2004Breast cancer, colon cancer and other diseases to be tackled in new €5.6m diagnostics research project
SFI awards €5.6 ,million to diagnostics researchers at DCU and the RCSI

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the National Foundation for Excellence in Scientific Research, has announced a funding award of €5.6 million over four years to a group of researchers led by Professor Brian MacCraith of Dublin City University (DCU) and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

The award will fund the establishment to the Biomedical Diagnostics Group - a group of researchers investigating complementary aspects of research into key elements of Biomedical Diagnostics, such as Biomarker Discovery, Biorecognition, Transduction Science and Signal Amplification Science.

The researchers plan to develop accurate and reliable diagnostic devices that can detect indicators or markers of diseases such as colon cancer, breast cancer, and metabolic syndrome. These devices will detect life-threatening events long before a critical stage is reached. They will also allow chronic diseases to be controlled, potentially reducing the necessity for painful treatment and saving costs. These devices will detect life-threatening events long before a critical stage is reached. They will allow these diseases to be controlled, potentially reducing the necessity for painful treatment and saving costs.

The programme will initially focus on cancer (both breast and colon), the group of conditions related to obesity known as 'metabolic syndrome', and on heart failure. The project involves collaboration between Professor MacCraith of DCU and Professors Robert Forster, DCU and Dolores Cahill of the RCSI.

Dr William C Harris, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland commented, "This group has huge potential for success, as it is based on several world-class researchers, an ambitious vision, and in Professor MacCraith, a leader with the unusual combination of scientific excellence, personal charisma and team-building capability. I believe that it will be of significant value to Ireland and support the ongoing the development of the diagnostics industry in Ireland."

Professor MacCraith added, "This is a huge boost for the biomedical sector in Ireland and will enable major advances in the area of health diagnostics. This cluster will develop new technologies that will directly affect the quality of people's lives over the coming decades."

DCU President Professor Ferdinand Von Prondzynski added: "Funding from SFI is proving to be the catalyst for the development of a genuinely world class biomedical research in Ireland. The resourcing of research projects such as this by SFI gives the university sector the means to develop a critical mass of expertise in targeted areas which will benefit the national economy."