The National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
How this Integrated Technology Platform has impacted the
development of R&D Clusters in Galway
Jacinta Thornton, PhD
Executive Manager, NCBES
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering
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Science
Mission
Developing
p g innovative diagnostic
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and therapeutic
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solutions to biomedical challenges
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through interdisciplinary and strategic research activities
Background
•
Founded in 1999,
1999 funded by the HEA Programme for Research for Third Level
Institutions (PRTLI) (€19.3 M)
•
NCBES ~ 100 PIs, 140 Postdocs, 180 PhD Students
•
Focus on translation
•
Underpinned by educational programmes & state of the art facilities with
specialised technical expertise
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
NCBES Research Strategy
gy
• Defined Research Themes
– Cancer
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– Glycoscience
– Regenerative Medicine
– Biomedical Engineering
– Neuroscience
– Infection, Inflammation and Immunity
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Underpinning Expertise & Infrastructure
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Materials Characterisation
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Flow Cytometry
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Mechanical Testing
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Tissue Culture
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Advanced Machining
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High Throughput Screening
•
Rapid Prototyping
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GMP Facility
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Polymer synthesis
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Small Animal Facility
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Imaging Systems
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Clinical Research Facility
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Incubator Units (TTO)
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
NUI Galway,
Galway NCBES and Galway University Hospital
North Campus
NCBES
New research facilities under construction:
•8000 sqm science research facility on North Campus
•1000 sqm translational research facility on Hospital
•1000 sqm Clinical research facility on Hospital
Hospital
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Underpinning
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g Education Programmes
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Structured Graduate Education
Programme
Taught Courses
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Full-time
F
ll ti
1 year Taught
T
ht M
Masters
t
Programme in Biomedical
Science
•
Full-time 1 year Taught Masters
programme in Regenerative
Medicine
•
Part-time Distance-learning
Masters in Biomedical Science
•PhD Programme in
Simulation Science
New multi-institutional
collaborative Ph.D. programme
& Supported by the Irish Centre
for High End Computing
Computing.
Structured
Str
ct red PhD Programme in Biomedical
Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – BMERM
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Cancer Research Cluster
NUI Galway, NCBES, Department of Biochemistry and
University College Hospital…
The Cancer Research Environment
Cancer Biology
Research
Units
Translational &
Clinical Care
Units
Basic
Translational
Applied
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• Chromosome Biology
• Apoptosis
• Signalling
• Stem Cells
• miRNA in cancers
• Biomarkers
• TMA
• Novel Therapies
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• Major cancer types
• Clinical Research
facility funded
Fundamental
Research
upport
Cancer Biology &
Translational
Units
Translational
Research
Seeding Cancer Drug
Discovery at NUIG
Most dense
concentration of
SFI funded PI
level laboratories
of any single
department in
N ti
National
l (SFI, HRB, HEA, others) International
I t
ti
l (EU, Wellcome Trust)
Ireland
National Centre for Biomedical
Engineering Science
Industrial
Private
GlycoScience Group
at National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
¾
All cells and most therapeutic proteins are glycosylated
¾
Glycosylation is a key player in cell-cell interaction, protein folding,
stability, half-life
half life and receptor
receptor-ligand
ligand interactions
¾
The researchers in Glycoscience Group at NUI Galway are developing
platform
technologies for clinical and industrial applications:
¾
Lectin and glycoprotein arrays for HTP glycoanalysis
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Peptide and aptamer based lectin mimics
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Gl
GlycoBiomarker
Bi
k di
discovery
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Novel microarray based GlycoSignature platform
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Potential therapeutic and nutraceutical agents
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In silico knowledge of glycosylation control
Major Collaborative Projects:
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Alimentary Glycoscience Research Cluster (AGRC): A Strategic Research Cluster funded by SFI and supported by industries
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Main objective: To explore and exploit the role of host glycosylation in host-microbial
host microbial interactions in the gut
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SFI Budget - €5.2 m Duration - 2009-2013
Glycomics by Highly Integrated Technologies (GlycoHIT): EU funded research consortium
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Focus: To enhance existing analytical technologies and develop novel technologies to detect cancer
glycobiomarkers in patient sera
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EU Budget €3.0 m, Duration 2011-2014
PI: Lokesh Joshi, SFI Stokes Professor of Glycosciences
Director, Alimentary Glycoscience Research Cluster
http://www.agrc.ie/
http://www.glycohit.eu/
Regenerative
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Medicine Institute (REMEDI)
(
)
Prof. Tim O’Brien
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Multi-disciplinary approach to
promote organ and tissue repair
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Alliances with other academic
centres, the health service and
industry
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Translational focus - cardiovascular
disease, diabetes mellitus and
osteoarthritis in the first instance
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Supporting programmes immunology, biomaterials and gene
therapy as well as basic research
programmes in basic stem cell
biology and developmental biology
MSC –stimulated cardiac repair
Key research Facts
•Patented technologies including novel therapeutics for
cardiovascular disease, antibodies for stem cell isolation
and devices for stem cell delivery
•Established Orbsen Therapeutics to commercialise
REMEDI technology
•Four EU FP7-funded projects underway
•Operate a GMP cell manufacturing facility
•400 publications and 15,000 citations since 2004.
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Biomedical Engineering
Biomechanics Cluster
Cluster leader: Peter McHugh
6 PIs, 8 PD, 28 PG, Current: €4.7m
1.
2.
3.
Cell and Tissue Mechanics and Mechano-Biology
Mechano Biology
Biofluid flow and Biomolecule Transport
Therapeutic Implants and Devices
–
Analysis,
y , Design,
g , Production
Bone mechanics and
mechano-biology
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New hip implant
OsteoAnchor
(PCT filed)
Biodegradable
metallic stents
Gene eluting stent
Bone tissue engineering
Computer modelling: Stent
coating integrity
New peripheral
stent PER-FLEX
(PCT filed)
PCL/TCP
http://www.ncbes.ie/biomechanics
Computer modelling: Cell
cytoskeleton development
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Research Supported
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by:
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National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Common Themes
• Core anchoring funding – to leverage further funding
• Basic
B i andd Applied
A li d Research
R
h
• Flexible approach to industry
• Investment in key enabling infrastructure
• Aligned educational training
• Responsive to external factors – e.g. industry clusters, policy
• Partnership and collaboration with regional, national and
international research organisations
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Contact Information
Prof. Frank Barry
Director NCBES
Director,
Professor of Cellular Therapy
Frank.barry@nuigalway.ie
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y
Dr. Jacinta Thornton
Executive Manager, NCBES
Jacinta thornton@nuigalway ie
Jacinta.thornton@nuigalway.ie
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science