Dr Jimmy Devins launches NBIP Ireland

€30 Million Collaborative Research Programme led by RCSI

Dr Jimmy Devins, Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation today (Thursday 26^th March 2009), officially launched the National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform Ireland (NBIP Ireland) at its inaugural scientific conference in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) allocated €30 million to NBIP Ireland following an extensive international peer-review process. This is one of largest funding allocations awarded to a consortium under the HEA PRTLI Cycle 4. Coordinated by RCSI, NBIP Ireland comprises nine Irish and two European third level institutions ⁽¹⁾ and there are currently over 150 Irish researchers working in the programme.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Jimmy Devins, Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation said “The NBIP Ireland research programme is an excellent example of the Government’s commitment to provide support to colleges and higher-level institutions to develop their research facilities and foster links between academia and with industry to create an innovative, knowledge-driven economy. In a more challenging global economic environment, it is imperative that Ireland can compete internationally on the basis of our world class research and NBIP Ireland will enable Post-doctoral and Post-graduate researchers to develop their career prospects and become independent investigators and senior scientists in academia or industry.”

Biophotonics and Imaging are emerging areas of scientific research that use light and other forms of radiant energy to understand the inner workings of cells and tissues in living organisms. The approach allows researchers to see, measure, analyse and manipulate living tissues to detect, diagnose and treat diseases in a way that are non-invasive to the body.

Professor Brian Harvey, Director of Research, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and NBIP Ireland Coordinator said “NBIP Ireland provides an integrated national access and training infrastructure in research, education, technology development and industry collaboration for Ireland’s investment in Biophotonics and Imaging. In addition to this, NBIP Ireland with our European partners will collaborative for FP7 research programme funding. This scientific cooperation will enable the exchange of scientists and PhD students, the promotion of industry partnerships, knowledge transfer and technology development.”

NBIP Ireland has been awarded EU funding to support the establishment of a European-wide post-doctoral Career Enhancement and Mobility Programme (CEMP). The €2.4 million FP7 Marie-Curie COFUND will enable 15 post doctoral researchers to collaborate with research organisations in the public and private sectors throughout Europe.

Prof Harvey continued “The EU and HEA funding will support experienced research fellows and will have a significant impact on research in Biophotonics and Imaging applied to cancer, cardiovascular and neuro-degenerative diseases.”

Keynote speaker at the inaugural NBIP Ireland Scientific Conference, Professor Sergio Grinstein, Professor of Biochemistry, University of Toronto presented new research into how our immune system attacks bacteria. Such research can lead to the development of new drugs and antibiotics which is especially important, given the increase in bacterial resistance to current antibiotics.

Speaking at the conference, Professor Sergio Grinstein said “When bacteria interact with white blood cells to fight infection, the interaction is transient and can be difficult to monitor. Adequate study of this interplay requires highly sensitive and dynamic techniques to monitor the behaviour of live cells and microorganisms in a non-invasive manner and the use of highly inventive imaging and microscopy has made this study possible.”

ENDS/IP93