Burn takes over the role from interim president Prof Peter McHugh, who held the position since September 2024.
Prof David J Burn will be taking the helm as the University of Galway’s new president, commencing his term along with a new batch of incoming students this September.
Burn previously served as the pro-vice chancellor of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University since 2017, where he led initiatives to restructure faculty, accelerate research performance and drive internationalisation.
He serves as the director of Newcastle Health Research Partnership, an academic health science centre which delivers care to the more than three million living in the northeast of England and north Cumbria.
The incoming president is also a professor of movement disorders neurology and an honorary consultant neurologist for the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust. In addition, Burn is the president-elect of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder society.
“Although born and bred in the Northeast of England, I have had a strong personal connection to Ireland for over 35 years and am therefore no stranger to its rich heritage and vibrant culture,” the incoming president said.
Burn takes over the position from Prof Peter McHugh, who held the role on an interim basis since September 2024. He follows Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, who served as the 13th president of the University since 2018, stepping down from the role in 2024.
“I look forward to working with all staff and students to help University of Galway further realise its incredible potential and am excited about what we can achieve together,” Burn added.
“Prof Burn brings a wealth of experience in University and health care leadership and presents a compelling vision to inspire University of Galway’s staff and students to take this remarkable University to new heights,” said Dr Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the chairperson of Údarás na hOllscoile, University of Galway’s governing authority.
“With a track record of leadership and achievement internationally, Prof Burn brings both the necessary experience and vision to this role and I look forward to working with him as we begin a new chapter in the University’s journey.”
Burn’s expertise in medicine aligns with the University’s recognised leadership in health-tech and research. Just this past June, the University was appointed as the headquarters for a new €34.3m Research Ireland hub aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of healthcare research.
While in April, two undergraduate students at the University led a study into how medicines that reduce the risk of heart disease for those with diabetes, also help lower the risk of developing dementia.
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