Trinity and RCSI Host Next-Gen Life Sciences Innovation Showcase
Posted on: 18 May 2016
New immunology-based therapies and Ireland’s first electronic patient record for epilepsy that provides a unique opportunity for innovative clinical trials were among the next-gen biomedical technologies that featured at an innovation showcase co-hosted by Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) on Tuesday May 17th.
The showcase promoted examples of the next wave of biomedical and life sciences research being undertaken within both institutions and profile examples of successful spinout companies, commercialising academic research and ongoing industry engagements.
It also highlighted how this knowledge transfer consortium will enhance research commercialisation and provide opportunities for industry to engage across both institutions. Journalist Claire O’Connell chaired the panel discussions.
Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity, Kingston Mills, discussed his work in developing new or improved vaccines against infectious diseases, active immuno-therapeutics against cancer and anti-inflammatory therapeutics against autoimmune diseases.
Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity, Rose Anne Kenny, talked about setting up a National Ageing Partnership to deliver a holistic approach for ageing research combining health, financial security and wellbeing in the brain, body and environment, supported by platforms for biomarkers, big data and enabling technologies to develop new systems, innovations, technologies and models of predictors for healthy and successful ageing.
Professor of Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience, RCSI, David Henshall, explored the potential to manage diseases such as epilepsy by delivering novel treatments that are informed by genome interrogation as well as medical devices that monitor response to treatment in real-time.
Additionally, three knowledge transfer cases outlined the mutual benefits from engaging researchers with industry partners.
Dr John Gleeson, CEO SurgaColl Technologies spoke about SurgaColl Technologies, a company spun out of RCSI that has a portfolio of orthopaedic products developed using world-class tissue engineering research.
Vitallograph’s Frank Keane, General Manager, Vitalograph, talked about the INCA device, developed with clinicians and engineers at RCSI and Trinity, which addresses the issue of patient non-compliance with inhaled prescribed medication and the commercialisation of which is under way.
Professor Jane Farrar spoke about gene therapy Trinity spin-out Genable Technologies, recently sold to Spark Therapeutics for €16 million.
Dr Margaret Woods, Technology Transfer Manager at Trinity, said: “We were delighted to showcase both the historical successes and the potential impacts that this collaboration represents. The partnership is the result of existing synergies and a strong relationship between the two institutions, a fact that has been recognised by Enterprise Ireland and Knowledge Transfer Ireland in funding the formation establishment of the formal Trinity:RCSI Consortium.”
Dr Aoife Gallagher, Head of Innovation, RCSI said: “This showcase event demonstrated the world-class innovative research that is taking place at RCSI and is translating into real improvements in patient treatments. The advanced diagnostics, therapeutics and devices that are emerging from our industry collaborations and partnership with Trinity are a testament to the expertise of our researchers and clinicians and we look forward to building on these partnerships.”