RCSI’s Professor James O’Donnell and Professor Chris Lynch have been elected as Members of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA), Ireland’s foremost body of experts in the sciences and humanities, at a ceremony held in the Academy’s headquarters in Dublin.

Professor James O’Donnell is Professor of Vascular Biology in the RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and St James’s Hospital, and Director of the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology. A clinician scientist and international opinion leader in the field of haematology, his research has been funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board, the Irish Heart Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and the National Children's Research Centre. Professor O’Donnell has published more than 130 papers in high impact peer reviewed journals (including the New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB)). Recently, Professor O’Donnell has worked on research to better understanding the link between blood clotting and Long COVID syndrome.

Professor Chris Lynch is the 20th Dean of the RCSI Faculty of Dentistry, having previously served as Vice Dean from 2019–2021. The Faculty of Dentistry was founded in 1963 with the core mission of advancing the science, art and practice of dentistry by the promotion of education, study and research. It is one of the Surgical Postgraduate Faculties at RCSI and its focus is on the post-qualification education and training of dentists in Ireland and overseas. Professor Lynch is a Professor and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the Cork University Dental School and Hospital/ University College Cork, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dentistry, a leading international dental journal.

Congratulating Professor O’Donnell and Professor Lynch on their admittance, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Vice Chancellor, said: "We are delighted to have the achievements of two members of our RCSI community recognised by the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s most prestigious academic body. Election to the Academy is the highest academic accolade in this country and this honour is testament to the extensive contributions that Professors O’Donnell and Lynch have made to the research community throughout their careers in vascular biology and dentistry. I have no doubt that their work will continue to have huge impact on science and academia, both in Ireland and across the world."

Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said: "These individuals, elected by their peers, have made exceptional contributions in their fields of endeavour. We are delighted to recognise their achievements. As Members of the Academy, they will support the RIA by engaging and leading in activities that strengthen the international recognition of the Academy’s scholarship and serve the public good through their knowledge and insight.

"Today marks another step forward in our commitment to diversity of our Membership with 15 women elected. We have also enhanced the overall diversity of our Multi-disciplinary committees and earlier this year we launched Young Academy Ireland providing new impetus to the life and work of the Academy as part of our strategic goal to build a modern Academy."

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 600 members, elected in recognition of significant academic achievements and exceptional contributions to education and/or research.