Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre
Encyclopedia
Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (DMMC) was set up in 2002, as a registed charity, to create critical mass in molecular medicine research in Dublin, Ireland. Funding was provided by the Higher Education Authority
.
The objective of this initiative is to create an internationally recognised centre of research excellence by 2010. DMMC is owned jointly by the city's three premier biomedical research institutions : University College Dublin
(UCD), the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
(RCSI) and Trinity College, Dublin
(TCD). Strategic links are likely to be fostered with University College Cork and National University of Ireland, Galway
to create a nationwide platform as the European Union
launches the Seventh Framework Programme.
for a major clinical research centre to be led by Professor Dermot P. Kelleher
for Dublin comprising two elements:
Higher Education Authority
The Higher Education Authority is the authority in Ireland with responsibility for higher education since 1968 and placed on a statutory basis in 1971. The authority supports HEAnet, part of the GEANT network....
.
The objective of this initiative is to create an internationally recognised centre of research excellence by 2010. DMMC is owned jointly by the city's three premier biomedical research institutions : University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD), the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
(RCSI) and Trinity College, Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
(TCD). Strategic links are likely to be fostered with University College Cork and National University of Ireland, Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
to create a nationwide platform as the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
launches the Seventh Framework Programme.
Resources
The academic resources supporting the teaching hospitals include:- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research which is organised into 3 interactive multi-disciplinary centres : synthesis and chemical biologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
; integrative biologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and molecular medicine.
- RCSI Research Institutewhose portfolio included cellular neuroscienceNeuroscienceNeuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, molecular research, advanced drug delivery, proteomicsProteomicsProteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of cells. The term "proteomics" was first coined in 1997 to make an analogy with...
and pharmacyPharmacyPharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
.
- TCD Institute of Molecular Medicine focuses on cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
(prostateProstateThe prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
, haematological, esophagealEsophagealEsophageal can refer to:* The esophagus* Esophageal arteries* Esophageal glands...
, cervicalCervical cancerCervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
, thoracic), infection and immunity (tuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
); genomic research into inflammatory disease, molecular histopathologyHistopathologyHistopathology refers to the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease...
, cell signalling, neuropsychiatric geneticsNeuropsychiatryNeuropsychiatry is the branch of medicine dealing with mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. It preceded the current disciplines of psychiatry and neurology, in as much as psychiatrists and neurologists had a common training....
and nutrigenomicsNutrigenomicsNutrigenomics is the study of the effects of foods and food constituents on gene expression. It is about how our DNA is transcribed into mRNA and then to proteins and provides a basis for understanding the biological activity of food components...
.
New Clinical Research Centre
DMMC has successfully secured funding from the Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
for a major clinical research centre to be led by Professor Dermot P. Kelleher
Dermot P. Kelleher
Dermot P Kelleher is Head of the School of Medicine at the University of Dublin and one of the three founders of Opsona Therapeutics in 2004.Opsona's research is primarily focused on the role of Toll-like receptors and TLR signalling in human innate immunity.-Research interests:His major interest...
for Dublin comprising two elements:
- A new centre will be built at St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
- A network of new clinical research facilities linking the proposed new centre to existing centres at Beaumont Hospital, DublinBeaumont Hospital, DublinBeaumont Hospital, is a public hospital located in Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services, including a 24-hour emergency department, for the population of Dublin. In 2008, the hospital served 149,559...
, St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
Other Accomplishments
- New laboratory facilities in each of the Dublin colleges
- Genome Research Units at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin
- Establishment of trans-institutional research consortium in prostate cancerProstate cancerProstate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
.
- National Biocollection Resource for study of psychosisPsychosisPsychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
.
- Comprehensive and flexible cross-institution education and training programmes in molecular medicine
- New technology cores in transcriptomics, proteomicsProteomicsProteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of cells. The term "proteomics" was first coined in 1997 to make an analogy with...
, cell imaging and bioinformaticsBioinformaticsBioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
. A transgenic facility to create disease models using transgene single-cell microinjection and knockout technologies is in place.
Key Personnel
- Michael Kamarck PhD, Chair of the DMMC Board; Senior VP WyethWyethWyeth, formerly one of the companies owned by American Home Products Corporation , was a pharmaceutical company. The company was based in Madison, New Jersey, USA...
Biopharma - Pierre Meulien PhD, Chief Executive DMMC
- Dermot P. KelleherDermot P. KelleherDermot P Kelleher is Head of the School of Medicine at the University of Dublin and one of the three founders of Opsona Therapeutics in 2004.Opsona's research is primarily focused on the role of Toll-like receptors and TLR signalling in human innate immunity.-Research interests:His major interest...
, Head of Medical School, Trinity College, Dublin - William G Powderly MD, Head of School of Medicine and Medical Science, UCD
- Brian Harvey PhD, Director of RCSI Institute
Externals links
- DMMC 2005 Annual Report
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomedical Research
- RCSI Research Institute
- TCD Institute of Molecular Medicine
- St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
- St James Hospital, Dublin
- Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
- Higher Education Authority of Ireland