Professor Gerry McElvaney, Professor of Medicine at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, has been elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), Ireland’s foremost body of experts in the sciences and humanities.

Congratulating Professor McElvaney on his election, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI CEO said: "Membership of the Royal Irish Academy is the most prestigious and highest academic honour in Ireland. Throughout his career, Professor McElvaney has worked continuously to ensure maximum impact of his research, materialising into real benefits for patients. Professor McElvaney's election to the Academy is a great honour for RCSI, and testament to his extraordinary work for the benefit of society, serving to inspire current and future generations of scholars."

Professor McElvaney was recently awarded the Health Research Board Impact Award for 2021. The award recognises the lasting impact Professor McElvaney has had on people’s health and patient care by applying his respiratory medicine research in practice.

The RIA was founded by charter in 1785 for the advancement of learning and scholarship in Ireland. A small number of new members from a variety of institutions and disciplines are elected to the RIA each year. Eligible candidates must have a proven track record in engaging colleagues and attracting scholarly interest internationally, demonstrated either through the production of high impact, novel and outstanding quality publications or through other academic achievements or notable contributions made to the field. At present, the Academy has more than 500 members, elected in recognition of significant academic achievements and exceptional contributions to education and/or research.