Contents
In this issue:
- Irish psychiatrist leads European research effort to prevent and treat Alzheimer disease
- Workshop on 'Clinical Investigations for Medical Devices', 10 November 2011
- Another successful run of MMI/Pfizer course Molecules to Medicines: How Biopharma Delivers
- MMI offers free registration to ESOF2012 Dublin - Europe's largest scientific conference
- DCCR Innaugrual Scientific Day - 14th October 2011
- MMI Clinical & Translational Research Scholars commence their studies
- SFI/HRB/MMI Workshop- 'Insights into Successful Translational Research'
- An 'education week' in the life of Professor Anita Maguire
- William Stokes Award for MMI Clinician Scientist Fellow
- News In Brief
- Upcoming Events
Irish psychiatrist leads European research effort to prevent and treat Alzheimer disease
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Professor Brian Lawlor, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, has been awarded €6m by the European Union to conduct research into the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer disease. The research project, known as NILVAD is the largest investigator-led clinical trial in Alzheimer disease ever conducted in Europe and positions Trinity College, St James’s Hospital and the Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing as leaders in Alzheimer research in Europe. Professor Lawlor’s proposal was developed in collaboration with Siobhan Gaynor who at the time was the Irish European Correspondent of the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) based in Molecular Medicine Ireland. The proposal was ranked by experts as first in its category and was awarded €6 million by the European Commission.
NILVAD has two main objectives:
1. To recruit a large number of patients, including frail elderly patients with medical co-morbidities, by being patient, caregiver and investigator friendly.
2. To develop a network of investigators of Alzheimer disease across Europe, familiarise them with the structure and supports required to develop investigator-led research and thereby establish a network that can support other investigator-initiated studies into Alzheimer disease in the future.
The NILVAD research consortium consists of 25 investigator sites in 9 European countries (Ireland, UK, France, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands) with the potential to add countries and sites over time. There are 18 key partners that bring specific skills and functions that make the network a unique platform to deliver NILVAD and to support future collaboration in Alzheimer disease research.
Professor Lawlor, the project co-ordinator, has considerable experience in clinical trials in Alzheimer disease in the USA and Ireland and has gathered together a consortium of renowned European experts in the fields of psychopharmacology, clinical trials and assessment and treatment of Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Europe, the patient advocacy group is a full partner in this project.
Commenting on the significance of the project, Professor Brian Lawlor said, "Considering the devastating health and social impact that Alzheimer disease has on Europeans, there is relatively little research funding made available to tackle this major killer. This research consortium, NILVAD represents a change in this trend in Europe and a step in the right direction. It not only offers hope for a new treatment but also strengthens research networks and collaborations in Europe and means that research developments in Alzheimer disease can be accelerated for the benefit of all Europeans."
Siobhan Gaynor, as Irish European Correspondent of ECRIN, played a key role in the success of Professor Lawlor’s application. ECRIN is an EU-funded research infrastructure set up to support multi-national, investigator clinical trials in Europe. Ireland is a member of ECRIN and is connected through the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ICRIN) which is hosted by Molecular Medicine Ireland. The ECRIN Correspondent is the link between the Irish and European clinical research networks and is an invaluable resource to Irish-based principal investigators who are seeking funding for multi-centre clinical trials in Europe. Professor Lawlor, commenting on the unique skills and expertise of Siobhan Gaynor, the Irish ECRIN Correspondent said,
“The role of ECRIN was to support and project manage the proposal development process and to develop quality proposal documents. The European Correspondent did this by finding suitable sites and partners throughout Europe who could recruit patients and supply clinical trial services such as monitoring, data management and pharmacovilgilance. Given the tight deadlines involved in the proposal, the role of ECRIN in facilitating, signposting and costing services was critical and contributed hugely to the success of the proposal. In addition, the significant clinical trial experience of the European Correspondent enabled Siobhan to provide important advice on the set up and structure of this multinational trial. Every investigator preparing a proposal for a clinical trial in Europe under FP7 or Horizon 2020, should consider the invaluable input of the European Correspondent and access to ECRIN services.”
For further information and advice, please contact Susan Lennon, the current Irish ECRIN Correspondent at
Workshop on 'Clinical Investigations for Medical Devices', 10 November 2011
On Thursday, 10th November 2011, Molecular Medicine Ireland and the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network in association with Enterprise Ireland held a very successful one-day workshop on “Clinical Trial Investigations for the Medical Device Industry” in the Enterprise Ireland office in Eastpoint, Dublin. The 45 participants included representation from a broad spectrum of indigenous Irish companies and researchers who are actively engaged in the development of medical devices.
