About Us

The National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, established in 2014.  It has a strategic partnership with the University of Galway and Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac & Stroke Foundation. It is based at the Croí Heart and Stroke Centre, Moyola Lane, Newcastle, Galway, Ireland.

Our Mission

To provide leadership through discovery, training and applied programmes to prevent and control cardiovascular disease for all, raise the standards of preventive cardiology practice, enhance cardiovascular health and promote healthier lifestyles, and prepare leaders to advance preventive healthcare nationally and internationally.

The NIPC is an affiliate of the University of Galway and has developed a strategic partnership with the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health SciencesIt is a registered not-for-profit organisation engaging with government, health sector organisations, the research community, and the public.

The NIPC operates from a community-based dedicated Heart & Stroke Centre, which is staffed by an experienced multidisciplinary health team of specialist nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists and physical activity specialists who deliver a wide-range of health programmes. 

Uniquely the NIPC is an attractive partner for research aligned to producing and disseminating new knowledge that contributes to the health of individuals and communities.

Governance and Organisational Structure

Leadership of the Institute is provided by an Executive Council, chaired by the Research and Medical Director Prof. J. William McEvoy.

Executive Council Members

Dr. Jennifer Jones

Director of  Training and Education

Prof. J. William McEvoy

NIPC Medical and Research Director, Chair of Executive Council

Irene Gibson

Director of Programmes and Innovation

Prof. David Wood

Director of Science, Strategy and International Relations

Prof. Catriona Jennings

Director of  Nursing and Interdisciplinary Relations

Prof. Gerard Flaherty

Director of Academic Affairs and Fellowship

Neil Johnson

Chief Executive

Advisory Board

The Executive Council is supported by an Advisory Board which consists of national clinical leads, national experts and representatives from specialities and organisations relevant to preventive cardiology; including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and public health. The role of the NIPC Advisory Board is to participate in a forum that informs, advises and supports the work of the Institute in a shared commitment to advancing preventive healthcare in Ireland and globally.

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Tim O'Brien

Chair, NIPC Advisory Council

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Orlaith O'Reilly

Clinical Lead for the Integrated Care Programme for Chronic Disease

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Susan Connolly

Consultant Cardiologist, Western Health and Social Care Trust, NI

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Sean Dinneen

Professor of Diabetic Medicine, NUIG

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Ian Graham

Chair, Council of CVD Prevention, Irish Heart

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Fidelma Dunne

Consultant Endocrinologist, Specialist in Gestational Diabetes

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Ivan Perry

Epidemiologist, Specialist in Public Health

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Francis Finucane

Consultant Endocrinologist, GUH and Specialist Lead for Endocrinology, Saolta Group

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Jim Crowley

Consultant Cardiologist, Medical Director, Croi; President Irish Cardiac Society

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Molly Byrne

Senior Lecturer and Director of the Health Behaviour Research Group, School of Psychology, NUIG

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Ken McDonald

National Clinical Lead for Heart Failure

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Joe Harbison

Senior Lecturer / Consultant (Centre for Medical Gerontology)

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Jenni Jones

Reader in Physiotherapy, Brunel; Past Executive Director, NIPC

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Barbra Dalton

Executive Administrator Irish Cardiac Society

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Noeleen Fallon

Past President IACR, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Neil Johnson

CEO, Croí

Our Goals and Objectives

Produce a new generation of scholars and leaders in cardiovascular health and disease prevention

Objectives:

  • Lead new scientific research on the causes, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
  • Build a new cadre of multi-disciplinary leaders in cardiovascular health and disease prevention.
  • Provide a portfolio of education and training programmes (MSc, Diploma, Certificate) in the prevention and control of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and active lifestyles.
  • Attract a strong and diverse student body of healthcare providers, educators and researchers.
  • Recruit and retain an outstanding multidisciplinary international faculty.
  • Prepare students who, upon graduation, are competitive in the public health and health professions employment markets and become ambassadors for cardiovascular health and disease prevention worldwide. 

Address priority health needs by driving cardiovascular research that aims to study, monitor, and develop measures to promote the cardiovascular well-being and health of the population in Ireland and internationally

Objectives:

  • Compete successfully for peer reviewed research funding.
  • Promote and participate in collaborative research with NUI Galway, with other Academic institutions, and with Industry through independent investigator initiated research.
  • Produce and disseminate new knowledge that contributes to the health of communities and individuals.
  • Monitor and analyse long-term cardiovascular public health trends in Ireland through epidemiological and medical analyses.

Develop and test innovative models of preventive care and service delivery

Objectives:

  • Develop applied programmes that are effective, equitable and efficient and improve the quality of preventive health and healthcare.
  • Discover, create and evaluate new methods for risk assessment, disease prevention, diagnosis, therapy and long-term population health.
  • Communicate findings to government, policy makers, health practitioners, researchers and educators.
  • Support the implementation of evidence-based tried and tested models into routine clinical practice.

Inform and advise political decision makers, the scientific sector and the general public

Objectives:

  • Promote the practice and philosophy of high quality preventive cardiology practice.
  • Support the implementation of national and international guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention.
  • Provide a scientific basis for cardiovascular health-related political decision making
  • Produce NIPC communications, in all appropriate forms to communicate the work of the Institute.
  • Deliver an Annual National Prevention Conference.
  • Collaborate with other professional associations to promote the practice of preventive cardiology.

Partners

Established by Croí and an affiliate of the University of Galway