Ms Bradshaw said although she welcomed the move, uncertainties existed around similar collaborations in future.
“In the event of the UK leaving the EU, these sorts of partnerships may not happen in future. This issue must now be addressed firmly by the Executive, which must clarify collectively it will not endorse any negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship which endangers such important links.
“There is no reason this should not be the first of a series of collaborative networks providing world-class health expertise to people anywhere on the island of Ireland. The Executive must provide urgent reassurances it is in discussions across all jurisdictions across the UK and Ireland to ensure cross-border working, clinical trials funding and access to medical research for the health service and other organisations in Northern Ireland will not be endangered by the negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship.”