History

The Children’s Medical & Research Foundation has been at the heart of Irish paediatric care, dedicated to the improvement of children’s health since 1965.

The year 1956 was a turning point in the history of paediatric care in Ireland.  Through the vision and dedication of a small group of concerned people, something happened that was to change the face of Irish paediatrics forever.  Our Lady’s Children's Hospital was established in Crumlin, Dublin and is today one of the largest and most renowned paediatric hospitals in Europe.

Back then, Our Lady's Hospital's initial remit was to care for the large number of children in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland who were suffering from serious and, at that time, often-incurable conditions. Very soon, however, hospital staff recognised that these paediatric conditions could only be alleviated, cured and perhaps prevented with the aid of medical research.

So in 1965, the Children’s Research Centre (known then as the Society for the Promotion of Research) was founded. The organisation began as a small and mainly voluntary operation, with the specific task of raising funds for medical research.

By 1976 the success of the Children's Research Centre meant it had outgrown its lab space in prefabricated buildings behind the hospital. A specially designed building was constructed to house the research effort:  The hospital's medical library, University College Dublin's Department of Paediatrics, and fund-raising activities were also centred in the new building. 

The work grew, and with it the need for a more professional approach to both research and its funding. Now forty years later this outstanding facility has become a true centre of excellence –  a national centre - and contributing significantly to the pool of knowledge which is fighting to overcome many  threats to the lives of children not only in Ireland but worldwide.

In the 1980s, Ireland's economic difficulties were also causing financial problems for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. The hospital board asked the Foundation to take on an additional task: capital and equipment fund-raising.

The Foundation is proud of its long history of improving medical research and medical care for children in Ireland through Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin and the National Children’s Research Centre. The intimate relationship of care for sick children and research into the causes of illness is the reason for our work

Our team work hard to support the efforts and mission of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and the National Children’s Research Centre by raising funds for capital projects, state of the art medical equipment, research programmes and further education.

If you require any further information, please contact us on 1890 507 508 and speak to one of our team or email us on info@cmrf.org.