The introduction to the workshop was given by Enda Connolly, CEO for HRB who provided an overview of the HRB activities and their support for the research infrastructure in Ireland. He highlighted the opportunities for medical device research in Ireland and the opportunities to continue to develop a strong infrastructure in Ireland.
Fionnuala Gibbons, Clinical Trial Liaison Officer at Molecular Medicine Ireland, gave an overview on the regulations and need for clinical investigations. The level of data required for new medical devices has increased since the introduction of the medical device directive in 2010. The workshop was designed to provide an overview of what is required for the conduct of a high quality clinical investigation. It was highlighted throughout the day that the need for careful planning and the conduct of clinical investigations are key to obtaining data in order to assure patients.
Paul Scannell from the Irish Medicines Board provided a summary on the regulatory requirements for medical device submissions as well as the timelines for review. Paul highlighted some of the key areas for consideration when planning a clinical investigation and the parallel review of submissions by ethics committees and the Irish Medicines Board.
Marie Rooney of D'Arcy Consultancy gave an in depth presentation on literature search for clinical investigations. Marie provided a very informative presentation on the process of conducting a literature search and on finding data that should be included in the clinical investigation plan.
David Mathews of Centre for Innovation in Surgical Technology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland provided an overview of the process flow from ideas phase through to marketing and highlighted some key areas to be considered including classification.
Gloria Crispino O’ Connell, Biostatistician, School of Science, Institute of Technology Tallaght, presented an introduction on statistical analysis and data management in the context of medical devices.
Susan Lennon, Clinical Research Manager at MMI, provided an in-depth review of informed consent and its importance when conducting clinical investigations. Susan provided an overview of the essential components of a patient information /consent form.
Fionnuala Gibbons then closed the workshop by providing an overview of clinical investigation conduct and the essential documents to be considered when planning a clinical investigation.
Feedback from the attendees was very positive. They found the presentations very informative and felt that they provided ideas for the future planning of clinical investigations.
Another successful run of MMI/Pfizer course Molecules to Medicines: How Biopharma Delivers
In collaboration with Pfizer, MMI ran the highly popular course Molecules to Medicines: How Biopharma Delivers for the sixth year on 22-23 November 2011. This course includes a one-day lecture programme followed by a one-day problem-solving workshop, both delivered by scientists from the Pfizer campus at Grange Castle.
An audience of over 55 attended the lecture course, held at TCD Biomedical 
Sciences Institute, on 22 November. A smaller group participated in the workshop held the following day at the MMI offices in Newman House.
The lecture course covers the key stages of the development of biopharmaceuticals: discovery, development and manufacturing. The discovery lectures were delivered by Dr Brian Farrell (picture left) and Dr Matthew Lambert (both Global Biologic Therapeutics, Pfizer Grange Castle) Dr Patrick Gammell (Senior Scientist, Process Development, Pfizer Grange Castle) gave two lectures on the development stage, and Dr Caroline Maher (Senior Scientist, Bio-Manufacturing Sciences Group, Pfizer) covered the area of manufacturing.
The following day’s workshop gave participants the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the biopharmaceutical industry in a small-group setting.
A follow-up visit to the Pfizer campus at Grange Castle was organised for a limited group of course attendees on 24 November.
Dr Matthew Lambert during the MMI/Pfizer workshop (left) and Workshop attendees interacting (right)
Many thanks to Pfizer staff for so generously giving their time and effort across three days of the intensive programme.
Further information for MMI courses and Workshops at the below link:
http://www.molecularmedicineireland.ie/education/courses
MMI offers free registration to ESOF2012 Dublin - Europe's largest scientific conference
Molecular Medicine Ireland is offering free registration to five PhD students to attend the prestigious European Open Science Forum, ESOF2012, which is being held in Dublin from 11-15 July 2012. Nobel laureates, leading scientists and researchers, policy makers, business leaders and global media will gather in Dublin’s Convention Centre to address the greatest scientific challenges of our age. About 5,000 people are expected to participate in ESOF2012.
To win free registration, answer the questions correctly in the questionnaire contained HERE by 17.00 hrs on Monday 30 April 2012. The names of the winners will be randomly drawn from all correct entries.
