News

DCU launches innovative PhD programme - BioAT

11 March 2011

The BioAnalysis and Therapeutics Structured PhD Programme (BioAT) is the initiative being led by Dublin City University in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, National University of Ireland, Maynooth and Institute of Technology, Tallaght to address the challenge of increasing the quality, quantity and entrepreneurial skills of Ireland’s graduate researchers in the critical areas of the biopharmaceutical and biomedical device industries.  The programme, led by Dr Christine Loscher at DCU, was awarded funding under PRTLI Cycle 5 and brings together the complementary expertise in teaching and research across the partnering institutes.

The biopharmaceutical and biomedical device industries are critical to Ireland’s economy, therefore there is a clear need for PhD graduates trained in the research and technologies underpinning these industries. BioAT will produce highly trained, flexible and competitive graduates to sustain the growth of these industries. BioAT exploits the complementary research expertise and infrastructure of the partner institutions in the areas of BioAnalysis, Therapeutics and Diagnostics. The partner institutions have distinctive strengths in these areas as evidenced by research infrastructure and industry-academia collaborative research programmes in diagnostics, biophotonics and imaging, therapeutics and bioanalysis.  

BioAT offers students a unique personalised training and educational experience in basic and applied research, advanced technologies, as well as  collaborative clinician-scientist research in hospital-based laboratories (Beaumont and Connolly Hospitals, and the Children’s Research Centre at Crumlin Hospital). This integrated approach to advancing the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases (cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and infection/immune diseases) will lead to developments in bioanalytical methodology and technology applied to disease diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, they will have significant potential for commercialisation. 

BioAT is currently recruiting 29 graduates. Further details about this programme and how to apply are available at www.dcu.ie/bioat.
Click here for a course information PDF.