Dr. Derick Mitchell is the Chief Executive of IPPOSI – the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry.  IPPOSI is a patient-led organisation that works with patients, government, industry, science and academia to put patients at the heart of policy and medicines.

Prior to joining IPPOSI, Derick was Communications Manager with the EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), where he was responsible for developing external communications strategies and supporting stakeholder engagement activities with patient organisations, researchers and industry across Europe.

Derick has over eight years’ experience of management, advocacy, scientific communications and patient/public engagement, through previous positions at both the European and the national level (JPND, BBMRI Stakeholders’ Forum, REMEDI NUI Galway) and has a strong interest in the area of patient and public involvement in research.

Derick graduated with a BSc. (Hons) in Biotechnology from NUI Galway (2000) followed by a PhD in Molecular Medicine from University College Dublin (2004).  Outside of IPPOSI, Derick spends his free time attempting to influence his two toddler daughters.