| 2006 |
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YEAR BOOK |
University College Dublin
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UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research
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New Director
UCD Conway Institute was delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Janet Allen to the position of director in December 2005. Initially qualified from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, Prof Allen moved into scientific research and innovation where she has a distinguished track record in both academic and industrial settings. Janet joined the Institute from her position as Director of Discovery Biology at Inpharmatica. She was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) in 2000. Some of the highlights in the Institute's calendar, since the appointment of Prof Allen are described below.
Research
� Wyeth Research, a subsidiary of Wyeth Corporation, one of the largest research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare product companies in the world, has established a bio-therapeutic drug discovery research facility at UCD Conway Institute, with the support of IDA Ireland. The �13 million facility will ultimately employ twelve top class research scientists focusing on product discovery, pre-clinical research and drug discovery technology development.
� Under the joint guidance of UCD Conway Institute's Dr Cormac Taylor and Dr Jaqueline Daly of RCSI, UCD students Stephen Kearney and Marc O' Griofa took part in the European Space Agency's (ESA) Student Parabolic Flight Campaign in Bordeaux, France during July 2005. The team designed an experiment to observe changes in bone forming cells called osteoblasts by the altered gravitational forces encountered during parabolic flight. They carried out experiments on board a specially designed Airbus A300 called the Zero-G.
Awards
� Dr Paul V Murphy, investigator in the Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology and UCD Conway, received an Astellas USA Foundation award in October 2005. This prestigious award is based on nominations from internationally distinguished scientists. Dr Murphy's research focuses on the design and synthesis of bioactive agents based on carbohydrates.
� Also in October, Dr Cormac Taylor was awarded a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Industry Research Supplement grant to facilitate research on an enhanced drug delivery system in association with Sigmoid Biotechnologies. Their research aims to improve the effectiveness, safety and convenience of existing drugs and enhance next-generation drug development using an innovative intestinal model of drug uptake and a novel drug delivery technology, LEDDS.
� In March 2006, UCD Conway Institute investigator Professor Therese Kinsella was elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) for her significant contribution to research. This is the highest academic honour in Ireland. Prof Kinsella is an expert in the field of vascular haemostasis and thrombosis, an area that underpins cardiovascular disease.
Outreach
Transition Year Programme
In January 2006, 15 transition year students took part in the inaugural UCD Conway transition year work experience programme. Hailing from Dublin, Monaghan, Kerry and Donegal, the students were selected from over 60 applications received. They participated in a week long programme, which included workshops, demonstrations, talks and Shadow a Scientist that were designed to give students interested in science an insight into life at the cutting edge of scientific research.
Earlier this year, Stephen Nolan came up trumps in AccesScience '06 with his presentation on "Kidney Disease: When Good Cops go Bad!" Stephen went on to represent UCD and win the inaugural RDS Irish Times 'Science Speak' in association with Irish Universities Promoting Science, which took place in May. AccesScience Junior 2006 was enjoyed by over 550 secondary science students from around the country. There were 180 entries in the associated poster competition for the best visual representation of science. Laura Biddulph of Swords, Co. Dublin won the primary category, Aidan Farren from Scoil Mhuire Convent of Mercy, Buncrana won the secondary and UCD Conway's Kate Hedigan took first place in the adult section. The posters from all three winners and category runners-up were displayed on DART trains and in stations during the summer months as part of the Science Track initiative.
ScienceWorks to primary schools
In the run up to National Science Week '05 and as part of the ScienceWorks programme, DNA was brought to life for primary school pupils in Sacred Heart National School, Killinarden, Tallaght and Donard National School, Donard, Co. Wicklow. Fifth and sixth class pupils quickly got the hang of making the double helix and discovered that mashed bananas can reveal the secrets of DNA.
Contact: Elaine Quinn, Communications & Education Officer
UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research,
University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.
Tel: (+353-1) 716 6706
E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ucd.ie/conway