This competition is open ONLY to PhD students who are undertaking a full-time PhD programme in clinical and/or translational research at one of MMI’s partner institutions: NUI Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College, University College Cork and University College Dublin.
ESOF2012 DUBLIN
Dublin will host ESOF2012, Europe’s largest general science meeting, from 11-15 July 2012. It will feature a dynamic programme of interactive seminars, panel discussions and debates which will focus on the BIG questions of our lifetime:
• Will we starve?
• Will we cure disease?
• Will we drown or burn?
• Will we understand the human condition?
• When will we know everything?
• What will Human 2.0 look like?
• Will European Science compete internationally?
Guest speakers will include Nobel Laureates, Professor Jules Hoffman, Research Director of the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS), France, and Professor Peter Doherty, University of Melbourne, Professor Craig Venter, President of the J. Craig Venter Institute, USA, Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Director General of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), France, and Dr Mary Robinson, Campaigner on Human Rights and Climate Justice.
Registration includes:
• Admittance to the ESOF2012 Opening & Closing Ceremonies
• Admittance to ESOF2012 Conference Sessions & Exhibition
• ESOF2012 Conference Materials
DCCR Innaugrual Scientific Day - 14th October 2011
On 14th October, the DCCR held its first Scientific Meeting with the objective of exhibiting DCCR activities, and enjoyed a superb keynote speech from Professor Barry Coller of Rockefeller University medical School on the Joys of Translational Research - The story of Abciximab's development. Professor Barry Coller’s Lecture provided a tour de force of what can be achieved for patients when translational research works properly.
This was preceded by a lunch in honour of Professor Coller attended by representatives of the DCCR partners – Professor Doug Veal (UCD), Professor Dermot Kenny (RCSI), Dr. Ruth Barrington (MMI) and Professor Dermot Kelleher (TCD).
Clockwise from top left: Prof. P. Kelly, Prof. R. Costello,
J. Towns, Prof. W. Watson, Prof. D. Kelleher, Prof. B. Coller
and Prof. D. Kenny
The Scientific Meeting (Please see programme here) also involved presentations from young investigators from each of the medical schools who competed for the DCCR Young Investigator Award.
The three young Investigators illustrated the broad range of clinical research studies being undertaken in Dublin, from using 3Tesla MRI to better understand the how the brain works, to the identification of biomarkers through to devising a new therapeutic approach (Estrogen) to the treatment of people with Cystic Fibrosis.
Presentation from four of the DCCR Disease Groups illustrated how a range of clinicians are taking advantage of the DCCR infrastructure to answer clinically relevant questions such as:
- Are their clinically useful biomarkers that can inform better treatment approaches to Prostate Cancer?
- To what extent is morbidity in Asthma due to poor inhaler technique?
- Are there clinically useful biomarkers that can inform better treatment approaches to Stroke?
- Can genotyping be used to help diagnose, and descriminate between, different types of pychosis?
Excellent presentations were made by Dr. Sheng Oon (UCD), Dr. Jane McGrath (TCD), and Dr. Sanjay Chotirmall (RCSI). The presentations were judged by Professor Coller, who selected Dr. Chotirmall for the award. Subsequently Dr. Chotirmall was invited by Professor Coller to present at a US meeting.
Brief presentations were also made by four of the DCCR Disease Groups: Professor Aiden Corvin – Neuropsychiatry, Prof. Peter Kelly - Stroke, Prof Richard Costello - Respirology and Prof. William Watson - Prostate Cancer.
Prof D Kelleher, Dr S Chotirmall, Prof B Coller, Dr Sheng Oon, Dr M Watson
MMI Clinical & Translational Research Scholars commence their studies
The MMI Clinical & Translational Research Scholars started off the first year of their structured 4-year PhD with a programme of core modules and their first academic lab placement. The MMI CTRSP, which was officially launched on 10 October 2011 and is funded under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI), will train this group of twenty scholars to translate patient and disease-focused research into clinically effective and commercial applications.
Year 1 of the programme will see the scholars - five each based in NUI Galway, UCC, TCD and UCD -attending each of the four participating institutions for taught modules (above), as well as doing placements in academic research groups, clinical research centres and in industry.
mmunication, Teamwork & Research Ethics, Fundamental Biological Imaging and Integrated Pharmacology. Scholars enjoyed interactive sessions, lectures, ‘hands-on’ computer lab sessions (right) and practicals.
