Public Health Agency - Research & Development in Northern Ireland

The CHITIN Programme completed in June 2023. Final reports of the 11 CHITIN studies can be viewed on the Legacy page. The CHITIN team wish to thank the CHITIN network and all stakeholders for their involvement and commitment to the programme.

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CHITIN Team

	Rhonda Campbell Dr Rhonda Campbell is part of the HSC R&D Division team and is Programme Manager for the Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN) project. Before joining the team Rhonda was a researcher and research lecturer with time spent in both QUB and UU. Her research career primarily focused on infection and immunity in a biomedical context. Including in the fields of (a) immunodiagnostics (b) HIV vaccine development on a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/Wellcome Trust funded project, part of the WHO's Global Health Initiative (c) epidemiology of birth defects through project management of the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies Network (EUROCAT) and WHO Collaborating Centre, and on (d) biomarkers of inflammation in relation to complex pregnancy and high risk infants. Before joining HSC R&D Rhonda was involved with the If I were Jack trial – a multi-site cluster randomised trial of a film-based intervention to reduce teenage pregnancy and promote positive sexual health.
	Barry Henderson Barry Henderson is Senior Industry Liaison Manager within CHITIN and HSC NI’s R&D Division. He promotes and facilitates engagement with the life science and health technology industry sectors to explore clinical research, innovation and collaboration. Previously, Barry was a Business Development Director, leading the Life Sciences sector with Invest NI’s United States Office, and brings a wealth of relevant experience, having previously held roles in biomedical research, sales & marketing within the biotech sector and life science innovation management with Ulster University. Barry played a founding role in developing and establishing the Clinical Translational Research & Innovation Centre (C-TRIC) and served as Business Development Manager there until 2014.
	Amy McGowan Dr Amy McGowan is part of the HSC Research & Development (R&D) Division team and is Evaluation and Monitoring for the Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN) project. Before joining the team Amy was a Research Officer within the Public Health Agency (PHA). Amy's work as a Research Officer within the PHA involved working on a range of topics including older adults, palliative care, screening and community planning. Furthermore, her PhD research explored the relationship between retinal vessel changes and several chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Chronic Kidney disease. This research variety has given Amy a passion for all aspects of public health, which ignited from her Master’s year at the Centre for Public Health and undergraduate degree in Public Health and Health Promotion at Sligo Institute of Technology.
	Debbie McGrory Debbie McGrory is the Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN) Communications Manager and is responsible for all CHITIN Communications functions within the Health and Social Care Research & Development Division at the Public Health Agency. Debbie previously worked in media outlets - in radio, television and online organisations for over 10 years. She moved into public relations, working in three Health and Social Care NI communications teams before joining the CHITIN team.
	Melissa McGuigan Melissa is Strand Administrator for the Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN) programme. Her role involves administration duties for CHITIN such as processing all claims forms from the 11 CHITIN trials. She also works on updating budgets, organising Advisory Group meetings and handling administration queries. Melissa’s first introduction to Public Health was in her previous role before joining the HSC Research & Development Division, where she worked in the Nursing and Allied Health Professions Directorate in the Public Health Agency as a Personal Secretary to a Nurse Consultant.
	Joanne O'Neill Joanne O'Neill is Support Manager for the Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN) programme. Before joining the team Joanne was a Strand Administrator within the HSC Research & Development (R&D) Division, Public Health Agency. Joanne's previous role in the R&D support team included responsibility for the administration of all aspects of awards stemming from the HSC R&D Strategy. This included project managing and financial monitoring of all research projects.