About Us

The Research Advances in Personalized Integrated Diagnostics (RAPID) Institute is a new funded collaboration supported by Research Ireland and Dublin City University, in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT; Aachen, Germany), Europe’s largest organisation for applied research, with more than 25,000 employees and 75 specialised Institutes across Germany.

RAPID is a nexus for innovative diagnostics research at DCU. It is funded via a Research Ireland Research Professorship Award under the leadership of Prof James Landers, who brings world-leading expertise in microfluidics and diagnostics to Ireland. RAPID will help establish new scientific networks of collaborative research between DCU, the USA and beyond. RAPID Institute’s vision is to be a globally-significant entity, renowned for its discovery and translation of knowledge to advance society. Through RAPID, DCU will continue to build on their existing research relationship with Fraunhofer to address new dimensions in the design, development and manufacture of novel diagnostic systems. RAPID’s partnership with the Fraunhofer IPT offers direct access to cutting-edge small-scale manufacturing, microfluidic injection moulding, automated assembly/bonding systems and, ultimately, to manufacturing scale-up capabilities that includes wearable diagnostic sensor technologies. 

Prof James Landers

James P. Landers is Director of the RAPID Institute. He is a Commonwealth Chaired Professor of Chemistry at the University of Virginia (UVA) with adjunct appointments in the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Pathology in the School of Medicine. He is trained in Biochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics and Clinical Chemistry and a recognised leader in analytical microsystems engineering cored by integrated microfluidic systems.

His research focuses on application-driven developments exploiting lab-on-a-chip technologies, microfluidics, and material science, with applications in disease diagnostics, forensics, and chemical/biochemical analysis. He has published extensively and holds multiple patents, many of which have contributed to advancements of microfluidic systems across a broad array of applications. James has also collaborated with industry and government agencies to translate microfluidic innovations into real-world applications, enhancing capabilities in molecular diagnostics, forensic science, and personalised medicine.
 

Dr Éadaoin Carthy

Éadaoin Carthy is Deputy Director for Innovation in the RAPID Institute and is responsible for its Research and Innovation strategy. She is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at DCU and holds a BSc in Physics and Biomedical Diagnostics and a PhD in Diagnostics.

Éadaoin is the co-inventor of SepTec, a rapid sepsis detection device with granted IP, which has won multiple innovation awards and was licensed to NOVUS Diagnostics. She has secured competitive funding through SFI and Enterprise Ireland, with research spanning point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring and PFAS remediation, and sustainable healthcare solutions. She is also actively engaged in science communication and public outreach, and contributes to public discussions on healthcare innovation and environmental contamination.

Dr John Gleeson

John is an experienced start-up executive and founder, with a strong background in Life Sciences technology commercialisation. John’s experience spans the entire product development cycle (i.e. technology conceptualisation, research and development, intellectual property (IP) exploitation, clinical and regulatory approval, medical device cGMP manufacturing, and business development).

In 2012, John co-founded SurgaColl Technologies, a Class III orthobiologic implantable medical devices company, based on technologies from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and raised over €8M to bring his technology “from benchtop to bedside”. John is also a highly innovative and recognised scientist and remains research active (adjunct research fellow, RCSI) within the fields of Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials. John holds a PhD in Engineering and an MSc in Leadership and Management. 

Dr Dara Dunican

Dara is Senior Research Lead, and RAPID Deputy Director for External Programmes and is responsible for supporting and broadening the Institute's research programme and researcher-base through strategic targeting of National and International research funding. 

Dara has extensive experience and expertise in research funding strategy, having worked as a Scientific Programme Manager in Science Foundation Ireland for five years. There, he managed an award portfolio of over 130 active research awards (total value of €88M), and contributed to national strategy and policy development in the areas of scientific expertise and the National Intellectual Property Protocol, both within SFI and working with government agencies and industry.

In DCU, Dara previously led a seven-person team as the Research Development Manager in the Research Development and Support Office, and currently also more broadly contributes to developing and implementing innovative approaches to win new research opportunities of scale and strategic importance, and to boost interdisciplinary and engaged research in DCU.
Building on a PhD in Biochemistry and subsequent research experience in cell and developmental biology, Dara retains an interest in cell and organoid-based assays and applications.