New Science Foundation Ireland-funded facility at TCD/St. James’s Hospital to benefit cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma-related research

State-of-the-art equipment will be accessible to clinicians, research scientists and industry

Monday, 26 January 2009: A new Science Foundation Ireland-funded Flow Cytometry Facility in the Institute of Molecular Medicine, at Trinity College Dublin located at St. James's Hospital, has been officially opened today (Monday, January 26th, 2009).

The €840,000 state-of-the-art technology at the Facility (of which €755,000 was an equipment grant provided by Science Foundation Ireland) will enable precision analysis and isolation of cell samples towards the development of treatments and cures for a range of conditions.

Speaking at the opening, Professor Padraic Fallon from the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, said “This is a landmark occasion for cellular research in Ireland. This new facility will greatly assist in increasing our understanding of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. We are equipping ourselves today with the instruments of tomorrow.”

Prof. Fallon added “Importantly, as well as being used by clinician scientists in St. James’s and associated hospitals, the new instruments at this facility will be available for use by external academics, industrial scientists and other researchers involved in analysing disease processes. The investment in this innovative, open-access facility represents real value for money.”

The funding has also facilitated the appointment of a dedicated Facility Manager, Ann Atzberger, who has been recruited from the University of Oxford.

Welcoming the news, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Jimmy Devins T.D., said “modern science continues to rapidly develop, and incorporating new techniques, procedures and the very latest technology is essential, particularly in the diagnosis and study of debilitating diseases. This new facility is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to providing the best possible environment for world-class researchers to conduct crucial medical research on our shores. This helps to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness on the global stage, and forms a core element of the Government’s ‘Building Ireland’s Smart Economy’ framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal.”

Commenting on the opening of the Facility, Director-General of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Frank Gannon, said “By helping to fund highly-specialised equipment such as this, SFI is equipping Ireland’s leading scientific and medical professionals with the appliances that will expedite critical future discoveries. This investment will significantly enhance the nature and quality of cell research and, ultimately, patient treatments in this country”.