Up to 50 jobs could be created with the opening of a new £11.5m research centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry that will focus on managing chronic diseases.
Altnagelvin Hospital.
The laboratory, the first of its kind in Ireland, will focus on managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
The facility will be a joint project between the University of Ulster and the Western Health and Social Care Trust.
It is based at the Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC) at the hospital
Professor Tony Bjourson, head of the new centre, said: apersonalised approach to patient care holed huge potential for developing new diagnostic and treatment pathways for human diseases.
“This is one of the most important concepts to emerge from the sequencing of the human genome and Northern Ireland is emerging as an important region within stratified medicine research.”
The facility has been welcomed by Foyle SDLP MP Mark Durkan.
He said: “This is exactly the sort of knowledge economy-driven jobs creator Derry needs more of.”
Mayor of Derry Cllr Martin Reilly said the opening of the research centre was a “significantly positive step” for the city.
He said: “I am delighted to see this investment come to fruition; a specifically designed research unit will allow CTRIC to push ahead as a leading innovator in Healthcare research.
“The work they are currently carrying out in improving clinical research trials has already proven significantly invaluable in today’s Healthcare industry. This project, realised from the combined efforts of a number organizations including Invest Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency and European Regional Development Fund will allow for a host of additional resources to continue their groundbreaking work, developing new technologies and systems to better predict disease and reduce treatment side effects for patients.”
Mayor Reilly said as well as supporting a commercially viable business beneficial to the health of people, the research unit would also create business opportunities, allowing the development of partnerships among academic researchers, clinical practitioners and businesses, all of which had a positive economic impact on the city.”
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