Dr Verena Murphy is the Head of Research and Business Development in Cancer Trials Ireland. She has a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and worked at a variety of academic and clinical research laboratories in Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and Ireland with a focus on cancer research. In Nov 2009, she took up a position as Translational Research Coordinator in the All-Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group (ICORG), today Cancer Trials Ireland, a charity focused on academic clinical trials in cancer.

In 2015, she became Clinical Programme Leader, and in 2017 Translational Research Leader, working on the oversight and execution of operational strategies for multiple programs in the oncology portfolio. Since 2015 she is a member of the leadership team and involved in the development of new strategic directions and programs. Verena was promoted to Head of Research and Business Development in 2019 and became the main contact point for academic cancer researchers, academic collaborative trials groups, and external stakeholders, e.g. the Health Research Board, the Irish Cancer Society, and industry. Together with senior management she developed the several successful grant applications and brought funding of over €9,9M over 5 years to Cancer Trials Ireland.