SFI/HRB/MMI Workshop- 'Insights into Successful Translational Research'
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Science Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board and Molecular Medicine Ireland co-hosted a one day workshop entitled “Insights into Successful Translational Research” on Tuesday 29th November 2011 in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Dublin. The event was a great success and well attended by over 140 researchers from many different scientific and medical fields.
A full report on this event will be available shortly.
An 'education week' in the life of Professor Anita Maguire
Professor Anita Maguire, a Director of the Board of Molecular Medicine Ireland, gave an extensive interview in the Irish Times in which she outlines a typical working week in her role as Vice-President for Research and Innovation at University College Cork. The interview was published in the ‘Education Today’ section of The Irish Times, dated 8 November 2011.
Professor Maguire recounts a week which involved what she terms as ‘macro-world’ meetings with other VPs and Deans of Research in the Irish Universities Association and those with members of pharmaceutical companies where the discussions centred on the critical issues of research prioritisation and funding opportunities. She then goes on to describe her micro meetings with her PhD students saying that, “Mentoring PhD students is definitely one of the most wonderful aspects of my job. To see a person you have worked with for four years delivering on their efforts, to see how they’ve developed. Very satisfying”.
This interview is one of a series of published weekly interviews in the Irish with senior level professionals in Ireland’s education sector.
For a full account of the interview please click here.
A video interview given by Professor Maguire in which she discusses investment in Irish research and the challenges to continuing research in these tough economic times has also been posted to the www.irishtimes.com and can be accessed here.
William Stokes Award for MMI Clinician Scientist Fellow
Dr Fergus McCarthy, winner of The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland William Stokes Award for 2011 with Professor Louise Kenny
MMI Clinician Scientist Fellow Dr Fergus McCarthy, based in UCC and supervised by Professor Louise Kenny, has won the William Stokes Award presented by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). Further details here
The William Stokes Award, established in honour of Dr. William Stokes, an eminent Dublin physician in the 1800’s, was set up to support and recognise the highest standard of research by Specialist Registrars.
This is the second success for MMI Clinician Scientist Fellows, with RCSI-based Dr Sanjay Chotirmall winning the William Stokes Award in 2010. Please see here
About the Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme (CSFP)
Since 2008, 22 medical graduates are undertaking PhD studies in five academic institutions as MMI Clinician Scientist Fellows. The CSFP is a structured PhD programme funded under PRTLI Cycle 4 which is training this key group of clinician scientists who will graduate with the unique and specialised knowledge essential to fulfil Ireland’s research needs in translational medicine.
Further information on the CSFP can be found at the below link:
http://www.molecularmedicineireland.ie/csfp
The MMI Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme is funded under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) Cycle 4, and co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
News in Brief
The Irish Research Nurses Network Annual Meeting 2011
The Irish Research Nurses Network (IRNN) held a very successful 4th annual National Conference in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute on the 14th of October 2011, which was attended by over 65 delegates. Enterprise Ireland with Cleveland Clinic acknowledged the importance of clinical innovation in Ireland by presenting the first ‘Clinical Innovation Award’ at Med in Ireland 2011. Twenty one clinicians based in Ireland submitted their innovative ideas for evaluation. The overall winner was Dr. Niall Davis of Mid-Western Regional Hospital in association with… More »
Suzanne Bracken, Programme Officer for Translational Research and Fionnuala Gibbons, Clinical Trial Liaison Officer, of Molecular Medicine Ireland attended the Invent DCU event “Celebrating 10 years of Innovations and Enterprise” on 5 December. Invent DCU… More »
Protein expression profiles of morphologically discrete foci in prostate cancer
The IRNN has… More »
Cleveland Clinic & Enterprise Ireland Clinical Innovation Award
Invent DCU celebrating 10 years of Innovation and Enterprise
Post-Doctoral Position in Prostate Cancer Protein Biomarker Discovery - December 2011
a clinically focused strategy for discovery of biomarkers and targets for recurrent disease
A 3-year post-doctoral research position, funded by the Health Research Board, is available to join Prof. Stephen Pennington’s Biomedical Proteomics Group in the UCD School… More »
RCSI- Research Assistant Position Available
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position funded by a Technology Innovation Development Award from Science Foundation Ireland. This 1 year position involves working with a team towards the development of new approaches to treat inflammatory bowel disease. The project is being carried out in… More »
Upcoming Events
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