Hugh Brady (academic)

Brady's research interests include the molecular pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease and pro-resolution pathways in inflammatory disease. He has published over 160 research articles, reviews and book chapters, including invited contributions to major international textbooks in nephrology and general medicine such as Brenner and Rector's The Kidney and Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. He has co-edited two textbooks: Therapy in Nephrology and Hypertension (with C. Wilcox) and Intensive Care Nephrology (with P Murray and JB Hall).[3]

In January 2004, at the age of 44, Brady was appointed president and Chief Officer of University College Dublin, the youngest in UCD's history.

As president, Brady led a programme of change which included: academic restructuring, introduction of the UCD Horizons modular and semesterized undergraduate curriculum, overhaul of UCD's student supports, establishment of the Ad Astra Academy to nurture UCD's highest performing students, establishment of graduate schools and structured PhD programmes to support postgraduate training, creation of a number of thematic multi-disciplinary research institutes, a focus on internationalisation, adoption of innovation as the 3rd pillar of UCD academic activity, the launch of a new visual identity for UCD, a new campus development plan and capital programme, enhancement of UCD's development and alumni relations functions, and launch of a new fundraising campaign. During his tenure, UCD also introduced independent Chairs to UCD's Governing Authority and Finance Committees and Brady invited the President of UCD's Students Union to join UCD's Finance Committee.[1][2]

UCD expanded its on-campus international student population from 11% to 22% (of approximately 25,500 students) and grew its overseas programmes in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia to a student population of 5000. UCD was invited to join the Universitas 21 network of global research universities. The University was granted approval by the Chinese Government to establish the Beijing-Dublin International College in 2011 and was awarded €3m by the Chinese Government in December 2013, towards the construction of a new building for the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland on UCD's Belfield campus with matching funding from the Irish Government. In December 2013, Brady secured a commitment from Chinese authorities to provide facilities of circa €300 million for a new campus in Yantai City, Shandong Province to be run jointly by UCD and China Agricultural University (CAU).[4]

In October 2014, it was announced that Brady would become Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, and in September 2015, he was made Vice-Chancellor and President of the university, becoming the 13th Vice-Chancellor.[5]

Brady has served in a number of external leadership roles, including as a member of Ireland's Higher Education Authority, Chairman of the Irish Health Research Board, Chairman of the Irish Universities Association, President of the Irish Nephrological Society, and Chairman of the Universitas 21 global network of global research universities. He also served on the Irish Government's National Innovation Taskforce in 2011 and the Oversight Committee for Ireland's National Innovation Fund.

He is a member of the Public Interest Board of PwC (Ireland) and a non-Executive Director of two multinational companies - Kerry Group plc and ICON plc.[6] He received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Queen's University Belfast, an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Anaesthetists in Ireland and the Robert Menzies Medal from the University of Melbourne.[1]