Click here to view MMI brochure

 

 

 

 

Molecular Medicine Ireland was established by the National University of Ireland Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Cork, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin and their associated academic hospitals, as a research partnership to accelerate the translation of biomedical research into improved diagnostics and therapies for patients.

MMI was formed in response to the need to create a critical mass of excellence in molecular medicine research and education in Ireland and to deploy a clinical research infrastructure to facilitate medicine into better healthcare provision. It was formally incorporated as a not-for-profit company in April 2008 and is funded under the Higher Education Authority’s Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, Cycle 4.What does Molecular Medicine Ireland aim to do?

Vision

MMI’s strategic vision is to improve healthcare through the development of diagnostics and therapies from concept to realisation.  

Mission

MMI’s mission is to mobilise the strengths of the five partner institutions and their associated hospitals to build a sustainable national system to coordinate, support and promote translational and clinical research.
 

Strategic Objectives

• To connect the key players in health, research and industry 
• To attract, train and retain world class researchers 
• To work towards the provision of state-of-the-art facilities, bio-resources and harmonised processes 
• To represent Ireland in clinical and translational research infrastructures/networks in Europe and internationally 
• To build collaborative research initiatives and opportunities.
   

How does the creation of Molecular Medicine Ireland assist in achieving national, strategic goals for science and technology?

Molecular Medicine Ireland will assist in achieving the goals of the Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation by creating greater coherence in medical research strategies, exploiting synergies in clinical and translational research in the member institutions and their associated hospitals and in training and retaining researchers of the highest quality. Molecular Medicine Ireland, through the Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme, is contributing to the doubling of the number of PhDs qualified in Ireland, while ensuring a research training experience of the highest quality. The programme is also responding to the recommendation of the Science Advisory Council Report - Towards Better Health - that the medical schools collaborate in the development of postgraduate courses to ensure delivery of training to the highest standards. In leading on the development of a clinical research infrastructure in Ireland, Molecular Medicine Ireland is providing a means by which new knowledge from member institutions and from industry can be tested for its benefit to patients and if effective, turned into new products that can bring economic benefit to Ireland.

How is Molecular Ireland funded?

Molecular Medicine Ireland builds on the success of the former Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre in attracting funding for cooperative research and education activities on behalf of its partner institutions and associated hospitals. The DMMC secured the following funding on behalf of its partner members, some of which is available to fund activities led by Molecular Medicine Ireland:

• Higher Education Authority PRTLI Cycle 2 - €26m
• Higher Education Authority PRTLI Cycle 3 - €44.8m for the Programme for Human Genomics
• Health Research Board/Wellcome Trust - €23m for the Dublin Centre for Clinical Research
• Health Research Board/Health Service Executive - €.5m to establish the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network
• Health Research Board/R&D Office - €.1m to develop the feasibility phase of the all-island GeneLibrary
• European Union - €.34m for participation in developing European clinical and biobanking research infrastructure.

What is the cost of running Molecular Medicine Ireland?

The annual running costs of Molecular Medicine Ireland are €0.75m. Molecular Medicine Ireland is funded both by contributions from its member institutions and direct from funding agencies such as the Health Research Board, the Health Service Executive and the European Commission.

What is Molecular Medicine Ireland doing on behalf of its member institutions?

• Delivering postgraduate courses across the member institutions and with industry involvement. In 2008, it is proposed to run at least 10 courses with an expected attendance of 600 postgraduate students and faculty members
• Developing the shared curriculum across the five institutions for the Clinician Scientist Fellowship programme for the 19 Fellows recruited to undertake PhDs
• Leading on the development of the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure (ICRIN) and representing Ireland in the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) funded under the EU’s 7th Framework Programme
• Deploying the Dublin Centre for Clinical Research – ensuring that the €23m investment by the Wellcome Trust and the Health Research Board over the next five years in a new clinical research facility in St James’s Hospital and the creation of a research network of the existing clinical research facilities, is delivered on time and within budget
• Assisting the member institutions in applying for funding under PRTLI Cycle 5 for national, strategic initiatives in graduate education and research infrastructure that can be better organised on a cross institutional basis and to other national and EU funding bodies
• Delivering the feasibility phase of the all-island GeneLibrary project. Under this initiative, it is proposed to invite up to 10,000 volunteers to donate a blood sample and information about their medical history to provide a unique resource for research and health monitoring on the island of Ireland. GeneLibrary will provide an essential control for disease related genetic research and will make such research in Ireland much easier and cheaper. It will also provide the first comprehensive picture of the state of health of the population of this island and enable health status to be monitored over time.

How many staff does Molecular Medicine Ireland have?

Molecular Medicine Ireland has a staff of 11, organised in the following functions – Education and Training, Clinical Research incorporating ICRIN and the Dublin Centre for Clinical Research , Research Programmes and Facilities and Finance and Operations. The names of the senior staff are as follows:

Dr Ruth Barrington, Chief Executive
Mr Paul Barry, Manager, Finance and Operations
Dr Mark Watson, Programme Manager, Education and Training
Ms Marie Mellody, Coordinator, Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network
Dr Jan Guerin, Programme Manager, Research Progammes and Facilities
Mr Jeremy Towns, Programme Manager, Dublin Centre for Clinical Research