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Taoiseach Opens State-of the Art Clinical Research Facility

Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Mary Cunneen, Biobank Technologist, in the research facility today

Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Mary Cunneen, Biobank Technologist, in the research facility today

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today opened a new €7 million Clinical Research Facility (CRF), a  joint initiative between Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital.

The facility, which is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Health Research Board, will enable staff to conduct high quality clinical research, aiming to address major challenges in health and disease in Ireland. The CRF has high technology features that are unique in Ireland to enable cutting edge experimental medicine studies.

25 translational research projects are already planned or underway, such as the PEACHI project, an EU funded project to develop a simple, affordable and effective vaccine against hepatitis C in HIV positive patients.  Other projects include a clinical trial of radiotherapy versus chemotherapy for patients with Oesophageal Cancer and a trial of an antidiabetic medication in the protection of elderly patients against memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Taoiseach said:

I believe that today's health research is tomorrow's health care. In that regard, this new facility is good news for patients as it will allow the testing of new and innovative therapies, technologies and products and should increase the speed at which these innovations and discoveries enter health care services. This facility shows the real benefits of collaboration as it will allow greater consolidation of activities between Trinity College and St James' and provide first-class patient-focused research almost at the patient's bedside, while supporting excellence in medical education and research.

The Clinical Research Facility is part of the Dublin Centre for Clinical Research (DCCR), a joint initiative between Trinity College, UCD, RCSI and Molecular Medicine Ireland funded as a result of a competitive process by the Wellcome Trust and the Health Research Board.

For more information visit the Health Research Board website here.