In 2008 Molecular Medicine Ireland (MMI) in association with Queen's University Belfast, with Dr. Peter Doran of UCD as Principal Investigator, was awarded the contract by the HRB and R&D Office to undertake the design phase of an all-island control biobank of volunteer samples and phenotypic data known as GeneLibrary Ireland. The University of Ulster has since joined this collaboration, ensuring that this initiative involves all the leading academic institutions in biomedical research and their associated hospitals on the island of Ireland.

In order to deliver on the design phase of GeneLibrary Ireland, MMI, on behalf of the collaborating institutions, convened Working Groups involving over 80 experts in genetics, translational research, epidemiology, ethics, law, finance, laboratory science and communications. These working groups have examined and made recommendations on the construction of this bio-resource for the benefit of researchers and people on the island of Ireland. A Scientific Advisory Board, consisting of international experts in biobanking has guided the preparation of the design phase and much has been learned from site visits to similar biobanks, for example Generation Scotland.

The establishment of GeneLibrary Ireland as a biomedical research infrastructure will enable and support the continued development of translational and genetic research on the island of Ireland. The biobank of 10,000 DNA and blood samples from volunteers on the island, together with key phenotypic information will serve as a control population to study the genetic determinants of common diseases, which significantly impact patients in Ireland and Northern Ireland. These diseases include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, respiratory disease and cognitive disorders along with key disease areas that are over represented in the population such as coeliac disease, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and haemachromatosis. In addition, this collection will provide a valuable resource to study the genetic background of the population on the island of Ireland.

The report of the design phase of GeneLibrary Ireland is near finalisation and will be submitted to the funders in early 2009. The next phase of this project will involve the development of an implementation plan to establish GeneLibrary Ireland as an all-island biomedical research infrastructure. This phase which will be completed in the first quarter of 2009.

Within the MMI directorate, Dr Jan Guerin is coordinating the preparation of the design phase and implementation plan for GeneLibrary Ireland, assisted by Mel Clifford of Clifford Robbins Ltd, who is project manager for the initiative.
Further information – Jan.Guerin@MolecularMedicineIreland.ie