2006 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
Donnacha O'Driscoll
National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology

The National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary research institute based at Dublin City University, NUI Maynooth and IT Tallaght. Its researchers include biologists, chemists, bioprocess engineers, IT and computer modelling experts and communication and ethics specialists. The NICB research teams investigate the molecular functions of human and animal cells in order to discover and develop new treatments and diagnostics for a variety of human diseases with particular emphasis on cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases and developmental biology. In particular, the institute is involved in translational research programs in collaboration with a number of hospitals, in order to bring the output from basic research to application in disease diagnosis and treatment of patients. There is also close collaboration with a variety of research laboratories and industries in Ireland and abroad. Ongoing projects include:

  • Substantial mRNA and protein marker and target discovery programmes in breast, cervix and lung cancer, skin cancer, brain and melanoma with St. Vincent's Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital, Mater Hospital and AMNCH Tallaght.

  • Cancer multiple drug resistance mechanism discovery and marker identification, and translation into clinical trials in collaboration with St. Vincent's University Hospital.

  • Development of a human pancreatic islet research and transplantation programme for Type I. diabetic patients in collaboration with the Transplantation Unit at Beaumont Hospital.

  • Development of an adult eye stem cell research and therapy programme in collaboration with the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital.

  • In-depth molecular analysis at the mRNA and protein levels of the CHO cell as a recombinant protein factory, in collaboration with Wyeth Biopharma, in order to find ways of producing biopharmaceuticals more efficiently and cheaply. This work is funded by SFI


New NICB building July 2006


Core facilities include:

� mRNA expression microarrays
� Bioinformatics/Systems Biology
� Proteomics (2D, DIGE, SELDI, MALDI)
� Confocal Microscopy, FACS
� Tumour Therapeutic Drug Analysis
� Cell Culture Collection
� Monoclonal Antibody Generation


The NICB is committed to postgraduate and postdoctoral training as well as running training courses in biotechnology and cell culture techniques for industrial, semi-state and third level groups.

The NICB is supported by funds from the HEA, SFI, EI, CRI, HRB and a variety of charitable sources including St.Vincents University Hospital, the Mater Hospital and the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital.

If you would like further information, please contact: Dr. Donnacha O'Driscoll,
Tel: + 353 1 700 5700,
E-mail: [email protected]