GeneLibrary Ireland – an all-island resource in the search for genes associated with common diseases and new treatments.

Molecular Medicine Ireland, in association with Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster and with Dr Peter Doran as principal applicant, is pleased to announce the submission of the report of the design phase of GeneLibrary Ireland to the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Health and Social Care Research and Development Office (HSC R&D Office). Molecular Medicine Ireland was contracted by the HRB and HSC R&D Office to develop the design phase for the GeneLibrary Ireland initiative. The design phase emerged from a feasibility report by the HRB and HSC R&D Office. When established, GeneLibrary Ireland will be an all-island biobank with samples and information from 10,000 volunteers which will provide a vital tool in the search for the genetic determinants and novel treatments of common diseases that significantly impact patients on the island of Ireland. The preparation of the design phase of GeneLibrary Ireland involved the support and contribution of over eighty experts across seven collaborating academic institutions and patient organisations in Ireland and Northern Ireland, coordinated by Molecular Medicine Ireland.

Dr Ruth Barrington, CEO of Molecular Medicine Ireland believes that ‘GeneLibrary Ireland will provide a standardised framework for biobanking across the island which is harmonised internationally and that will support clinical research at the HRB, HSE and Wellcome Trust funded Clinical Research Centres being developed at present’.

Professor Kurt Zatloukal, a member of the GeneLibrary Ireland Scientific Advisory Board and the lead Co-ordinator of the pan-European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure, has stated that ‘the design phase of GeneLibrary Ireland is an excellent plan how to establish a world-class all-island biomedical research infrastructure that is well embedded in the emerging European research infrastructure landscape’.

Dr Peter Doran, the principal applicant of the design phase project, notes ‘that the establishment of this unique all-island control biobank of 10,000 DNA and blood samples, with key phenotypic data for use in genetic research, will ensure investigators complete studies in a more timely and cost effective manner and avoid duplication of effort’.

Dr Damian O Connell, Chair of the Board of Molecular Medicine Ireland, congratulated all associated with the preparation of the design phase. He commented that ‘the creation of GeneLibrary Ireland as a biomedical research infrastructure will provide researchers on the island of Ireland with a significant bio-resource to investigate the roles that genes play in health and disease which, in turn, will lead to discoveries of disease mechanisms, potential new therapeutics, pharmacogenomics, biomarker discovery and personalised medicine’.

Having assembled the necessary teams to deliver the design phase of GeneLibrary Ireland, involving six Working Groups and a Steering Group and an international Scientific Advisory Board, Molecular Medicine Ireland looks forward to the opportunity to develop the implementation phase of GeneLibrary Ireland in association with collaborating institutions. Molecular Medicine Ireland is convinced that this initiative has the potential to increase competitiveness of research and development in life sciences as well as the effectiveness of health care in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

For a copy of the GeneLibrary Ireland - an all island biomedical research infrastructure Design Phase report click here

For further information on the delivery of Design Phase of GeneLibrary Ireland click here
 

For further information contact Dr Jan Guerin (by telephone on 01-4779815 or by email to jan.guerin@molecularmedicineireland.ie).