Proud to fly Longford flag on international stage: Gerard Sheehan picks up top award in Miami

Longford man Gerard Sheehan, who is the Director of Global Medical Affairs at Sarepta Therapeutics, is celebrating this week after he was recognised as the Medical Science Liaison of the Year at a ceremony in Miami.

Son of Josephine and Enda, Gerard said he was ‘absolutely delighted’ to be honoured.

“My job takes me to our clinical trial sites in Europe, Africa, Asia including Australia and New Zealand. Typically big pharmaceutical companies will conduct their clinical trials in US and Europe, but in rare diseases (such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), to test the safety and efficaciousness of our medicines we need to look further afield.”

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting. It is caused by a fault in the dystrophin gene that acts as a shock absorber in muscle. Without it, muscles are more easily damaged, and their strength and function is weakened over time. Muscles affected involve the skeletal muscle such as muscles in the legs and arms, smooth muscle or the gastrointestinal tract and cardiac muscle (the heart).

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Gerard remarked, “Duchenne in most cases affects boys, and is usually diagnosed at age 4. Although Duchenne is classified as a rare disease, it affects around 1 in 3500 live male births. Boys will lose the ability to walk on average at the age of 12.”

Gerard explained that typically, a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) covers a small geography such as London or an area of a country. But since he works with a smaller Boston-based Biotech company (Sarepta Therapeutics) they have a nimble team covering the entire world.

What does an MSL do? Gerard replied, “It's a very unique role. An MSL builds relationships with healthcare providers, in my case paediatric neurologists. We share new clinical trial data and publications with them and act as medical intermediaries between the physician and the company.

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“The science behind new treatments are complicated, our job is to explain the mode of action, the safety profile, how to monitor for side effects, and what we expect in terms of the medical benefit. We also attend patient conferences, speak on industry panels, and present posters and oral presentations at conferences. By far one of the most rewarding parts of the job is meeting with patients and their families who are in our clinical trials - to hear how the trial is going, how they are feeling and learn about their day-to-day life.”

The MSL Society in 2023 accepted more than 120 nominations for MSL of the Year. In 2024, there were eight finalists for MSL of the Year outside the US from every corner of the world. Gerard admitted, “I was very happy to be included in this short list but to find out I was selected as the winner I was shocked.”

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Gerard attended St Emer’s national school and later St Mel’s College. He suggested, “Academically, I was average and saw a career in the NBA more likely.” He attributed his love of basketball to the late Mick Murphy. “Memories I have of growing up in Longford are some of the best I’ve ever had. I was an active member of the Falcons basketball club under the coaching and guidance of the late Mick Murphy.”

Gerard smiles about ‘joined handwriting’ at school. “I remember in 6th class in St Emer’s being the only pupil not to attempt ‘joined handwriting’. To this day I still don't!”

At St Mel’s College he loved Biology and Business. “I wasn't particularly interested in other subjects. However it was the teachers such as Regina Dolan, Eddie Collins and Emma Dempsey that kindled my interest.”

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Gerard said he spent the summer out in Newtowncashel footing turf and I worked in Stewarts Oil opposite Lakeland for many years as he completed his Bachelors and PhD degrees in the Department of Biology in Maynooth. “My brother Davy would join me in Stewarts after lunch until closing and we'd head off to the gym in the Longford Arms Hotel.”

Gerard then continued his research at the University of Birmingham in the UK in a world-leading institution in the area of fungal immunology. He then moved into the pharmaceutical sector where he has worked for many years.

“I moved to Birmingham before the pandemic, then to Cork, and now have been living in Exeter, in Devon (UK) for 3 years. It's a small town beside the beach with plenty of greenery. I enjoy free time here but I spend half the month out of the country attending meetings. The plan is to return to Ireland one day.

“My Mam Josie and Dad Enda both live and work in Longford and I enjoy visiting as much as possible.”

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