The National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science

Transcription

1 The How this Integrated Technology Platform has impacted the development of R&D Clusters in Galway Jacinta Thornton, PhD Executive Manager, NCBES

2 National Centre for Biomedical Engineering g Science Mission Developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions to biomedical challenges through interdisciplinary and strategic research activities Background Founded in 1999, funded by the HEA Programme for Research for Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) ( 19.3 M) NCBES ~ 100 PIs, 140 Postdocs, 180 PhD Students Focus on translation Underpinned by educational programmes & state of the art facilities with specialised technical expertise

3 NCBES Research Strategy Defined Research Themes Cancer Glycoscience Regenerative Medicine Biomedical Engineering Neuroscience Infection, Inflammation and Immunity

4 Underpinning Expertise & Infrastructure Materials Characterisation Flow Cytometry Mechanical Testing Tissue Culture Advanced Machining High Throughput Screening Rapid Prototyping GMP Facility Polymer synthesis Small Animal Facility Imaging Systems Clinical Research Facility Incubator Units (TTO)

5 NUI Galway, NCBES and Galway University Hospital North Campus NCBES New research facilities under construction: 8000 sqm science research facility on North Campus 1000 sqm translational research facility on Hospital 1000 sqm Clinical research facility on Hospital Hospital

6 Underpinning Education Programmes Structured Graduate Education Programme Taught Courses Full-time 1 year Taught Masters Programme in Biomedical Science Full-time 1 year Taught Masters programme in Regenerative Medicine Part-time Distance-learning Masters in Biomedical Science PhD Programme in Simulation Science New multi-institutional collaborative Ph.D. programme & Supported by the Irish Centre for High End Computing. Structured red PhD Programme in Biomedical Engineering and Regenerative Medicine BMERM

7 Cancer Research Cluster NUI Galway, NCBES, Department of Biochemistry and University College Hospital The Cancer Research Environment Cancer Biology Research Units Basic Cancer Biology & Translational Units Translational Translational & Clinical Care Units Applied Seeding Cancer Drug Discovery at NUIG upport Chromosome Biology Apoptosis Signalling Stem Cells Fundamental Research mirna in cancers Biomarkers TMA Novel Therapies Translational Research Major cancer types Clinical Research facility funded National (SFI, HRB, HEA, others) International ti (EU, Wellcome Trust) Industrial Private Most dense concentration of SFI funded PI level laboratories of any single department in Ireland

8 GlycoScience Group at All cells and most therapeutic proteins are glycosylated Glycosylation is a key player in cell-cell interaction, protein folding, stability, half-life life and receptor-ligand interactions The researchers in Glycoscience Group at NUI Galway are developing platform technologies for clinical and industrial applications: Lectin and glycoprotein arrays for HTP glycoanalysis Peptide and aptamer based lectin mimics GlycoBiomarker discovery Novel microarray based GlycoSignature platform Potential therapeutic and nutraceutical agents In silico knowledge of glycosylation control Major Collaborative Projects: Alimentary Glycoscience Research Cluster (AGRC): A Strategic Research Cluster funded by SFI and supported by industries Main objective: To explore and exploit the role of host glycosylation in host-microbial interactions in the gut SFI Budget m Duration Glycomics by Highly Integrated Technologies (GlycoHIT): EU funded research consortium Focus: To enhance existing analytical technologies and develop novel technologies to detect cancer glycobiomarkers in patient sera EU Budget 3.0 m, Duration PI: Lokesh Joshi, SFI Stokes Professor of Glycosciences Director, Alimentary Glycoscience Research Cluster

9 Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) Prof. Tim O Brien Multi-disciplinary approach to promote organ and tissue repair Alliances with other academic centres, the health service and industry Translational focus - cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis in the first instance Supporting programmes - immunology, biomaterials and gene therapy as well as basic research programmes in basic stem cell biology and developmental biology MSC stimulated cardiac repair Key research Facts Patented technologies including novel therapeutics for cardiovascular disease, antibodies for stem cell isolation and devices for stem cell delivery Established Orbsen Therapeutics to commercialise REMEDI technology Four EU FP7-funded projects underway Operate a GMP cell manufacturing facility 400 publications and 15,000 citations since 2004.

10 Biomedical Engineering Biomechanics Cluster 1. Cell and Tissue Mechanics and Mechano-Biology Cluster leader: Peter McHugh 6 PIs, 8 PD, 28 PG, Current: 4.7m Bone mechanics and mechano-biology 2. Biofluid flow and Biomolecule Transport 3. Therapeutic Implants and Devices Analysis, Design, Production c New hip implant OsteoAnchor (PCT filed) Biodegradable metallic stents Gene eluting stent Bone tissue engineering PCL/TCP Computer modelling: Stent coating integrity New peripheral stent PER-FLEX (PCT filed) Computer modelling: Cell cytoskeleton development

11 Research Supported by:

12 Common Themes Core anchoring funding to leverage further funding Basic and dapplied dresearch Flexible approach to industry Investment in key enabling infrastructure Aligned educational training Responsive to external factors e.g. industry clusters, policy Partnership and collaboration with regional, national and international research organisations

13 Contact Information Prof. Frank Barry Director, NCBES Professor of Cellular Therapy y Dr. Jacinta Thornton Executive Manager, NCBES ie