Dr. Kieran Rea

Background & Credentials

Expertise & Specialization

• Clinical Trial Design & Oversight

• Regulatory Compliance & Ethics

• Scientific Communication

• Stakeholder & Sponsor Engagement

• Strategic Research Planning

• Nutraceuticals, Gut Health & Microbiome

• Cannabinoids, Immune Response, Stress, Pain & Satiety 

Education & Training

• PhD in Neuropharmacology, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
• MSc in Neuropharmacology, NUI Galway
• BSc in Biochemistry, NUI Galway 
  
  

Years of Experience

• 7 years of Clinical Experience in Academia
• 4 years of Clinical/Operational Experience in Industry 

Certifications

• ICH Good Clinical Practice

Experience

Total Years of Experience:  11+ years of overall experience that includes 7 years in academia and 4 years in the clinical industry.

Career Journey: Dr. Kieran began his research career at NUI Galway as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Pharmacology, where he focused on neuropharmacology and antidepressant mechanisms. He later joined APC Microbiome Ireland, serving as both Lab Manager and Industry Project Manager, where he led a range of projects related to gut health, supporting protocol development, budgeting, and regulatory submissions. 

Following this, Dr. Kieran held industry roles as Trial Capabilities Manager, where he oversaw clinical start-up operations across various therapeutic areas. He also  served as Director of R&D, managing clinical and preclinical planning, product development, structure-function claims, and regulatory alignment. 

Key Contributions:  Dr. Kirean Rea has directed research strategy for over €8.3 million in microbiome-focused projects, playing a central role in advancing scientific priorities and funding outcomes. He has successfully led ethics and regulatory submissions across both EU and international studies, ensuring full compliance with evolving standards. His oversight extended to managing timelines, budgets, and stakeholder coordination for a wide range of pharmaceutical and nutrition trials. Additionally, he has been instrumental in translating preclinical research findings into robust clinical study designs, bridging the gap between discovery and application.

Collaborations: Dr. Kirean Rea has collaborated extensively across academic, industry, and regulatory sectors to support the success of clinical research. His academic partnerships include NUI Galway, APC Microbiome, and the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research. In the industry space, he has worked with leading organizations such as IFF Dupont, Nutricia Danone, 4DPharma, Kerry, and Suntory. On the regulatory front, he has engaged with the HPRA, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), and ethics committees at both national and international levels. He also works cross-functionally with internal teams including statisticians, trial coordinators, and regulatory specialists to ensure scientific integrity and operational excellence in all studies. 

Role in the Company

At Atlantia Clinical Trials, Dr. Kieran Rea leads the Science Department, managing research managers, statisticians, regulatory staff, and clinical start-up coordinators. He oversees all clinical protocol development, ethics submissions, and scientific reporting to ensure alignment with national and international standards. Kieran contributes to statistical analysis planning, data interpretation, internal training, and scientific content review for both research and promotional use. He plays a key role in external collaborations, regulatory discussions, and conference participation, helping position Atlantia as a leader in evidence-based functional food and microbiome research.