More than 30 charities involved in medical research in Ireland are calling on the government to ramp up investment in the sector, or face losing out on vital cures and treatments.
They also say this will also see a loss of medical expertise here in the coming years.
The Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG) represents the joint interests of charities who work to restore health, improve diagnosis and treatment.
Dr David McConnell is a professor in genetics at Smurfit Institute of Genetics in Trinity College Dublin.
He told Newstalk Breakfast that Ireland is lagging behind all our neighbours in terms of research.
Orla Keane was part of a clinical trial after she was diagnosed with a rare respiratory condition - Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
She was approached in 2006 to take part in a clinical trial, which included taking a placebo to compare it to the real drug.
She told Newstalk Breakfast after the trial ended, the company gave them the drug - which is not licensed in Ireland.
