Medical Advisory Committee

As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), the NILRF uses a Peer Review process in the allocation of grants and awards for research. The panel reviewing each grant application reflects a fair balance of experience and scientific disciplines.

The NILRF Medical Advisory Committee advises the NILRF on the suitability of grant applications for support. The Committee normally meets every three years to consider grant applications to the Fund, following the receipt of reports from any external assessors.

Each member of the Committee is required to advise if they have any interest or connection with applicants and no potential beneficiary takes part in any decision making. All members of our Medical Advisory Committee must adhere to our Code of Conduct

The members of the Medical Advisory group are currently as follows:

Chair

• Professor TCM Morris

Members

• Dr Pooler Archbold read Biochemistry at Queen’s University Belfast, completed a PhD and a postdoctoral research year before returning to undergraduate studies by reading Medicine, again at Queen’s University. He subsequently trained in Chemical Pathology which is the application of biochemical knowledge to the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease. Dr Archbold became Consultant Chemical Pathologist to Belfast City Hospital in 1989. He has diabetic, lipid, osteoporosis and general medicine clinics.
• Professor JM Bridges
• Professor TRJ Lappin
• Professor A.P. Maxwell MD PhD FRCP is Professor of Renal Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast Medical School and a consultant nephrologist at the Belfast City Hospital where he is the programme director for nephrology. He has trained in the UK and Canada including a 3-year period as MRC Research Fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. His research interests include the action of erythropoiesis stimulating agents and genetic epidemiology of chronic kidney disease. He is also actively involved in development of renal services in Northern Ireland in partnership with health care commissioners and patient advocacy groups.
• Dr Fearghal McNicholl