Merck Sharpe & Dohme set up new research network at DCU
10 March 2003

John Condon, Director of Public Affairs, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Fiona Regan, lecturer in Analytical Chemistry, Eileen Counihan, Director of Quality Operations, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Tracy Moran, PhD in NMR study.

A new research network has been established between Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd, Dublin City University and Waterford Institute of Technology. Merck Sharp & Dohme is a subsidiary of the US-based pharmaceutical company Merck & Co Inc. which employs over 460 people at its Ballydine manufacturing facility in South Tipperary.

The aim of the collaboration is to assist in forming a cluster of researchers from both DCU and Waterford Institute of Technology. The donation will be used to develop analytical methods that are more cost effective, robust and reproducible and which also bring about improvements in the area of sample production.

Mr John Condon, Director of Public Affairs, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme was at DCU to present a cheque of €15,000 to DCU, which will be used over a three-year period to support a graduate student for the Degree of Masters in Analytical Science. As part of their science promotion, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme are also sponsoring an award for final year degree students in Science education at DCU. The team will begin their research in September 2003 and will employ two graduate students, one to be based at DCU and the other at WIT.

Established in 1976, the Merck Sharp & Dohme manufacturing facility at Ballydine, Co Tipperary prduces active ingredients for a wide range of healthcare products. These ingredients are exported to other Merck facilities where they are formulated into tablets and capsules before being distributed to hospitals and pharmacies worldwide.