Address by Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce At the opening of the Health Research Board / Wellcome Trust Seminar on Supporting Biomedical Researchon Friday 5TH November 1999 at 9.30 am Post-Graduate Medical Centre, St James’s Hospital Dublin 8

I am delighted to be here this morning, at the start of National Science Week, to open this seminar which is an important event for biomedical research here in Ireland.

In particular I would like to offer a warm welcome to our guests from the Wellcome Trust in London: Dr Andy Robertson, Dr Gavin Malloch, Dr Patricia Chisholm, Dr Daniel Nelki and Ms Sheila Pickard.

The Wellcome Trust has a long and distinguished record of support for research globally and its commitment to career support is particularly impressive. It is our good fortune in Ireland that Irish scientists are able to compete for Wellcome Trust grants on equal terms with their British counterparts. That this seminar is taking place today demonstrates the depth of the Trust’s commitment to supporting research here in Ireland. We saw another example of the Trust’s commitment last night with the announcement of five new Blood fellowship awards in biomedical sciences for Irish universities.

This brings to 8 the number of such Fellows which the Trust has funded, in addition to their support for three new lecturers. Last evening’s announcement represents a further step in the successful implementation of the Matching Funds Agreement between the Wellcome Trust and the Health Research Board whereby an additional £6 million is being made available for health research in Ireland over the last three years.

Science Week Ireland is the celebration of science, technology and innovation in Ireland. During the Week, which this year will take place from 7-14 November, most people of all ages will be given a special opportunity to explore and experience science and technology through hundreds of events being held nation-wide.

This is the third year of Science Week Ireland and I am pleased that it reaches a wider audience each year.

It is organised as part of the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme, which is managed by Forfás on behalf of our Office of Science and Technology. The individual events are organised by members of the S&T community, whether employed in industry, academia, State sector or community or other groups.

Not only do events such as this demonstrate the excitement of science and technology, they also are a testament to the increasingly central role which it plays in modern life whether it be at our workplace, in our homes or in our leisure activities. I believe that by increasing awareness of the importance and relevance of Science and Technology we will, as a nation also increase our scientific and technological literacy and this will allow Ireland be ready to exploit future challenges in the years ahead.

All of these developments are taking place at a particularly exciting time for health research in Ireland. For the first time ever in this country, a national strategy for health research is being developed. The strategy which is being developed by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health and Children will define the role of health research, identify the challenges in developing research and suggest ways in which research and development can become core activities of the Irish health services.

The benefits of health research have a wider significance. The health research strategy is being written in the context of the Government’s increasing recognition of the importance of research to future economic and social development.

Our own Department and the Office of Science and Technology are also deeply committed to promoting economic and social development through research. The recent Technology Foresight report identified key areas for investment in our future. One of these, biotechnology, is already the focus of much of the high quality research being funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Health Research Board, and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues in the Health Research Board in implementing the recommendations of the Foresight report. Another important initiative was the recent investment of £180 million by the Government through the Higher education authority for university infrastructure which will have a profound effect on the climate for research in this country in the years ahead.

I am particularly pleased to welcome representatives from both Queen’s and the University of Ulster to this seminar. I believe that research has an important contribution to make towards the creation of peace and a more normal society on this island. The research community is by definition international in its outlook and political borders are increasingly irrelevant to the creation and sharing of knowledge. There are good relationships between the research communities in both parts of this island that could be improved and strengthened. The Good Friday Agreement identified research on cancer as one of the cross border activities to be encouraged when the Agreement is implemented. The prospect for strengthening research on cancer on an all-island has received a strong boost from an initiative of the National Cancer Institute of the United States of America (NCI).

The NCI has expressed its interest in facilitating all-island co-ordination of epidemiological data on cancer, the conduct of all-island clinical trials for drugs to treat cancer, facilitating educational exchanges and the use of health informatics to enhance knowledge of cancer and the care of cancer patients.

A Memorandum of Understanding providing for such co-operation was signed in Belfast on the 3rd October last by my Government colleague, Mr. Brian Cowen TD, the Minister for Health and Children, the Northern Ireland Minister for Health and Social Services and the Director of the National Cancer Institute.

An all-island approach to biomedical and health research in general, would add value to the efforts of researchers in both parts of the country and take fuller advantage of the research opportunities presented by the genetic homogeneity of the population on the island and the strengths and similarities of the two health services. I would like to compliment the HRB for its encouragement of an all-island approach to research by funding proposals involving research teams from both sides of the Border. In 1999 the HRB funded 3 projects from a total of 22 applications. This scheme is run in co-operation with the Research and Development Office of the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services and that this co-operation will be formalised in the scheme to be advertised in 2000.

In developing our research base here in Ireland, we recognise that it is the quality of people that really counts. The Wellcome Trust is leading the way in providing career support for researchers. I am sure that by taking advantage of the excellent opportunities offered by the Wellcome Trust, Irish scientists will continue to make a lasting and valuable contribution to health research.