www.irishtimes.com
(http://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/rcsi-sets-plans-to-increase-links-with-industry-1.1989103)
RCSI sets plans to increase links with industry
Plan to improve college’s ability to link with companies that can commercialise discoveries
Professor Ray Stallings with Minister Damien English at the launch of RCSI’s new research strategy
Dick Ahlstrom
Wed, Nov 5, 2014
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has launched a strategy that will help it transfer
research discoveries more quickly into clinical practice. It will also improve the college’s
ability to link with companies that can commercialise discoveries.
The college launched its plan, Improving Human Health - RCSI’s Strategy for Excellence
in Translational Research 2014-2020, earlier today.
It did not allocate additional funding in support of its goals but is backing the approach with
in-house resources, says Prof Ray Stallings, director of research at the college.
“The plan is to make it much easier for industry to engage with the college,” he says. “We
will be taking a much more proactive approach to making links with companies.”
The strategy also places a strong emphasis on tapping into the EU’s research budget
Horizon 2020. “This is a huge target for us,” Prof Stallings says.
The college has 400 scientist and clinician researchers working in its research institute, said
Damien English, Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation.
It was important that Ireland keep with the research agenda despite the difficulties caused by
reduced budgets and rising research costs because it leads to improved treatments for
patients and also the possibility of new companies and jobs, he said.
The focus is on translational research which involves bringing research discoveries through
to a product or service that can be used in the clinic. This in turn opens up the possibility of
forming companies that can commercialise the discoveries, hence the importance of the
links with industry, Prof Stalling says.
It also serves the educational mission of the college, to deliver high quality training for
students working in a real-world environment that serves the needs of patients and wider
society.