TCD and UCD collaborate to establish ground-breaking Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre

Posted on: 24 July 2000

The Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (DMMC), a dynamic new research partnership between UCD and TCD in the life sciences, will be established with joint Higher Education Authority-private funding under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions announced Monday 24 July.

The DMMC joins the research activities and expertise of UCD’s Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research and TCD’s Institute of Molecular Medicine. It will lead to major advances in our understanding of the role of genetic factors in the development and treatment of human disease.

The Provost of TCD, Dr. Thomas Mitchell welcomed the announcement and said: “I am delighted with this innovative partnership between ourselves and UCD to create a state-of-the-art, internationally competitive centre of excellence which will serve Ireland’s broader social, economic and health needs. The establishment in the Centre of a new joint Chair of Bioethics to enrich the broader scientific and public debate on ethical issues pertaining to molecular biology research is also an exciting development.”

The President of UCD, Dr. Art Cosgrove said: “The DMMC is an exciting, ground-breaking and in many ways historic new partnership between UCD and TCD in a rapidly evolving area of enormous scientific, social and economic importance. It builds on UCD and TCD’s existing strong collaborative links and internationally recognised work in molecular medicine and will create major new research opportunities for Ireland’s science and medical graduates.”

“The establishment of new technology platforms, an Irish Gene Bank and a new joint Chair of Bioethics are particularly timely and demonstrate a commitment on the part of our two institutions to play a leadership role in all aspects of molecular medicine research”, continued Dr. Cosgrove.

“The DMMC will provide new high quality research and teaching programmes for Irish graduates and will serve as a magnet with which to attract high quality Irish graduates back to Ireland”, explained Professor John Hegarty, Dean of Research, Trinity College.

“The DMMC represents a true paradigm shift in Irish research. By combining existing talent at UCD and TCD and by underpinning this formidable talent with state-of-the-art technology, the DMMC will create an internationally competitive programme in molecular medicine and offer exciting new research opportunities for Ireland’s science and medical graduates”, said Professor Frank Hegarty, Vice-President for Research, UCD.