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical importance of having access to timely, high-quality evidence to support decision-making. The Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Security represents a significant enhancement of Ireland’s health security infrastructure and will strengthen our ability to anticipate, prepare for and respond to emerging health threats.”
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, welcomed the establishment of the Hub, saying:
“The establishment of the Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Security is a significant step in strengthening Ireland’s preparedness for future health threats. Effective health security depends on timely access to high-quality evidence, enabling policymakers and health services to make informed decisions in rapidly evolving situations. This Government is committed to investing in the capabilities, partnerships and expertise needed to protect public health. The Hub will play an important role in ensuring that Ireland is better prepared, more resilient, and able to respond effectively to emerging health challenges.”
Professor Declan Devane, Scientific Lead and Principal Investigator at the ESHSI and Professor of Health Research Methodology at University of Galway said:
“When a health threat appears, or when the country is planning for one, the people who make decisions about our health need answers quickly. They need to know what the research says, how sure we can be of it and what we still need to find out. The Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Security finds the best research from around the world, weighs it up and says clearly what it shows. That is what evidence synthesis means. Ireland has many skilled people doing this work in its public agencies, universities and research centres. The Hub wants to bring them together, so that important decisions are based on the best evidence we have.”
The launch marks an important milestone in Ireland’s efforts to strengthen national resilience and ensure that the country is better prepared for emerging and future health threats.