---

Irish regulator to head EU drugs agency

Ireland’s Dr Lorraine Nolan has been appointed as the next executive director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).

The agency’s role is to monitor, analyse, and respond to drug-related threats across the EU.

Dr Nolan’s appointment, which takes effect on 1 January 2026, was announced at a meeting of the agency’s management board in Lisbon this week.

She was elected by a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot after a public recruitment process that shortlisted three candidates.

Forensic scientist

Since 2016, Dr Nolan has been chief executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which is responsible for the regulation of medicines, medical devices, and other health products. She will step down from this role at the end of the year.

She is a former chair of the European Medicines Agency’s management board, and previously worked as a forensic scientist for the Department of Justice.

Welcoming the appointment, Thomas Byrne (Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence) said: “Dr Nolan's distinguished career and expertise uniquely position her to guide EUDA through its important mission of addressing one of the most significant challenges facing our societies today."